Graduation Hat Cookie

Graduation Hat Cookie, originally uploaded by gensler97.

This is a better view of my graduation caps. I like this is a cute little cutter, but it is very easy to break off the tassle. I chose to use the traditional black cap in my bouquet to add additional color to the bouquet. These are done in the school colors.

Happy Graduation!

Graduation Cookie Bouquet

Graduation Cookie Bouquet, originally uploaded by gensler97.

I made this cookie bouquet for a friend's graduation party. I had already made them 3 dozen cookies they asked for and decided I wanted to make them something special to go with it.

I have started using thick bamboo skewers that I found at Wal-Mart for my cookie bouquets. They are just as sturdy as cookie sticks, and longer. Also, the price is less than a dollar for a big bunch on them. Sorry I can't remember if there are 100 in the package or not, but it is between 50 and 100. They are also a little thinner, which makes it much easier to slide into a cookie. The pointed end helps out when sticking them into the cookies because you don't have to be as careful not to make a hole in the cookie.

Volleyball Cookies

Volleyball Cookies, originally uploaded by gensler97.

I love how these volleyball cookies turned out. I have been wanting to try them and finally got a chance. I think they are my favorite sports ball. It definitely looks like a volleyball. I played around with them and found 3 lines to be the perfect look. Four lines were just too much for this size cookie. I also love that they are blue. You can do white, which is traditional, but why not have fun with the colors.

Fiesta Cookie Bouquet

Fiesta Cookie Bouquet, originally uploaded by gensler97.

Loved this cookie bouquet. At first I had no idea what to make for a fiesta theme. I used several different cutters that were other shapes and cut or smooshed them into the shape I needed. I used a cowboy hat for the sombrero, a rattle for the maracas, and a horse for a pinata. Loved the colors for fiesta cookies! One problem I ran into with the maracas is that the red started to run I think because of the heat generated inside the bags. I had a few others not in bags that did not run at all. The pinata is my personal favorite.

Princess Crown and Dress Cookies

These cookies went along with the castle cake I made for my daughter. I wanted them to be blue for cinderella, but I wanted them to be much simpler. I loved the sweet accents on these dresses and the belt made them complete. I made these a week later and added a belt to the dresses with the dots and wished I would have done it to these also.

Cinderalla Carriage Cookies

Cinderalla Carriage Cookies, originally uploaded by gensler97.

These cookies were made to go with a Castle Cake for my daughter. I found the design on Wilton.com and had to add them to the list of cookies. The top decorations were suppose to be yellow, but I was feeling a little lazy and tired when I just went for white. The wheels kept falling off until I made the icing really thick to glue them on.

Polar Bear Cookie

Polar Bear Cookie, originally uploaded by gensler97.

These are absolutely adorable and super easy to make. I wanted something fun and different this year. I didn't have the polare bear cutter, so I used a hippo cutter and trimmed down the dough to look like a bear. It was super cute and so easy. Sometimes the simplest cookies are the best to make.

One mistake I found out a little late on some of the cookies is that super fine dusting sugar did not just stick on the wet icing. It stuck to everything, so I had a purple polar bear. I learn something new all the time.

Christmas Cookies

Christmas Cookies, originally uploaded by gensler97.

Another set of Christmas cookies. The last ones I made were very modern in design, but these are very traditional. I had to use a hippo cookie cutter for the polar bear and cut out the parts I didn't need. There are my hubby's favorites. My favorites are teh gingerbread snowmen because they are inspired from one of my favorite cookie decorators on flickr, Cookielady. She has the most amazing designs and I love to see what she is doing this time of year. The snowflakes and the Christmas tree have become a signature cookie for me and the mittens are just too much fun to make. I change them a little each time I make them. There is so much you can do with mittens.

Gingerbread Snowmen Cookies

Gingerbread Snowmen Cookies, originally uploaded by gensler97.

Who says Gingerbread cookies have to be gingerbread men? Cookielady makes these cookies and I adore them. Since the snowman is the hardest cookie for me to make, I decided to make her snowmen. They are sweet and simple and look like little men. The colors are not traditional, but I think they make a fun look. These went with my traditional snowflakes, polar bears, hats, and mittens. If you are wondering what the headbands are suppose to be, they are ear muffs.

Rolled Buttercream Instructions

Yesterday, I finally tried Rolled Buttercream on cookies. I have been meaning to do it for over a year now. I saw someone else who had tried it and decided to just do it. There were a few small cookies left over from my last batch that I was going to pitch. Why waste it I thought. Overall, I found the recipe to be very easy to make and easy to work with. My middle child loved the cookies and ate over half of them. I think he did like them better than my usual royal glaze icing.

Here is the recipe I used.

Rolled Buttercream
1 c. Light Corn Syrup
1 c. Shortening
2 lb. bag powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. clear vanilla flavoring
1/4 tsp. clear butter flavoring

Combine corn syrup, shortening, vanilla, and butter flavor in a heavy duty mixer and begin beating on low. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until it is all mixed in and starts to combine almost into a small ball. Next move it to a counter that is covered with more powdered sugar and knead it like bread dough until it is smooth. At this point you can add your color to it and start rolling it out to the desired thickness and cut out with the same cookie cutters you use to cut out your cookies. I use a brush to add corn syrup to the cookies before adding the rolled buttercream to the cookie. This acts as a glue. Add your rolled buttercream and you are done.

You can embellish the cookies with royal icing if you like. You can also combine several colors together to make swirls of colors, or polka dots. Whatever you try, just have fun creating. This would be a very easy way for kids to decorate cookies too.

Rolled Buttercream Leaf Cookie

Rolled Buttercream Leaf Cookie, originally uploaded by gensler97.

This was my first try at rolled buttercream on cookies. I have tried fondant before and was not very excited about the taste. I like the sweetness of the rolled buttercream much better. It was so easy to make and roll out. I know several people really like buttercream on their cookies, but it is impossible to stack and to travel. This may offer me another option for those who prefer buttercream.

I decorated them with simple royal icing. I am going to make some simple cookies this year and cover them in rolled buttercream and pass them out to see what people think.

Turkey Cookie

Turkey Cookie, originally uploaded by gensler97.

I love how these turned out. I wasn't sure I could even make them look like turkeys, but I am very happy with them.