Since this was to be my first attempt at decorating cookies like this, I decided to go the basic route and not try to get too fancy. I made a simple flower-shaped cookie from Amanda's favorite sugar cookie recipe.
The dough was really easy to work with - and the cookies baked beautifully. I was really impressed with how pretty they looked fresh out of the oven.
I planned to ice them using Amanda's royal icing recipe and to write all of my mom's kids' and grandkids' names on them, as well as making ones that said "Mom", "Grandma", "Dad", and "Grandpa". I even included the two sons-in-law, LOL. I had a difficult time deciding whether or not to do make cookies with "Dad" and "Grandpa" on them because my dad passed away on Dec. 25, 2008. But there wouldn't be a family without him, so I decided that his cookies should be in the basket, too.
Don't be too critical - remember as you look at them that I have never made cookies like this before:
I need practice on writing with icing - but at least you can read the names, LOL! I also had a hard time trying to figure out the right consistency for the "writing" icing. At first I made it too thick and it was hard to get out of the tip. Then I made it a little too thin because once the writing was on the cookie, it would spread a little and the lines would run together. So getting that consistency right definitely takes some practice!
My mom lives about 2.5 hours from me, so I had to ship her cookies. I wrapped each cookie in a bag to help keep them fresh as well as offer a little protection.
I bought a basket at Hobby Lobby (they were 50% off!) and filled it with some pink crinkled paper shreds. Yes, I know - it sort of looks like an Easter basket. But I needed to pad the cookies!
Overall, I was pretty pleased with the results. The cookies were delicious!! The recipe is one that is going to get used again and again. I was able to get 70 cookies out of one batch (and yes, I decorated every single one of them!), so there were plenty left over for my family to eat. They all loved them. I was especially impressed with the royal icing. I have never, ever been able to make icing that completely hardened (much to Gus's dismay) - but this icing was perfect!!! I'll be using it in my thumbprints from now on.
My mom called yesterday morning to thank me for the cookies. She said she cried when she opened the gift and saw Dad's cookies on top. She said they were beautiful - and so thoughtful - and she loved them. She also said she didn't think she was going to eat them, LOL. I told her to take a picture to keep the memory and then eat those cookies. She compromised by saying she was going to take them to work with her on Monday to show the girls - and she wasn't going to eat the ones that represent her & Dad. Now I need to find out if there is something you can buy to preserve food you want to "keep", LOL! I think the gift was a success.
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