Who needs a little black dress anyways . . .

When you have a pretty, tasty, purple dress? And the matching hat!  These demo cookies were prepared for a class I am teaching a group of young girls.  I can't wait to see what this extremely creative group will come up with for their own cookies.  I've got ribbons, colored sugar, fondant imprint mats, and other decorative edibles to make their cookies beaulectable (= beautiful + delectable. Yes, I just made that word up).

The British are Coming - Let's Make Some Royal Icing!!!

Ok, so my humor is slightly corny.  I've had a couple requests for a good royal icing recipe.  Royal icing is great because it hardens as it dries and allows for beautifully decorated cookies, amongst other things.  Royal icing requires egg whites and some prefer to substitute meringue powder in the recipe to avoid the possibility of salmonella exposure.  Also bear in mind that grease the greatest enemy of royal icing.  Make sure all utensils you use in the preparation of the icing are completely free of any greasy residue.

Royal Icing
3 tbsp meringue powder OR 2 large egg whites
4 cups confectioners sugar (approximately 1 lb)
7 tbsp warm water

Mix ingredients with a mixer on a low speed for about 8-10 minutes. Your icing is ready to move into an airtight container or cover the mixing bowl with a taut piece of Saran wrap.  Keep the icing covered/closed whenever possible to avoid it hardening.  If you would like to color your icing, I recommend a professional brand like Wilton's  which is very concentrated and won't thin down your icing like a standard grocery store brand will.    Royal icing can remain in the fridge for several days or in the freezer for a few months.

The ladybug doth protest too much, methinks.

Is it just me, or does anyone else hear the ladybugs saying "Eat me, eat me?"  These cookies were the result of leftover black and red royal icing from another project.  I couldn't just let that go to waste, so I had to whip up a new batch of cookie dough and bake more cookies for decorating.  My icing ran out after a couple of ladybug cookies and now I have lots of extra "blank" cookies, and so, the cycle perpetuates!

Something's fishy . . .

It's funny how when you tell people you are making "fish cookies" they seem apprehensive at first.  Once I reassure them that no actual fish were used in the recipe, they look relieved.  This school of fish was made as a thank you for my neighbor who was kind enough to feed the fish in our koi pond while we were away on vacation.

It's a Girl!

What better way to celebrate Malkie and Ari's new baby girl than by eating personalized onesies, carriage cake, and a cupcake tree?  

Yaffa's Bat Mitzvah - Fondant Cookie Decorating

For her Bat Mitzvah celebration, Yaffa wanted to decorate lady-themed cookies.  There were hats, dresses, high-heeled shoes, and purses for her friends to decorate with many different colors of fondant.  Look at all the beautiful cookies created by Yaffa and her friends!