In life, when it comes to certain important moments, we do a practice run… a run through… a dress rehearsal… before the big event. I’m glad I did a dry run for decorating my holiday sugar cookies this year because I discovered that boy, I really stink at it! LOL! Good thing I can bake a tasty cookie because this post is proof positive that I cannot decorate a pretty cookie. But that’s okay, that’s why I used this as an opportunity to practice because I’m determined to improve… and hopefully rather quickly because Christmas is right around the corner and my co-workers are already talking about how they’re looking forward to my cookies!
That’s right – it’s Tuesday and we’re baking with Dorie. This week’s recipe was for Grandma’s All Occasion Sugar Cookies and was chosen by Ulrike of the blog Küchenlatein. I halved all the ingredients and made only a half batch of cookies as slice-and-bake as opposed to rolling out and using cookie cutters. I did this primarily because I just wanted to try out the recipe… but I also wanted to try out making royal icing and doing simple decorating. The cookies do taste very good – I will not lie one bit! These cookies are incredibly tasty! Instead of just using vanilla extract I used half vanilla and half lemon. I find this gives a “cleaner” tasting cookie. I had no trouble getting the dough to come together or roll into logs although quiet obviously my logs were too skinny and my cookies turned out just slightly larger than the size of Ritz crackers. The recipe says they puff up but I didn’t find that to be the case – I sure wish they would’ve puffed up because then perhaps my cookies would’ve been a decent size! LOL. Oh well, live and learn. Perfect practice makes perfect so I’d better start perfect practicing because these are far… far… from perfect. But that’s okay…
This is why we do a practice run….. right? HAHAHAHAHAHA
If you’d like this recipe it is on pages 146-147 of Dorie’s book “Baking From My Home To Yours”. Additionally you can find it on our hosts blog. Also, take a moment and check out the other TwD bakers because I’m sure they can decorate :)
Have a delicious day!
What the h— are you talking about??? No need to practice run, Em!!! Those are absolutely beautiful! Cheerfull, festive and truly, truly creative! I’d put them in my tree to admire way before eating them! WOW! The colors are amazing!
Oh my! Your cookies are stunning!
My favorite cookie in the last picture is the bottom left corner. Yours look way better than mine! At least they are very festive and you know what they are!!
I think they turned out pretty darn good! You’re not going to need much practice to get better…you don’t have far to go!
~ingrid
what are you talking about?! they look great!! :) very festive. and i am a sucker for dragees.
Practice run my butt! Those look incredible! You don’t want me to bust out my crooked, lumpy Christmas tree cupcakes, do you? lol
The pictures are phenomenal, Em. Like I said, inspiration… :)
Practice run? Umm… #1 – you don’t need one, and #2 – my practice run convinced me that I didn’t want to try it again. Fiddly cookie decorating be darned!
If I could just get my practice run to look that good! They look great
OMG They are adorable!
Aaah, you’re being too hard on yourself. They really are cute as can be.
Perfect is overrated – they look festive and delicious. I am a big fan of wobbly lines and irregular patterns, as my piping skills demonstrate, because it proves they are hand-crafted. Any old machine can make a perfect cookie, but only we bakers can make a perfectly unique cookie!
I think they turned out beautiful! I think we’re always more critical of our own work than others are. Your red icing is amazing, I can never get it that red.
I think they look adorable!
Oh my! Those look SO AMAZING! I haven’t had a chance to make surgar cookies yet. I think your photos are quite inspiring.
Are you kidding me? They are beautiful!
Only wish I could grab one (or TWO) through the screen. I would be soo happy to help you eat them. :)
Thank you for another terrific post. ( AND photos!!) xo~m.
i wouldn’t consider these a practice run at all! you did a great job with the icing–the cookies are lovely!
I think they look great – you are being much to hard on yourself! I went the plain slice and bake route to avoid the whole decorating thing.
Those sugar cookies look delicious! You did a beautiful job of decorating them. Wow!
Those are absolutely stunning!! Always impressive, Em!!!
Its all in the "Magic!" The beholders of your art… BTW dito everyone else. These cookies look amazing. Your coworkers will be so impressed with your work and the warmth that a hand decorated cookie imparts. The bright colors are happy. Magic!
happy Christmas
AmyRuth
These look absolutely beautiful!
Oh my gosh you don’t stink… Your cookies look beautiful!
I thought you did an excellent job decorating!