Teal And Gold Heart Cookies

This elegant cookie design came about because I wanted to make some simple heart cookies for a sale this weekend but was determined to stay away from using pinks and reds which I felt just wouldn't be right for Fall.

I'm really pleased with this combination of teal and gold. For a little extra oomph and shimmer I also painted the border with gold luster dust.

To make these I used a round scalloped cutter to cut the cookies and then after baking I outlined them with gold royal icing.

After the border dried for 30 minutes, I flooded the cookies with white royal icing.

I let the cookies dry overnight and the next day piped hearts onto the cookies. If you don't feel comfortable doing this freehand, you could use an edible ink marker to draw a heart that you could trace.

The final touch was the addition of gold luster dust on the border. To do this, I put a teaspoon of luster dust in a small container and added just enough vodka to make a paint. Then I simply painted it on with a soft brush. Let the cookies dry completely before packaging.

Autumn Tree Cookies

These Autumn Tree Cookies just kind of evolved as I recently baked and decorated a batch of cookies just for fun so that I could experiment and practice.

When it comes to cookie decorating, I will never rest on my laurels. There's always something to learn and new cookies to attempt.

The falling leaves on the cookies were added with a #67 Wilton leaf tip.  These cookies came together quickly and what I found most difficult was trying to decide where to add the leaves. I wanted their placement to look natural and for me that was hard to do.

I used dark blue royal icing for the trees and added them while the white base coat was still wet.

I'm now thinking that for Halloween I should make black trees on an orange base coat.  I think that would look really cool and I could also add some black crows and a full moon. I know I'm getting ahead of myself but I can't help it, I really enjoy the creative process of cookie decorating.

Here's how to decorate Autumn Tree Cookies:

Outline the cookies with medium consistency royal icing using a #2 tip. Let this dry for about 30 minutes before moving on to the next step.

Put flood consistency blue and white royal icing into pastry bags that are each fitted with a #2 tip. Flood the cookie with the white icing.

Then immediately use the blue icing to make a tree trunk. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Add some branches.

Here's another example. Let the cookie dry completely before adding the leaves.

It usually takes anywhere from 8 to 12 hours for the cookies to dry completely.

After the cookie has dried, pipe dark orange leaves onto the tree using stiff royal icing and a #67 Wilton leaf tip. Once the leaves are added, use a skewer or scribe tool to gently flatten them. If you leave them sticking up and out like in this photo, they will be too fragile for packaging.

This is how the leaves look after gently flattening them. Wait for the leaves to dry completely before packaging.

Here's an Autumn Tree Cookie with some Double-Decker Mini Pumpkin Cookies that were also part of my recent practice batch. Happy Autumn!

How To Decorate Pumpkin Cookies (In Three Easy Steps)

These Pumpkin Cookies can be decorated in three easy steps using a piping technique that adds diminision and interest.

And now is the perfect time to learn how to make them since they are ideal for fast approaching Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations.

I made my pumpkins mini-sized and used them to top a batch of double-decker Fall cookies but they are definitely cute just the way they are too.

My recent batch of double-decker cookies.

Here's how to decorate them in three easy steps:

Step 1:

Outline and fill the two outside sections of the pumpkins with flood consistency royal icing. Let this dry for at least 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.

Step 2:

Outline and fill in the middle sections with the same icing. You might need to use a skewer or scribe tool to ease the icing all the way to the inside edges of the already filled sections.

Step 3:

Finally add a green stem using a paint brush and piping consistency royal icing. I have a small stiff square tip brush from Wilton that I recommend using. By painting on the stem you eliminate having to use a pastry bag and it gives that rough textured look of a real pumpkin stem.

Fall Cookies For Sale

These double decker Fall cookies topped with acorns, leaves, pumpkins and pears are going to be for sale at the Trinity Artisan Fair this weekend.

I really like how the gold scalloped edge looks on the base cookies and it really wasn't hard to do. The most important thing when piping a contrasting colored edge is that the piping icing be thick enough to hold its shape yet soft enough to settle and not leave peaks. It's always a good idea to practice piping onto a plate first.

Here's how:

Bake cookies.

Using a #1 pastry tip and piping consistency icing, add your border. Let the icing dry a bit before flooding the cookie.

Flood the cookie and use a skewer to help ease the icing into the edges.

Wait for your icing to dry and then use stiff royal icing to glue your decorative cookies on top. Let the cookies dry completely before packaging.

Cookies For Sale

I've gathered together my Fall cookie cutters for inspiration. For me, planning the cookies I'm going to make is an enjoyable part of the cookie making process. I pour myself a cup of tea and sketch away.

I'm having fun planning a big batch of Fall-inspired decorated sugar cookies that I will have for sale this weekend at the Trinity Artisan Fair on Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 10.

I hope to see you there. I'll be at a table with my friends Linda and Melanie who respectively sell handmade dolls and quilts.

Here are the details:


Trinity Artisan Fair: Saturday, November 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Kempton Hall at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (147 NW 19th Ave, Portland, Oregon)
Admission: 2 cans of food or $2. Benefitting The Cathedral Arts Program and Trinity Outreach Food Pantry. The Fair features local, professional artisan crafters sharing their original work in fine jewelry, knitted and fabric wearables and accessories, fused glass, quilts, toys, decor and much, much more! Meet the artisans in person and purchase items for gifts or to enjoy for yourself.