what our cookies look like
We made some Spring sugar cookies last week. I made these cookies in 3 stages—one day I made the dough, one day we cut out the cookies (with 2 adults I freak out less, but this time it was just me and the 3 girls and it went just fine, somehow.) Then one evening Grammie and I made the icing and let the girls have at it. They got to decorate them completely on their own, no food styling here. These shapes are all bunnies, chicks, flowers, and whatnot, which is awesome, because you can't even tell what they are now. I made a simple icing of melted butter, powdered sugar, and milk until it was sort of drizzle-y dropped from a spoon. I also put out little bowls of sprinkles. I used this great natural food coloring (in the post here) for the icing, which was completely negated by the large quantity of creepy sprinkles that were dumped on each cookie.
A bunny head. Okay, these cookies were so good. They set up hard, well, they do if the icing isn't 1/2" thick, which is what these were. I used the sugar cookie recipe from my new cookie book (although I'll bet the recipe is similar to this one) and as you can see, they look quite different. But, you gotta love that 100% kid baking thing, you know? They were so proud.
i think these cookies look amazing!
Posted by: amy | March 18, 2008 at 07:20 AM
I love doing sugar cookies with my kids. I mix up the frosting like yours, but then I put the different colors in individual pots and let the kids use paint brushes to spread the frosting. My 6-year-old daughter will sit for hours painting cookies! It is always fun to see what they come up with.
Posted by: Lori | March 18, 2008 at 07:29 AM
Yummy, I want some. They look great.
Posted by: sarah | March 18, 2008 at 07:29 AM
Those couldnt be any cuter! and i do love the food "styling"... perfectly imperfect!
Posted by: Five Flowers/ Emily | March 18, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Well, aren't those just darling...that is what our christmas sugar cookies looked like, lots and lots of sprinkles. Kids had a fab. time and still are talking about it! I have a hard time letting go and letting them have at it, but they sure love it when I do! Well Done!
Posted by: Christy | March 18, 2008 at 07:37 AM
I absolutely love that these are kid-made with no food styling! So fun. We're big into sugar cookies around here too.
Posted by: Mary Beth | March 18, 2008 at 07:37 AM
This is so adorable. You captured this shot and moment beautifully. Great idea!
Have a great day!
Lyns
Posted by: Lyns | March 18, 2008 at 07:55 AM
I love it! We love us some sugar cookies around here. I might have to do this with my little cooks, they would love it.
Posted by: Kathy | March 18, 2008 at 08:09 AM
We have plans to make cookies that will look just like the ones you made! They will be beautiful of course and as always the best cookies we have ever eaten!
Posted by: Amy | March 18, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Mmmmmmmm.....cookies! I think I will have to put cookie makig on the schedule this week!
Looks like a fun time was had by all!
Posted by: Stephanie | March 18, 2008 at 08:30 AM
We had Christmas cookies that looked similar to this, only messier. I'm not sure if the cookies or the counter had more icing! I'm hoping that my young brothers and sister didn't notice me trying not to freak out!
Posted by: mollie | March 18, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Whenever I make sugar or butter cookies, I always whip up an extra batch and store some dough in my freezer. If you wrap it well, it will keep quite nice and can be used in a pinch for emergency cookie making.
Posted by: Saucy Francaise | March 18, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Whenever I make sugar or butter cookies, I always whip up an extra batch and store some dough in my freezer. If you wrap it well, it will keep quite nice and can be used in a pinch for emergency cookie making.
Posted by: Saucy Francaise | March 18, 2008 at 08:44 AM
You can get non-creepy sprinkles here: http://www.naturalcandystore.com/c-baking-decorations
They also have some other treats sans artificial junk.
Posted by: Kelly | March 18, 2008 at 09:56 AM
It seems delicious!! Good work. Kisses
Posted by: Chikaboom | March 18, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Oh! When the cookies stay a little soft because of too much icing- that is absolutely my favorite thing. I used to decorate cookies like that with my grandma for every single holiday- minor or major. Seriously, I think we probably made sugar cookies for Veteran's Day...
Posted by: Annie | March 18, 2008 at 10:44 AM
What a sweet photo. I knew immediately what they were. Wouldn't that be a sweet Christmas card--with 100% kidmade Cmas cookies, of course!
Posted by: Ginger | March 18, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Love 'em! I think having kids is good for those of us who like bunny heads to look like bunny heads, you know?
Posted by: Julie @ Letter9 | March 18, 2008 at 10:46 AM
GReat idea! spring cookies! I love it : )
they look very tasty.
: ) trysh
Posted by: tryshia | March 18, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Great cookies. I'm thinking we are going to do Pilsbury this year, LOL. I hate rolling out the dough, I am really horrible at it. Any suggestions?
Posted by: AJ | March 18, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Mmmm... Yummy cookies!
Posted by: Marta Mourão | March 18, 2008 at 11:07 AM
i am 100% behind you in the doing it in stages thing.
my 8 and 6 year old daughters made soup one day after badgering me for two days to *cook*.
I put the pot of chicken broth on the stove and turned the stove on. they asked what next as I told them from my chair-
"cut up carrots"
"break up broccoli, get the corn from the freezer and put in two handfuls." They did use ramen noodles but the rest of it was healthy and they took a bowl of it to their neighborhood type granny across the street.
She loved it and their chests puffed up with a job well done. :o)
love, love kids cooking....
lori
Posted by: lissilulu | March 18, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Amy, I think you would like this:
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=431
Posted by: Marianne | March 18, 2008 at 01:10 PM
They look delicious.
Posted by: Ericka B Traven | March 18, 2008 at 04:03 PM
Somehow I think the kid creations taste better than the perfect ones, though that may be the multitude of candies and sprinkles that they always have.
Posted by: Kirsten | March 18, 2008 at 09:05 PM
will try this with my boys..
question : how much of the icing makes it past the mouth on the way to the cookie?
lol :0
Posted by: robyn | March 19, 2008 at 01:39 AM
So so cute. I am baking biscuits for the kids to decorate at our party on Saturday, the problem is trying to stop everyone decorating them today!
Posted by: gillie | March 19, 2008 at 02:46 AM
mmm. i haven't iced cookies since christmas. now i think i have to.
Posted by: elizabeth of course | March 19, 2008 at 06:12 AM
Have you seen these?
http://www.indiatree.com/products/decorative/natures_colors/index.html
They look, as you say, "non-creepy." (:
Posted by: Rae | March 19, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Have you seen these?
http://www.indiatree.com/products/decorative/natures_colors/index.html
They look, as you say, "non-creepy." (:
Posted by: Rae | March 19, 2008 at 07:11 AM
Try again......sorry!
http://www.indiatree.com/products/decorative/natures_colors/index.html
Posted by: Rae | March 19, 2008 at 07:13 AM
How fun! I only make sugar cookies durign the holidays, but why not spring too! Thanks for the links on the natural food coloring.
Posted by: sara | March 19, 2008 at 08:23 AM
I think that those cookies look awesome. I love that the kids made them and they're beautiful because of that.
Posted by: Nevis | March 19, 2008 at 10:34 AM
That's a wonderful picture! We love making cookies as a family... the more imperfect, the better!
Posted by: Ula | March 19, 2008 at 10:57 AM
What fun cookies! I was contemplating that book in the bookstore yesterday but am going to wait until I have a coupon to curtail the expense.
Posted by: June | March 19, 2008 at 12:49 PM
What a hoot. You are a good mom. I am a control freak with the decorating, good of you to let it go. Maybe we will try it here.
Posted by: erinn Johnson | March 19, 2008 at 12:58 PM
every time that i read a post of yours, i get so excited to do another thing with my kids. for those projects that I need to wait until they are a little older, I am keeping a mental list. thanks for all the ideas and inspiration. i look forward to nap time, a cup of chamomile, and a potential new post from angry chicken each day.
Posted by: Sachi | March 19, 2008 at 05:34 PM
fantastic. I don't know why, but this kid-baking just made my night. I think your cookies would look quite nice sitting next to our kid-made rice crispy "nests".
Posted by: molly | March 19, 2008 at 06:52 PM
I love those cookies - beautiful, with lots of color!
Posted by: SeaBird Chronicles | March 19, 2008 at 07:28 PM
A great, slightly less messy way to frost cookies is using pastry brushes to apply the frosting. I just mix powdered sugar and milk together until slightly thickened then "paint" it on with a pastry brush. I like the idea of adding melted butter to the frosting. The cookies look great!
Posted by: Megan | March 19, 2008 at 10:19 PM
I will have to look for the natural food colour next time I am in Whole Foods.
Those cookies are so sweet! Kid-decorated cookies rock.
Posted by: Rebecca | March 20, 2008 at 05:35 AM
did you know you can dye easter eggs with food coloring? 1 part hot water, 1 part vinegar and food color to your liking. e
Posted by: erinay | March 20, 2008 at 08:07 AM