I collect cookie cutters suitable for every season and theme. Not the pricey antique cutters . Not even the fancy copper or tin ones, though I do have some of both of these. Just ones that I can put to use.
I particularly like making autumn-themed cookies for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other fall events, so my leaf cutters number in the dozens. Many are maple and oak shapes, but I have a few plainer, ovalish birch or beech leaves, too. Often, I make up a powdered sugar icing in a whole palette of autumn colors—reds, bronzes, yellows, and moss greens—and just dip into these and “paint” the cookies with a brush.
Notice that for a natural look, the leaves shown are slightly mottled—just like the real ones drifting in my yard now. The painting part is easy and fun for even kids (including my grandchilden) to do. The final touch is to pipe on the veining with a piping cone or bag with a very fine tip, which, admittedly is easier for a grownup to do.
The cookies make lovely table decorations and super gifts. For giving, I pack them individually or in eye-catching color-coordinated groups in clear plastic bags.
Any simple powdered sugar icing will do for creating autumn leaf cookies. For a glossy finish just add about a 1/2 teaspoon of light corn syrup, and stir it in well. With all that icing, the cookies themselves should not be too sweet. One of my favorite doughs for these cookies is posted here.
3 comments:
The icing looks so realistic. What a beautiful gift for this time of year!
Hi Nancy - the cookies look wonderful! I have several leaf and acorn cookie cutters that I can use to make these. How do you get the mottled effect with icing colors ?
I just dip into several different colors, one after the other, without washing off the brush. When you first try it you think it might look blotchy, but the icing shades kind of blend and look natural.
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