Showing posts with label Cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cookies. Show all posts

Friday, September 28, 2012

Trending: Cupcake and Cookie Texture Tops!

Photos courtesy of Country Kitchen Sweet Art.

I'm crazy about cupcakes and cookies and love to experiment with new ways to decorate and embellish. What's really cool is that the texture tops are adaptable to cupcakes and sugar cookies! I can unleash my creative juices or get neat instructions and seasonal ideas from Country Kitchen Sweet Art:

Delicious and decorative way to embellish your sugar cookies with poinsettia, wreath, and ribbon cookie texture mats.



These scroll cookies are so elegant, they can be used for gifting, bridal shower favors, and a host of other special events! To take them over the top, I might "paint" them with edible gold or silver dust.

Get the kids into the holiday spirit by using food safe markers to decorate your sugar cookies and help them create their own cookie bouquet!



Imagine serving or gifting red velvet cupcakes embellished with these fondant roses! Country Kitchen Sweet Art's Cupcake texture tops make it possible to get professional looking results!

Not sure how to use the texture mats? Not a problem. Check out the tutorial on the Country Kitchen Sweet Art's website. {Scroll down the page for instructions}.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Piñata Cookies!


Just in time for your Cinco de Mayo fiesta, these colorful  cookies have a sweet surprise inside. Check out how to make them in a cool DIY tutorial on  Geekologie!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Diane's Chocolate Cut Out Out Cookies!


I just love chocolate and was so happy when Diane Shavkin graciously agreed to share her recipe for chocolate cut out cookies. Enjoy!



Diane's Chocolate Cutout Cookies



1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 egg
(1). Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg. Gradually stir in the sifted ingredients to form a soft dough. Divide dough into 2 pieces, flatten and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
(2). Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Dough is sticky so be sure to add more flour to the rolling surface as needed. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.
(3). Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. 


Thursday, April 5, 2012

It's A Cookie!


Play and then eat a treat! This is what's in store for the lucky partygoers who play Chinese Checkers on this edible shortbread cookie board.  Candy coated chocolate covered peanuts are used as the "marbles".
For directions on how to make this unique "game", click here.  A template for the board itself can be found here.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Cookies!

I want to give a "shout out" to all the great folks at All Hands in Motion and NY Foundling.  Teaching hard of hearing and foster kids and their families the joy of cake and cookie decorating has really been a blast!

Sometimes we cakers get caught up in the competitiveness of cake decorating and the adulation of others, but sharing your skills and making an impact upon others with your artistry and talent, to me, is what cake decorating and sugar art is all about. Don't forget to give back.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Easter Cookies Demo!

Watch how to make these adorable tiny Easter cookie treats at Broadway Panhandler, 65 East 8th Street, New York NY 10003, on Wednesday, April 20th at 3:30 PM. Before you leave, you must check out their cake decorating section. Broadway Panhandler also carries chef jackets, and some "to die for" retro aprons and cake plates.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Make Your Own Copper Cookie Cutters!

Ever wanted a speciality cookie cutter design you couldn't find anywhere? Let Roots and Wings Co.'s tutorial show you how.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Edible Cookie Art!

Art Gallery Cookies promotes the work of new and established artists with their one-of-a-kind cookies. Each cookie collection is executed by a different artist who receives a commission upon the sale of their sweet collection. The Jazz Collection shown here was painted by The Wall Flower Studio.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Elegant Cupcakes Ideas

Member Annette Villaverde, LadybugLuggage, works magic with cupcakes and her designs are showcased in 1,000 Ideas for Decorating cupcakes, cookies and cakes.
This book is a great reference for anyone who appreciates fresh ideas and techniques in cupcake, cookie, and cake decoration, and would make a great stocking stuffer!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Spook-Ta-cu-lar Halloween Cookies!


These cool howl-o-ween sugar cookies are easy enough for beginner cakers, and busy moms and their kids to make. Sharing a "cookie moment" is sure to bring smiles and giggles to the entire family. We used a basic roll-out sugar cookie recipe. Any basic roll-out cookie recipe is fine. For those who want to go the extra mile, we suggest Elisa Strauss' sugar cookie recipe in her first book, Confetti Cakes. Even novice bakers can whip up a batch of cookie dough, roll, cut, and bake in a snap!

Both cookies were covered in Satin-Ice Fondant [which is Pareve]. Once the cookies are baked and cooled, the fun part comes--decorating!

You will need a small 2lb container of white and black vanilla flavored fondant
rolling pin
plastic mat to roll out the fondant
round cookie cutter
witches hat cookie cutter
small rectangle cutter or template
yellow and blue food gel colors
art brush
small pizza cutter
a small amount of water or clear corn syrup

Witch's Hat Cookie
Roll out the black fondant until about 1/8 inch thick. Cut with the witches hat cookie cutter.
Apply a small amount of water or clear corn syrup to the cookie and affix the fondant on the cookie.
Color a small amount of white fondant yellow. Roll out until about 1/8 inch thick and cut a small strip with the pizza cutter. Apply a small amount of water or clear corn syrup to the cookie and affix the yellow "hat band". Finally, color a small amount of white fondant blue and roll out a little thick. Cut a small rectangle buckle with a rectangle cutter or template. Apply a small amount of water or corn syrup and apply to the hat. You can continue to embellish the hat with tiny candy decors, edible glitter and such.

Mummy Cookie
Roll out the black fondant until about 1/8 inch thick. Cut with the round cookie cutter. Apply a small amount of water or clear corn syrup to the cookie and affix the black fondant on the cookie.
Take a small amount of white fondant and divide into two balls [for the eyes]. Put a small amount of water on the cookie and affix the balls. Then take a small amount of black fondant and divide into 3 balls. The first two affix to the eyeballs, the third flatten slightly and hallow to serve as the mummy's mouth.
To make the wrappings, roll an amount of white fondant until almost see-through. Cut strips using the pizza cutter. Brush the cookie with a damp art brush dipped in water, and crisscross the strips.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Yummy Cookie Recipe!


I baked these sweet little hat cookies for the Uncorked! Festival in Staten Island. They are buttery and not very sweet. Great with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk. The recipe is easy enough for kids to help out in the kitchen. A great family activity!

Buttery Cookie Recipe
Cream together: 1 cup unsalted butter and 2/3 cup sugar
Beat in: 1 egg
Add: 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
Mix until all ingredients are well blended. Chill dough 3-4 hours before rolling.

Preheat oven to 350. Place a disc of cookie dough between two pieces of wax or parchment paper lightly dusted with flour. Roll out 1/4" thick and cut. [I used a large flower cutter and a round cutter for the hat]. Chill on the cookie sheet in the fridge until firm.

Bake about 10 minutes or until barely colored. Cool on rack for 2-5 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.

Got Milk?

Dina :)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Happy Father's Day Cookie Treats!



NYC Cake Decorators are also crazy about cookies! This cool Father's Day idea is totally inspired by Bakerella. The free paper tray and fries holder templates were downloaded from Bakerella's website and were a snap to put together.

The directions for making this fast food meal are easy enough for kids to follow, and would make a wonderful family project just before Father's Day.

Vanilla cookies were used instead of cupcakes for the bun. Bakerella uses a brownie for the burger patty; here a chocolate roll-out cookie was used. A bamboo skewer was used to mark the dough with "grill marks" and after the cookies baked and cooled, a little petal dust diluted in almond extract was brushed onto the cookies to give them a "juicy" burger look.

The lettuce was made with green colored buttercream and a 104 tip; the sesame seeds are fondant pushed through an extruder, cut into small pieces, and rolled between the fingers; the tomato is a small red fondant circle, and the fries were made according to Bakerella's directions--the cookies really look like fries. A touch of cocoa petal dust on the tips of the fries, really fool the eyes. This idea can also be adapted to any picnic, barbeque, or Fourth of July celebration.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

An article about Staten Island Sugar Arts and the kids decorating classes was published today in the Staten Island Advance.


Dina, Organizer of NYC Cake Decorators, taught cake decorating at the College of Staten Island Continuing Education, University Settlement Youth STRIDE Program, and is currently teaching senior citizens at University Settlement Senior HEART Program. Lynn, member of NYC Cake Decorators, has held kids cake decorating private parties for a number of years and taught children classes at the NY Cake Convention, January 2010. Both ladies have developed a sweet partnership and are looking forward to a bright future. Check out their website, Sugar Arts Classes, when you have the chance!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Member Annette's Edible Creations To Be Published!

Several of member Annette Villaverde's yummy edible creations will be published in 1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies & Cakes! The book is scheduled to be released in November 2010.

Annette is an extremely talented and creative cookie, cupcake, and cake designer. Her hedgehog cupcake was selected as Martha Stewart's cutest cupcake in 2009 and her business Ladybugluggage is receiving a lot of local press.

Annette is scheduled to teach a Cookie Couture Class at our 3rd Annual Day of Sharing, August 28, 2010. Contact Dina at nyccakedecorators@yahoo.com for more information and to register.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo courtesy of member, Melania

These sweet valentine cookies crafted by member Melania, are so beautifully painted that they look like works of art. Check out Melania's website Palatofino and her cookie creations on Flickr.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Cake Buzz: Say "I Love You" with Message-in-a-Cookie

I was so excited to get Williams-Sonoma's February 2010 catalog. It features among other baking tools, really neat cookie cutters called, "message-in-a cookie cutters".

You can make a personalized message by sliding selected letters into slots in the cutters and then depressing the plunger. "Sweet Heart", "I Love You", "Thank You", and all sorts of messages can be pressed and baked into your cookies with this little gizmo. I think that this would also work great on fondant covered mini-cakes and cupcakes as well.

I searched their website but I couldn't find the cutters for sale online; they may be an exclusive catalog item. However, you can print a scrumptious Valentine sugar cookie recipe on the Williams-Sonoma website. There is also a video demonstrating how to use the cutters on the website. -Dina

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Cake Buzz: Erotic Cookie Academy - Feb. 12th!

Danielle Moore, owner of Annie Mae's Cheesecakes and Moore in historic Harlem, USA, will be offering a naughty cookie decorating class for Adults ONLY on February 12th at Pearl Studios in Midtown Manhattan.

The erotic cookie class for couples is a unique and fun way to spice it up with your loved one. And when Valentine's Day rolls around, why not say "I Love You" with one of Annie Mae's cheesecakes? You can follow Annie Mae's Cheesecakes and Moore on Facebook!

Danielle Moore is the founder and member of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy Caking To All and To All Some Cake Cash!!

Photo courtesy of member, Stephanie.

In behalf of the NYC Cake Decorators Meetup, I would like to wish all our fans and readers a Happy Holiday! May all your dreams come true.

Sweet Regards,

Dina
Organizer