Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Hens and Chicks

To celebrate the launch of my blog, I decided to bake some cookies. At my house, iced sugar cookies are not just a Christmas treat; we make them all year round. I have drawers in my kitchen that are filled with nothing but cookie cutters, and a cookie recipe I've used for 20 years or so.
  
But this time, in the spirit of all things new, I tried a recipe I found in my Cookie Craft book. The taste was very similar to my recipe, but the cookie dough didn't spread as much when it baked. As a result, the cookies maintained their shape, and you could actually tell what they were!  

I love the professional look of cookies that are decorated with royal icing, but I use a much simpler icing recipe that doesn't take long to whip up, and in my humble opinion, tastes better! Mix together the following ingredients:

3 cups confectioner's sugar
3 tbsp. milk
3 tbsp. corn syrup
3/4 tsp. almond extract

Stir together until smooth and glossy.  If too thick, add more corn syrup. Add food coloring as desired.

The one problem I have is that the cookies look great the first day, but after that the color starts to dull.  Do any of you have a simple confectioner's sugar icing recipe that remains shiny for longer? 

Here are the results of my afternoon of baking and decorating:



And here is a whole brood of aproned red hens and their chicks:

 



I had so much fun baking these Little Red Hen cookies and just had to share them with you!



30 comments:

camp and cottage living said...

Betsy Anne
Your rooster and chicks are so..sweet! And so professional looking too.
I can't help you with the icing-my recipe is not shiny.
Your etsy shop has the very same merchandise as mine!
Blessings-Kimberly

Angela said...

love these!!! you're a pro!

Shirley Hatfield said...

I'm really enjoying your blog. It isn't often I get to watch one bloom from the very beginning.
Everyone knows there's nothing better than something with polkadots on it! =D

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Your hens and chicks look like paintings. Love the 'red' of your blog (another blogger who loves red is Brenda . You might enjoy it.
You have such a great blog design.
- Joy

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Left off Brenda's blog address:
http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/

-Joy

magie said...

They are so adorable! They are so cute, that I am not to sure if I could bring myself to eat them :P
I have never tried that type of icing before, I will have to give it a go. How do you spread it onto the cookie?

Hausfrau said...

How adorable these are--and I plan on trying your icing recipe!

Holly said...

Are you serious!!!??? Those are the cutest little things I've ever seen! Great job. Martha Stewart would freak out!

retrorevival.biz said...

OMG, these are too cute to eat! I've never made such pretty cookies ~ you're so talented:)

~Cindy

Jacinda Vandenberg said...

Those are amazing! I thought they were fake at first - they're perfect! You are extremely talented!

Betty Sneeringer said...

How cute are those! And look very professional but unique.
Betty

Patty said...

Perfect with a cup of tea, right?!

Hope said...

Betsy, those are the cutest things ever and I know they taste yummy! I don't think I've ever seen hen and chicks cookie cutters before. You really should pinterest these! :))

Ric Rac and Polka Dots said...

Miss Betsy,
Oh my word, I love them!!!! We are sisters from another mother. You would get along with Donna very well too!!!! Maybe we're triplets. I got the pictures but haven't had time to do anything with them, but thank you so much.
Those cookies are just too cute!!!! You are so much fun!
Julie

Unknown said...

Betsy,
I am also amazed as these other ladies are by your talent here....I can NEVER get my frosting to look like this....if I came to your house for tea,I would have to be SOOO hungry to take a bite out of those adorable cookies!!! I don't know why the icing gets dull....there are a couple of really good cookie blogs, let me know if you need their addresses....:) Sandy

Unknown said...

Also...where did you get these adorable cutters????? Sandy

Betsy said...

Thank you to all of you for your very kind comments!

Magie, I use a regular knife to spread my icing. I just make sure the consistency is just right--not too thick, but not too thin. I do have a pretty steady hand, so it's easy for me to ice right up to the edge cleanly. For the chick's eyes and the polka dots I used a baggie with a small corner cut off. I was too lazy that day to get out my piping bag! Sometimes I use plastic squeeze bottles too. Hope, I found the chick cookie cutter at our local Kitchen Art store, but had to search all over for just the right hen. I finally found her online at Karen's Cookies (www.karenscookies.net).

You all have no idea how much your comments mean to this new blogger!

Betsy

Visits With Mary said...

WoW..those look professional...and very cute..wish I could help with your icing delema but alas can not!! Love your post. ))smiles))

donna said...

Your cookies are so cute. They turned out perfect. I love the way you decorated them.
Hugs
donna

Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes said...

Hi Betsy, your cookies are sooo pretty! I love that they are so colorful. You are a very good baker and decorator of cookies. Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great weekend.------Shannon

Kris said...

Hey...hello, and welcome to blogland! My friend Holly sent me over to see your cute blog! Your cookies are adorable! I have chickens and they are so fun to watch. I have a blog site on my blog roll, she does cookies for charities. Cookie Crazy I think, but I will have to double check, anyway, she used her own icing recipe, and she loves it because of the shine. Perhaps you can try it. But yours look awesome! I do a little cookie and cake decorating too. It is fun. Well, I am adding you to my blogroll, and will be back for sure!! Love what I have read!
Kris

Red Rose Alley said...

Those are so cute, and they look scrumptious. I love hens, chickens, and roosters. I have a red rooster in my kitchen and it makes me smile every time I look at it. Your cookies turned out wonderful. Have a lovely weekend.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

seriously...are you kidding me....these are precious. You could sell them...oh, they are too cute!!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Me again...I would take the picture with the rolling pin and cookie cutters with the cookies and make that your header....just a thought!!

Free Pretty Things For You said...

oh my gosh! look its a pretty hen and her chicks!!! How Adorable my dear!! =D

❦Bayside Gal❦ said...

Hi Betsy, I just found your blog. LOVE the chicken and hen cookies. My grandkids will love them.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

These are just the cutest! I've never seen cookie cutters like these! And you made them too pretty to eat! ♥♥

Sunny Simple Life said...

Oh my gosh these are the cutest.!!!

Anonymous said...

Eeeks! Oh girl, these are so wonderful!

I am not a cookie cutter/icer but okay, this is the way my mind works... I think, "Can I make those too- only out of bakers clay/dough and "paint" icing on them and string them on jute and hang it in my kitchen?! Ha-ha! I'm an ideaholic!

Thanks again for linking up today! ♥

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

These are the sweetest cookies I have ever seen! What a beautiful job you did on them! You should start selling them! I'd buy some! Thanks for the recipe!

Hugs,
Maryjane