Double~Decker Flag Cookies & SprinkleBakes Book Winner!

 

The idea for this double-decker cookie was taken directly from Bridget's (Bake at 350) great idea. Take a peek at her cute double-decker cookies here, here, and here. Told ya they were cute! I'm a fan, that's for sure!

 

I really enjoyed watching these cookies take shape.  I think the double-decker bug is catchy, and I have some ideas for more variations in the works.

 The only block of time that I could find to make these cookies was when the sun went down, so unfortunately I don't have any steps photographed.  I will plan better next time, and include a tutorial, but I have included the steps required to make these flag cookies:)

 

 Double~Decker Flag Cookies

(Double-Decker cookies adapted from Bake at 350)

 

1.  Make and bake the sugar cookies:)  (I used a 3.5-inch scalloped, square cookie cutter, and a 1.5-inch star cutter for the shapes.)  Let the cookies coo completely.

2.  Using an edible marker(and ruler) draw a template of the stripes onto the cookie.

3.  Make some royal icing. Tint some of it red, some of it blue (just enough for the stars and dots), and leave some of it white.

4.  Outline the entire flag template in white royal icing (thicker consistency for outlining) with a #2 tip. Let dry for about 15 minutes.

5.  Thinning the royal icing to a "fill" consistency, load up a frosting bag, and with a #3 tip, fill in every other stripe with white royal icing. Let dry for at least an hour.

6.  While the white stripes dry, outline (#2 tip) and fill in the stars (#3 tip) with the blue icing. Set them aside.

7.  After the white stripes have set up, fill an icing bag with the red icing("fill" consistency) and using a #3 tip, fill in the remaining alternate stripes.  (Save some thicker royal icing (any color) to adhere the stars to the flags when they are completely dry.)

8.  Let cookies dry completely.  I let them dry overnight.

9.  Apply the sugar to the stars by combining 1/4 teaspoon of meringue powder with 1/4 teaspoon water.  Apply to iced stars with a small, clean paint brush.  Immediately sprinkle with blue sugar and shake off excess.

10.  Using the royal icing as paste, apply some to the back of the star cookies, and press them gently onto the flags. 

11.  With a #2 tip, apply blue royal icing dots evenly around the perimeter of the flag cookies.

12. Let dry.

Voila~Double Decker Flag cookies!  Perfect for the 4th of July!

Try your own double-decker cookies.   You may get hooked too!

Thanks for the cookie inspiration, Bridget!

The SprinkleBakes Book winner is: Mari!

Comment #157:

mariMay 16, 2012 10:40 PM

ice cream on top of a brownie!

muchishiba@gmail.com      Congrats, Mari!

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Patriotic Project Parade 

Patriotic Jello Cookies

My posts have been rather sparse for the last couple of weeks.  I've been busier than usual with family fun, and work. To top it off, I was sick with the stomach flu over Mother's Day weekend.

I do have a couple of sugar cookie designs on the table (literally), but I wanted to get a post under my belt before another weekend of my favorite linky parties comes and goes.

Last week someone linked to these colorful cookies from Jamilyn's, I heart Nap Time. Did you see them? Aren't they pretty!?! Along with tons of other people,  I pinned them to one of my Pinterest boards right away! When I made them a few days ago, I decided to put a patriotic spin on them:)

What a tasty, fun treat these would be to pack up for a Memorial Day picnic, a 4th of July barbecue, or to pay tribute to Old Glory on June 14, Flag Day.
The jello not only gives them color, but sweet berry flavors as well.

Patriotic Jello Cookies (Slightly adapted from I Heart Nap Time)

Ingredients:

3.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder 
1.5 cups unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg 
1 tsp vanilla 
2 (3 oz) boxes jello~strawberry (or other red jello) and berry (blue) jello

Directions:

1. Beat butter in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture.
2. Divide dough into 3 equal portions. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of red jello into one portion, 2 tablespoons of blue into another portion, and leave the third portion plain. Knead the red and blue jello into the dough. You may want to add a few drops of food coloring to make the dough more vibrant.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll the red and blue dough balls in the extra jello from the packets. Place them 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Flatten each the with bottom of a bowl.
4. Bake 8-10 min. at 350 degrees on baking sheets. Cool on baking sheets for 2 min. Remove to wire racks and cool completely.    ENJOY!

Let's hear it for the red, white and blue! :)

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SprinkleBakes Giveaway & Blackberry Curd

I was so thrilled when my sweet friend, Heather, of the popular SprinkleBakes blog (and now the popular SprinkleBakes book!), asked me if I wanted to have one of her books for a giveaway! Of course, I said "Yes!" 

I already had a copy of my own, and knew it would be a very special treat for one of you. Perfect timing to coincide with the third anniversary of my blog, and hitting the 3,000 mark on facebook:) 

Thanks so much to each one of you for your friendship and kindness!  <3

SprinkleBakes is not your average cookbook.  Its subtitle, "Dessert Recipes to Inspire Your Inner Artist" is definitely a clue to what's in store. It's full of edible art, eye-candy, a wide variety of amazing recipes, and encouragement on developing your own artistic style for creating in the kitchen. It's a must-have!

No Bake Strawberry Milk Cheesecake from Heather's blog, SprinkleBakes.

Sprinkles in the crust?!?  How brilliant is that? :) I love it!

SprinkleBakes is one of the first sites I "discovered" way back when:)  What a precious gem in the treasure trove of blogs it is! The "icing on the cake" is that Heather is genuine, creative and sweet, just like everything  featured on her blog, and now in her book.

{I also can't forget to mention that Heather has two pug pups that show up now and then on her blog.  They're appropriately named Biscuit and Churro, and they're cute and comical.}

 

Yesterday I whipped up some blackberry curd (just berries, a bit of sugar, egg yolks and butter) using a recipe from the  SprinkleBakes book and it is SO good!  I just got over the stomach flu and it was wonderful to have my appetite back.  I hadn't eaten anything but a few crackers for the prior 36 hours, and I think I could have eaten this blackberry curd just like pudding:) Though I did have a spoonful, I'm saving it for some scones I am going to make.

I love the beautiful color of this blackberry curd.  I've made lemon curd a couple of times, but never ventured to any other variety.  I see all sorts of curds coming from my kitchen this year, and I'm anxious to try more of the recipes in this exceptional cookbook!

Did I mention that Heather signed the book for this giveaway? Yep, she did! 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

*For your chance to win SprinkleBakes, 

just leave one comment  stating what your favorite dessert is...

*This giveaway will end on Sunday, May 20th, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

*The lucky winner will be chosen via random.org. and will have 48 hours to respond before a second winner is chosen. 

Please leave your email address within your comment so that I may reach you.

This giveaway is open to everyone!

GOOD LUCK!

Mexican Blanket Cookies for Cinco de Mayo

Though I am 1/4 Mexican (paternal grandmother~Zacatecas, Mexico), I have never really celebrated Cinco de Mayo. Of course, since I've had a blog, I celebrate many holidays by way of sweets:)  In this case, I made cookies, Mexican blanket (or rug:)) cookies to be exact.

I love the vivid colors that are used in many art forms and crafts within the Mexican culture, and wanted to incorporate that cheerful element in these celebratory cookies.
Once again,  the cookie painting was done with Wilton food paste colors. I still haven't ventured from a safe, basic striped pattern in my cookie painting:) I  think I need to muster up some courage to step out of my comfort zone.  The worst that can happen is that we eat the rejects, right?

The base coat on the cookies is simply a flat layer of white royal icing, and the cookies themselves are sugar cookies. A #3 tip was used to outline the cookies, and to add the fringe detail. Aside from the trim, The entire cookies were painted with Wilton concentrated pastes.
I had a great time painting these Mexican blanket cookies and using all the bright colors!
If you haven't tried painting cookies yet, you should try it!

Have a Feliz Cinco de Mayo mis amigos!

Linked to:

Inspiration Friday
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