In Mandy’s words … “For you, it may be back to school; the start of Spring or Autumn/Fall depending where you are in the world; September could also be someone special’s birthday or even the beginning of your favourite sporting season. Whatever happens in your life in September, that’s what I’d like your cookies to be about.”
The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.
My cookies are for Rosie, and inspired by her. Did you know Rosie? She was a sweet and popular blogger from the UK, who used to blog at Peace of Cake. I think a few of us, some of us who’ve been around for 3 years, might have known her. At the time, blogging and bloggers were a small, tight knit community of few, and we more or less knew each other. It Rosie was who introduced me to royal icing on cookies.
These cookies are inspired by Rosie, and a tribute to her!
I find nature and it’s colours very inspiring, and it often reflects in my posts. With the weather changing here in North India, the days are full of colourful dragon flies and butterflies chasing each other in the sun tirelessly. If not in the kitchen, then you can find me sitting in the garden for hours together, chasing these intriguing creatures, watching the busy bees in their hive, or chasing the chameleon for a close up. Just what I like to do!
This red dragon fly had us fascinated when the son found it resting in the leaves of the palm after sun down one evening. The two of us spent over an hour taking pictures of this rather obliging creature that just hung there forever.
The challenge was great, more so because I’ve had Peggy Porschen’s book on my shelf for over 2 years, and have always wanted to make something from it. It’s a stunning book, from an immensely talented lady, eye candy all the way. I was so glad to grab the opportunity to open the book and bake! I added a scraped vanilla bean to the cookie dough, and they were lovely to eat sans the icing! I made the butter for the cookies at home, something I’ve been doing for ages. I always have about half a kilo of butter in the freezer.
The cookies were a breeze to make, the icing a bit painstaking at times and messy too, but loads of FUN all the way. I’ve collected SO MANY cookie cutters over the years that I had a tough time deciding which to use, and which not too! The cookies once iced were rather sweet, but the kids loved them, and so did their friends. We had a lot of sugar high kids for a few days, but HAPPY ones!
I used to ice cookies against orders many years ago, and this was a very popular cookie. Many years later, I still get the odd call requesting me to bake them for birthdays etc, but I gave it up because it took the creative joy out of my life. Often the stress would get to me, and how! I still remember making 50 dozen cookies for a baby shower, and 40 dozen for a bake sale at an embassy fund raiser. Thereafter I decided enough was enough, and decided I’d rather pursue baking as a passion rather than a commercial venture.
Thank you Mandy for the beautiful challenge, and thank you as always Lisa of La Mia Cucina and Ivonne of Cream Puffs in Venice for hosting this fab kitchen!!
Basic Sugar Cookies:
Based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking
Makes Approximately 36x 10cm / 4″ Cookies
200g unsalted butter, at room temperature
400g plain flour
200g Caster Sugar / Superfine Sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean
Method
• Cream together the butter, sugar and any flavourings you’re using. Beat until just becoming
creamy in texture.
• Tip: Don’t over mix otherwise you’ll incorporate too much air and the cookies will spread during
baking, losing their shape.
• Beat in the egg until well combined, make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the sifted flour and mix on low until a non sticky dough forms.
• Knead into a ball and divide into 2 or 3 pieces.
• Roll out each portion between parchment paper to a thickness of about 5mm/1/5 inch (0.2 inch)
• Refrigerate for a minimum of 30mins.
• Once chilled, peel off parchment and place dough on a lightly floured surface.
• Cut out shapes with cookie cutters or a sharp knife.
• Arrange shapes on parchment lined baking sheets and refrigerate for another 30mins to an hour.
• Tip: It’s very important you chill them again otherwise they’ll spread while baking.
• Re-roll scraps and follow the above process until all scraps are used up.
• Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan Assisted).
• Bake until golden around the edges, about 8-15mins depending on the size of the cookies.
• Leave to cool on cooling racks.
• Once completely cooled, decorate as desired.
• Tip: If wrapped in tinfoil/cling wrap or kept in airtight containers in a cool place, un-decorated
cookies can last up to a month.Royal Icing:
315g Icing / Confectioner’s / Powdered Sugar, unsifted
2 Large Egg Whites
2 tsp Lemon Juice
Directions
• Beat egg whites with lemon juice until combined.
• Tip: It’s important that the bowls/spoons/spatulas and beaters you use are thoroughly cleaned and
grease free.
• Sift the icing sugar to remove lumps and add it to the egg whites.
• Tip: I’ve listed 2 amounts of icing sugar, the lesser amount is good for a flooding consistency, and the larger amount is for outlining, but you can add even more for a much thicker consistency good for writing. If you add too much icing sugar or would like to make a thinner consistency, add very small amounts of water, a few drops at a time, until you reach the consistency you need.
• Beat on low until combined and smooth.
• Use immediately or keep in an airtight container.
• Tip: Royal Icing starts to harden as soon as it’s in contact with air so make sure to cover containers with plastic wrap while not in use.Decorating Your Cookies: Flooding
“Flooding” a cookie is a technique used when covering a cookie with Royal Icing.
1. You outline the area you want to flood which helps create a dam
2. Then fill or flood inside the area you’ve outlined
Decorating Your Cookies: Royal Icing
The most important thing when it comes to decorating with Royal Icing is the consistency.
There are two ways of flooding your cookies. Some like to do the outline with a thicker icing and then flood with a thinner icing. Some like to use the same icing to do both which saves time and you don’t have to have two different piping bags for each colour you’re using.
The Same Consistency Method
Consistency:
• Mix your royal icing according to the recipe/instructions
• Drag a knife through the surface of the Royal Icing and count to 10
• If the surface becomes smooth between 5 & 10 seconds, the icing is at the correct consistency
• Tip: If your icing is too thick, thin it by adding a few drops of water. Mix, do the 10 second test, then if it’s still too thick, add a few more drops of water, repeat, etc.
• Tip: To thicken your icing, add small amounts of icing sugar until thick enough for the 10 second test
Two Different Consistencies Method
Consistency:
• Mix your royal icing according to the recipe/instructions.
• Separate into 2 different bowls, one lot of icing for outlining, the other for flooding.
• For the outlining icing, drag a knife through the surface of the Royal Icing.
• If the surface becomes smooth at around 10 seconds, the icing is at the correct consistency.
• Tip: If your icing is too thick, thin it by adding a few drops of water. Mix, count to 10 seconds, then if it’s still too thick, add a few more drops of water, repeat, etc.
• Tip: To thicken your icing, add small amounts of icing sugar until thick enough for the 10 second test.
• For the flooding/filling icing, drag a knife through the surface of the Royal Icing.
• If the surface becomes smooth at around 3-4 seconds, the icing is at the correct consistency.
• Tip: If your icing is too thick, thin it by adding a few drops of water. Mix, count to 3-4 seconds, then if it’s still too thick, add a few more drops of water, repeat, etc.
• Tip: To thicken your icing, add small amounts of icing sugar until thick enough for the 3-4 second test.
Packaging and Storing
• Once fully decorated, allow cookies to dry for 24 hours in a cool and dry area.
• Stack cookies in an airtight container, from largest cookies at the bottom, to smallest and more intricate at the top, with parchment or wax free paper in between the layers.
• Store in a cool and dry area with the container’s lid firmly sealed.
• Will last for about a month if stored this way.
Do stop by HERE and take a look at the beautiful cookies the talented Daring Bakers have decorated this month.
Don’t miss a post 
Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India 
Aaawww, what cute cookies! I love your pretty and colorful decorations.
And what beautiful insect pictures!
Cheers,
Rosa
I miss Rosie too. When I go through my recipes which i have preinted out from blogs and I see her recipes and I turn it quick as I think I still have not had the courage to make a cake from her after she was taken from us. I guess it will take some time for me to make a recipe from her.
I totally agree she was such a warm person. We all miss her so much so i can imagine how much her family misses her.Cookies look so so color full and beautiful.
wow what a cute n beautiful cookies …love the colors u used in it …excellent work dear
Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com
Beautiful cookies – so full of color!!
you are a warm and thoughtful friend deeba and it touches my heart as i read your post. i did not know rosie and have no idea what happened but just knowing you are dedicating this post for her shows what a huge heart you have! glad to have you as a friend! lovely lovely cookies!
Beautiful colours!!!!!
Un saludo, Begoña
hey deebz- lovely, lovely artwork. what a sweet tribute to this girl. x shayma
I love Rosie dear Deeba, she was one of my best and lovely friends in Blogger world and I miss her, always, she always come to see me.
These cookies are absolutely beauty and look wonderful like the things she always made! I remembar a tart she mad for hubby's birthday was so funny! I loved her and I think always I will miss her, your cookies are absolutely lovely my dear, I love the Ice cones and butterflys!! xoxoxoxoxo gloria
I knew Rosie too, she was the sweetest person!! I can't believe you did this as your career too, you have to give us some tips about it!!
I remember Rosie well. She was always there with a kind comment and support. Newer bloggers might remember her from Baking Galore. This is a wonderful tribute to her Deeba!
Beautiful cookies! Love your pastel color palette. This was such a fun challenge, but I can imagine how one might go crazy at having to make a large number of decorated sugar cookies.
What beautiful cookies, and what a lovely tribute to someone so bery special. Amazingly done.
What fun shapes and colors! Rosie must be very pleased!
Oh… you have such a lovely heart Deeba and you can always see it in your creations, these cookies are reminder how beautiful friendship could be.
Well, I was going to say something that I saw Meeta already said so I'll just say DITTO 🙂
Beautiful post Deeba and what gorgeous cookies. I SO wish I was as good and creative baker as you are!
Such a fun Daring Baker challenge, Deeba! I love your butterflies and what a lovely tribute to Rosie!
Beautiful cookies! i love all the colors.
What delightfully colored cookies, and wow, what an array of shapes! Your nature pic blew me away though, and pray – how did you manage to not elaborate on that little detail about homemade butter!!! Do share how you do that, please!
A lovely tribute to your friend as well.
Leave it to you to make the most beautiful, romantic, springtime cookies! I am picturing you in your kitchen with all of your patience creating these gorgeous creatures! And I never knew Rosie but what a wonderful friend you are now! Love you, sister!
Those are beautiful cookies. I love your post, it' so sweet. And the dragon fly is beautiful!
Ciao ! I loved Rosie too and I'm sure she is happy about your thoughts where she is ! Your cookies are wonderful !
Cute looking cookies..
Your sugar cookies are beautiful! And so many different designs, I am amazed. I totally understand about the passion going out of it when it feels like an assembly line. Nice job on the challenge!
What a beautiful tribute to your friend. Her unexpected death is a reminder of how fragile life is and how unpredictable it can be.
I love the colors you chose and the cookie cutter shapes you used..SO pretty!
These came out so beautiful Deeba!
I'm glad that you enjoyed this challenge so much.
I also think it's very touching that you made these for a dear friend of yours, what a lovely thing to do, I'm sure she'll forever be a warm memory in your heart.
Beautiful cookies, absolutely lovely!
Thank you for taking part of the challenge 🙂
such an inspiration Deeba! I love those!
What a nice tribute to Rosie! Your cookies brought a smile to my face. So whimsical and beautiful! Well done!
Your cookies are gorgeous and story wonderful! I wish I had know Rosie! What a beautiful tribute!
These are lovely Deeba – and so wonderful to dedicate them to Rosie! I thought Rosie was wonderful – sweet and kind and supportive, and I was so sad that she suffered so much ill health before she passed away. She would be very proud to hear that she taught you about royal icing on cookies, and that you have done such a wonderful job with them.
Deeba, you never cease to amaze me with your work of art! Beautiful tribute! Thanks for your lovely comment on mine!
Your cookies look lovely, Deeba. So colourful. Yes, Rosie (Juls) was a lovely lady and one of the first bloggers I got to know and I will always remember her beautiful bakes.
Can see you're putting the new camera to excellent use.
Glad you picked up the icing cone again!! Such colorful creations, Deeba! They make me smile!!!
and Love how painstakingly you have decorated the cookies. Love the ice cream cone with the dripping yellow ice cream effect! Lovely!!!
Wonderful job! Your spring time cookies are so sweet!
Beautiful cookies; beautiful tribute. Life is short so best for us to enjoy it while we can. Thank goodness for wonderful friends.
You are such a wonderful friend Deeba, what a beautiful post! I remember Rosie, she baked a banana bread for my banana bread round up from a few years ago and she was so lovely. RIP Rosie 🙂
beautiful cookies and sweet tribute
Deeba, you are so talented and creative..I'm in awe. Just a gorgeous post and cookies
Very pretty ones Deeba.. Rosie was a source of inspiration to me as well..
What a sweet and thoguhtful post Deeba. Wish I'd had a chance to get to know Rosie. SOunds like she left a lovely legacy.
Awww… such a lovely tribute to a friend, I'm sure she is very proud of you.
I love the colours of your cookies, it's very vibrant. I particularly like the butterflies the most 😀
Lovely cookies Deeba! 🙂 i've been asking my sis to buy me cookie cutters from the time i saw this post! 😉 and i have the neon food colors too!
I dont think i'll be able to get vanilla beans here.. Could i use vanilla extract instead? and how much?
Deeba I love your cookise (and your cookie cutter, by the way!).
ovely colours! Happy and light!
This is a touching and beautiful tribute to your friend Rosie. The cookies are simply amazing: a celebration of life 🙂
the cookies are so colorful and pretty!
Vivid and colorful, beautiful and impressive!
Sawadee from bangkok,
Kris
deeba, you absolutely win as the best DB post. I am stunned and my daughter is sad she wasnt in there right now.
Deeba these are the most impressive cookies I have seen on DB this month – for the sheer volume alone! Well done. I am looking forward to when I can actually hold a piping bag properly to decorate them – I think I have the bug!
This is just a beautiful DB post. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and what a nice tribute for your friend, Rosie.
Beautiful post, Deeba! This was a fun challenge, and your cookies are stunning. I didn't know Rosie, but this is a lovely tribute to her. Seeing your nature photos makes me want to get outside with my camera, even though it's pouring rain here.
🙂
Great challenge! Your cookies are awesome!
Your cookies for Rosie are a beautiful tribute and very pretty. I can understand why you are still getting requests to make these still after years.
I've had so much fun seeing all you Daring Bakers decorated cookies. Yours are just beautiful!
Such stunning cookies and a fitting tribute to your friend. Your photos are so inspiring!
Wow..can't believe what I'm seeing here…so beautiful!!! Must be so fun to make. Thanks very much for sharing…real art work in baking.
These are darling. Truly perfect for Spring over here
hi deeba,
your cookies are soooo cute love these bright colors … first time it come to know me that rosie is not with us (May God Bless her).
What a thoughtful tribute to your friend.. The riot of colors look beautiful on the cookies. It must have been real fun(and a lot of work too) for you to make all these and a gala time for the kids to polish them off:-)
Your cookies are so bright and pretty, I love the colors! Beautiful photos of the dragonfly too.
I love the colours and the fine details on your cookies.
I commend you for making these beautiful cookies. I never have the patience to deal with the lengthy icing process required to make cookies like this- let alone take inspiration from nature. You did an amazing job. They're stunning!
These are so good! Well done on this month’s challenge.
What a beautiful and colorful tribute to your blogfriend! just lovely.
.-= Lora´s last blog ..Plum Cocktails & Septembers LOL Food Blogger Posts =-.
great colors, your pictures have come out beautiful
Such a beautifully written post. Your photos are simply beautiful, and your decorated cookies are just gorgeous.