Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Cute Halloween Cookie Set


Just a quick post to show this cute Halloween Cookie set I made up for Mr Sweet to take into his work colleagues.

The cookies are double chocolate chip sugar cookies topped with grape, orange and chocolate fondant.

Now take a deep breath........'cause Christmas is coming. I'll give you this weekend as a break with something deliciously chocolate, but then I can't make any promises.

Plus if your in the Christmas spirit or are planning to be remember I still have one Christmas Cookie demonstration date left this year on the 17th of November as part of Hands on Brisbane.

I will be demonstration how I roll out the cookie dough, how I get an even finish and then decorate a range of cookies from elegant snowflakes to these cute babushka snowmen and penguins. The demonstrations are very interactive and limited to 15 people so you can feel free to ask me as many questions about cookies or blogging that you would like. The sessions are on from 10:30am to 12:30 at the Bleeding Heart Cafe Brisbane and are $30. Tickets are available HERE.


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Decorating for kids - Easy Eye cookies for Halloween


OK, let's be realistic.

I'm not going to use words like desperate here but if your still looking for Halloween recipes at this late stage in the game you're going to want something pretty easy. Plus it goes without saying you don't have time to shop around for a stack of ingredients.

Don't worry I have your back.


Super easy eye cookies.

Sure these aren't going to win any decorating awards. But like I already said.....Super Easy.

In fact these are so easy that the kids can whip them up. 

I used shop bought frosting, mostly because it's whiter that the buttercream I make, and also because.....easy.

and here's another time saving tip if you are really rushed for time. Use some sheets of shortcrust pastry from the freezer section of the supermarket instead of making up cookie dough from scratch. It's not exactly the same but on these small cookies with lots of frosting seriously who will really be able to tell the difference.

Easy Eye cookie instructions

Ingredients
small round cookies (mine are 3cm or around 1 1/4")
white ready made frosting (or make your own)
M&M's any color you like
butter knife


Spread the frosting over the top of each cookie. Be as neat as possible, but they are Halloween eyes so don't stress if they are a little bit crazy messy. In fact messy may be a bonus.

Take M & M's and press one into the center of each white frosted cookie.


Yup - that's it. Halloween cookies decorated and done :)

*If you have used the ready made frosting it will be a bit sticky still at this stage. Leave the cookies uncovered and  in about 30min to an hour the frosting will crust over (be less sticky).


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Linda Vandermeer is a mum, blogger and author of Sweets on a Stick: More than 150 Kid Friendly recipes for cakes, candies, cookies and pies on the go:



Or here at fishpond (Aus/NZ)

Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Munchy Mummy Cookies


These munchy mummy cookies were hands down the kids favorite from the Halloween Babushka cookies I made up.

In case you've missed the last few posts I have a set of terrifying adorable babushka Halloween cookies that I whipped up and am trying to make my way through the tutorials before the 31st of October.


So far I have posted the instructions for:

Evil Ghost (Click here for instructions)
Screaming Ghoul (Click here for instructions) and
Cute Monster (Click here for instructions)

Tip - If you make these munchy mummy's try to roll out the fondant as thin as possible as there ends up being a bit more than I usually use due to the double layer.

You can either use a beige look 'bandaid' wrapping like I did in the picture or the plain white fondant would look just as good.

I was even going to make up a pink version before I ran out of time and had to pack the kitchen up.......maybe next Halloween.

GIVEAWAY

Don't forget if your in Brisbane I have  giveaway  for a double pass to the Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show. The pass will be for a Flavour Session and one day general admission to the show.




The Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show is on from 9 - 11  November at the Brisbane convention center and are lots of super exciting things to do including celebrity chef sessions, exhibitor stands, masterclasses and Chef's Book signings. Pop over to the official website HERE to see all the important information. I will be along one day to check it all out and can't wait.

To enter the competition simply follow the instructions on this Rafflecopter giveaway, it's open until Sunday night.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

CHRISTMAS COOKIE DEMONSTRATIONS IN BRISBANE


and also if you are in Brisbane don't forget that I have another Christmas Cookie demonstrations on the 17th of November as part of Hands on Brisbane. I will be demonstration how I roll out the cookie dough, how I get an even finish and then decorate a range of cookies from elegant snowflakes to cute babushka snowmen and penguins. The demonstrations are very interactive and limited to 15 people so you can feel free to ask me as many questions about cookies or blogging that you would like. The sessions are on from 10:30am to 12:30 at the Bleeding Heart Cafe Brisbane and are $30. Tickets are available HERE.


Munchy Mummy Halloween Babushka Cookies Instructions

Ingredients and Equipment
Babushka sugar cookies (baked and ready to decorate I used the recipe from Sweets on a Stick)
Babushka cookie cutter 
Beige or white Ready Roll Fondant
Black Ready Roll Fondant
small rolling pin
clean food safe brush and water
Sharpe Knife
cornflour (corn starch) or crisco/oil for rolling out fondant
Edible Eyes - shop bought or make your own from Royal Icing CLICK HERE

1. Knead the beige (or white) fondant until pliable. Dust the workbench with cornflour (corn starch) or rub on a little crisco/oil and roll out the fondant until a couple of mm's (1/8") thin. Using the cookie cutter, press down and cut out a babushka shape.

Brush the cookie with a small amount of water and press the fondant onto the cookie. Use the small rolling pin to adhere the fondant to the cookie by pressing down lightly, if necessary gently roll out the fondant to the sides of the cookie by lightly rolling the rolling pin towards the edge.

2. Roll out a small amount of black fondant in an uneven circle and attach to the face area using a small amount of water.

3. Cut some of the remaining beige fondant into thin bandaid strips using the sharp knife.

4. Brush a tiny amount of water onto the fondant covered cookie, avoiding the black face and then adhere the bandaid strips in a random fashion, leaving a stripe of black face showing. Use the sharp knife to trim the excess bandaid strips away from the cookie.

5. Brush a little water on the black strip and adhere a set of eyes to the face area.

** The cookie cutters I used are from Bisk-art and the easy vanilla sugar cookie dough recipe I used is from Sweets on a Stick.



Or here at fishpond (Aus/NZ)

Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go!