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      Toile Print Lemon-Lavender Shortbread

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      Serve these lemon-lavender shortbread cookies as an elegant tea time treat. Toile print wafer decors turn them into edible works of art.

      Guess who appreciates a pretty toile print on just about anything? My mom. I’ve been thinking about what to make in honor of Mother’s Day, and when I came across toile-printed wafer paper -well. It was a done deal. Toile print fabric harks back to 1760’s-1800’s and often depicts people in French pastoral settings. I thought this one was especially nice for Mother’s Day because it shows women tending their children, having tea, and even washing up some laundry. Ah, some things never change!

      There was no doubt about it – this shortbread had to taste as beautiful as its decoration looks. I added the zest of a whole lemon and fragrant culinary lavender to my favorite shortbread recipe. Shortbread is so simple with few ingredients, so the dough mixes up really quickly. The lemon and lavender flavors are absolutely beautiful together. I just love a floral note for spring.

      If you’ve never used wafer paper, then now’s the time! It’s tasteless and melds with buttercream, royal icing, fondant, or modeling chocolate. The toile wafer paper is printed with large and small vignettes. Larger cookies, made with a 3″ cutter as I’ve used here, will accommodate a large vignette – like those ladies lunching above. Use smaller cutters for smaller images.
      The colors of the paper really pop on a white background. So I recommend using white sculpting chocolate as a base because it rolls out smoothly like fondant and tastes great! White chocolate Fondarific is the stuff to get. Stamp it out with the same cookie cutter you used for the shortbread. If you’re not into storing a tub of modeling chocolate, then you could also use royal icing. Check out this blog post for using royal icing and wafer paper together.

      Frame your (cookie) art.
      Piping gel is ideal for attaching the image to the cookie. I often recommend corn syrup as an alternative, but it doesn’t have the starches that gives piping gel its stickiness. Stick to piping gel (ha!). Fondx is my fave.
      I lined the edges of the cookies with sugar pearls, and because I didn’t want to add them one by one using tweezers – I cheated. If you brush the edges with piping gel and dip them in the pearls, a bunch randomly stick to the edges. Use a toothpick to line them up and scoot off the extras.

      I don’t think I’ve ever made shortbread ‘sandwiches’ until now! In order to balance the barely sweet shortbread I made some lemon cream to fill them. This makes each sandwich is a formidable dessert. Just one packaged up in a cellophane bag and tied with ribbon would make a beautiful gift!

      Pretty and tasty – so perfect for mom, or any time you need a special treat. I think these would make pretty wedding favors. You could use any printed wafer paper appropriate for your party. It’s like wallpaper for desserts!

      These cookies are delish, whether or not you decide to decorate them with toile print. The recipe is simple and the classic flavors of lemon and lavender together in shortbread just can’t be beat for a spring treat.
      I’m leaving the link for the toile paper again, right here. You may want to explore some other designs, too!

      Toile Print Lemon-Lavender Shortbread Cookies

      Heather Baird

      Serve these lemon-lavender shortbread cookies as an elegant tea time treat. Toile print wafer decors turn them into edible works of art. This recipe makes about twelve 3-inch cookies, or 6 cookie sandwiches. If using large and small cookie cutters, the yield may be higher.

      .wprm-recipe-rating .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #5A822B; }No ratings yet

      Prep Time 1 hrCook Time 20 minsTotal Time 1 hr 20 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 6

      Equipmentsoft art brushToothpicksfood color marker
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Lemon-lavender shortbread1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature1 tablespoon lemon zest1 1/2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea saltLemon filling1/2 cup unsalted butter3 cups confectioners’ sugar1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice1 teaspoon lemon extractMilk or cream to thinWafer paper décor12 oz. white sculpting chocolate kneadedPiping gel1 sheet toile print wafer paperFood color marker1 cup sugar pearls
      Instructions ShortbreadPreheat the oven to 325F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter, lemon zest, lavender, and confectioners’ sugar. Mix until creamy. Add in the flour and salt. Mixture will be crumbly at first, keep mixing until a thick non-sticky dough is achieved.Roll the dough between two pieces of parchment paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Transfer to the refrigerator. Stamp shapes out of the chilled dough using a 3 inch square cookie cutter and place on the baking sheets. Bake for 15- 20 minutes, or until the edges start to brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.Lemon fillingCombine the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip. Beat on low speed then increase is ingredients are incorporated. Mixture will be crumbly at first. Add lemon juice and extract. Add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture comes to spreading consistency. Cover bowl with a damp towel until ready for use.Wafer paper decorsOn a confectioners’ sugar-dusted work surface, roll out the sculpting chocolate. Stamp shapes from the piece using the same cookie cutter used for the shortbread. Using a small art brush, dab a few dots of piping gel on the backs of the pieces and attach to the shortbread cookies.Lay the wafer paper on a clean, dry surface. Use the same cookie cutter to trace shapes from the piece of toile paper, centering the cutter on a vignette. Cut out 6 pieces. Trim the edges further if needed to perfectly fit onto the sculpting chocolate squares. Turn the wafer paper over and coat it with piping gel. Affix to the white chocolate square. Immediately turn the cookie over so the wafer paper is flat against the work surface. Repeat with remaining cookies. Let stand until set, about 1 hour.Turn cookies over and brush a thin line of piping gel around the top edges of the cookies (on the wafer paper square). Dip edges in sugar pearls immediately after brushing (work with 1 at a time). Use a toothpick to line up the pearls single-file, around the top edge of the cookies. Push extras off of the sides using the toothpick. Let stand until set.AssemblyPipe or spread lemon cream onto the plain shortbread cookies and top with a decorated cookie. Do not refrigerate. Store cookies at room temperature, loosely covered with plastic wrap or packaged in cellophane bags.
      NotesIf you make different sizes of cookies as I did, you may have slightly higher yield. Bake all large cookies on one pan, bake the smaller ones on another to promote even baking. Bake smaller cookies for less time, 12 minutes approximate.
      Water is the enemy of wafer paper. Make sure all surfaces and hands are try before touching. 
      If piping gel seems thick, put a little in a cup and microwave for 5 seconds to loosen. This helps the brush to glide across the backs of the wafer paper for even coating.
      Do not refrigerate the decorated cookies. 

      Keyword culinary lavender, printed wafer paper, shortbread

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

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      How to Make a Pretty Dessert Board

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      This dessert “charcuterie” board trades meats and cheeses for sweet treats, and it’s easier to put together than you might think!

      I recently created an article for Food Network about one of my new obsessions: Dessert Boards! These bountiful arrangements are inspired by charcuterie boards. Instead of meats, cheeses, and savory fare, these boards offer an array of sweet things. I’ve done my best to demystify the process with ingredients that need little prep work. I’ve also included tips on how to arrange your spread with style.

      The Right Stuff.

      I’m talking about ingredients! The fillers for your pretty dessert board will begin at the grocery store with some smart shopping. I personally enjoy using striped wafer cookies and cute waffle pretzels. Not only are they tasty, but they’re pretty cool to look at!

      Use some of those store-bought items to make low-prep desserts that will truly make for a pretty dessert board. You’ll find instructions for marbled strawberries, dip-dyed marshmallows, frosted brownie bites, and more in the article. All are quick fixes, but if you need more ideas, then 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge and 3 Ingredient Chocolate-Peanut Butter Marshmallow Candy are ideal for saving time. They’ll also make it so easy to fill up a board because both make big batches!

      The right arrangement and placement can make ordinary ingredients extraordinary! These yogurt-covered pretzels look kind of plain in the container, but fan them around a bowl and they almost look like flower petals. I’ve laid out all of my tips and tricks using line, shape, and symmetry. My best tip? Tile, tile, tile! Cookies, donuts, graham crackers, chocolate squares – they all lend themselves well to being tiled like dominos and create lovely repeating patterns.

      You’ll find every detail covered in this article – from choosing a board, to shopping smart for ready-made items, to composing an eye-pleasing spread. It’s absolutely brimming with the best info I could gather with DIYs, and loads more how-to pictures. Find it at this link on FoodNetwork.com.

      You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO

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      Brookie Cookies

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      Can’t decide between your two favorite childhood sweets? Now you don’t have to. Part brownie, part chocolate chip cookie, these Brookie Cookies hold the best of both worlds.

      When done correctly, a dessert mashup is truly a thing of beauty. And these Brookie Cookies are a recent fave. Each element stays true to its original form. The brownie portion is chewy and chocolaty with a soft middle. The chocolate chip cookie half is puffy, chewy, and bakes to golden-edged perfection. The two textures compliment each other because they are so similar – soft baked – and yet they hold together well for a dunk in ice cold milk (which I recommend!). 

      Whipping up the two cookie doughs for this treat takes a little more time than a regular cookie recipe, but the steps are not complicated. I recommend using a cookie scoop to portion the dough (this one) which will speed the process and make kitchen life easier in general. 

      I also recommend portioning all of one flavor of dough, washing the cookie scoop, and then portioning all of the second dough. You’ll find the dough balls unsticky enough to handle, and assembly is simply squishing one of each flavor together and rolling it in a ball between your palms.

      This recipe makes more than 3 dozen cookies, so you’ll want to share the wealth! They keep well for about 5 days stored in zip top bags with the air removed. 

      Rich cookies such as these deserve a tall glass of ice cold milk as accompaniment. For me, just one cookie is the best sweet ending to dinner. They’re also worth a bookmark if you’re looking to surprise and delight friends and family with doorstep cookie deliveries. 

      [click to print]
      Brookie Cookies
      Yields about 3 1/2 dozenChocolate chip cookie dough
      3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks, 170 grams) unsalted butter, softened
      3/4 cup (157 grams) light brown sugar, packed
      1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
      1 large egg plus 1 large yolk
      2 teaspoons vanilla extract
      2 1/4 cups (282 grams) all-purpose flour
      1 teaspoon baking soda
      3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
      12 oz. (1 package, 340 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chipsBrownie cookie dough
      1 1/3 cups (265 grams) granulated sugar
      1 cup (85 grams) unsweetened dark cocoa powder
      1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (142g) unsalted butter
      2 large eggs
      1 teaspoon vanilla extract
      1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour
      1 teaspoon baking powder
      1/4 teaspoon kosher saltFor the chocolate chip cookie dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar; beat until mixture is lightened. Beat in the egg and then the egg yolk. Add the vanilla extract, mixing until well-blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 1/4 cups flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the creamed mixture and beat on low speed until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips. Cover and set aside.For the brownie dough: Whisk together the sugar and cocoa in a large mixing bowl; set aside. In a microwave safe bowl, heat the butter in 30 second intervals in microwave on 100% power until completely melted (about 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds total). Pour butter into the bowl with sugar and cocoa; stir until smooth. Add the eggs to mixture one at a time, stirring after each addition until completely incorporated. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder and salt; stir until well combined. Cover and set aside.Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheet with parchment paper.Using a small cookie scoop (4 teaspoon capacity) portion out all of the chocolate chip cookie dough onto a cookie sheet. Wash and dry the cookie scoop, then portion out the brownie dough in the same manner. (If you don’t have a cookie scoop, portion dough using measuring spoons, about 1 1/2 level tablespoons for each dough ball.) Press a chocolate chip cookie dough ball and brownie dough ball together and roll between your palms into a ball. Repeat with remaining dough balls. Place each dough ball about two inches apart on prepared baking sheets, and bake for 10-12 minutes or until well puffed and lightly golden on the edges of the chocolate chip cookie halves.Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheets about 3 minutes before moving cookies on to cooling racks to cool completely.Notes: You may have a little chocolate chip cookie dough left over after assembling the brookies. Press two of the chocolate chip cookie dough balls together, roll, and bake for the same amount time as the brookies.To enhance the beauty of the chocolate chip portion of the cookies, dot a few extra chocolate chips on top immediately after you remove them from the oven.
      link Brookie Cookies By Heather Baird Published: Monday, January 25, 2021Monday, January 25, 2021Brookie Cookies Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Bread Slice Sugar Cookies

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      These little bread slices bring a fun new shape to slice-and-bake sugar cookies. There's no special equipment required to make them, and they are super simple to decorate! This week I wanted to make something a little bit lighthearted to amuse myself (and maybe you, too!). These tiny bread slice cookies were just the thing. I had developed a version of these years ago for The Etsy Journal in the form of Fairy Bread Cookies, but there are so many other ways they can be decorated. I decided to whip up a batch just for fun, and I'm so glad I did!Continued, click to read more… LEGGI TUTTO

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      Chocolate Dipped Toffee Graham Crackers

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      Crisp graham crackers are dunked in rich chocolate and covered with crunchy toffee bits. Toss on some festive sprinkles for maximum holiday appeal.
      This is practically a no-cook, no-bake treat that will be at home on your holiday cookie or candy tray. It’s such a simple, satisfying sweet and kids can help sprinkle on the toffee bits and holiday nonpareils. It really doesn’t get any easier than this!

      The yield is about 24 pieces, which can be divided up into snack bags for cute gifts or stocking stuffers. Who doesn’t love chocolate and toffee together? And with the slightly sweet graham cracker center it’s so crunchable and addictive!

      You can use your favorite graham crackers for this, but I used Honey Maid Fresh Stacks because they are pre-cut into squares. I didn’t even have to break any graham cracker sheets apart! I’m not sure if this was smart or just lazy – or perhaps both (ha!). I could see it being a nice time-saver for busy parents.

      As you drizzle the graham crackers with white chocolate, sprinkle them fairly quickly with toppings  before the chocolate hardens. 

      I think this might become our new holiday tradition! They are so very easy to make and a little too easy to eat. The toffee bits really bring out a buttery note in the graham crackers. 

      If you’re not looking to spend a ton of time in the kitchen this year, but still want to make some holiday treat-making memories with the kids, then this may be the ticket! 

      [click to print]
      Chocolate Dipped Toffee Graham Crackers
      Yields 24 Cookies24 oz. chocolate candy coating (almond bark or Ghiradelli chocolate wafers)
      4 oz. white chocolate candy coating or almond bark
      24 graham cracker squares
      2/3 cup toffee bits (recommend Heath Bits o’ Brickle)
      2-3 tablespoons red and green nonpareilsCover a large work surface with parchment paper.  Transfer the candy coating to a microwave-safe bowl and heat at 100% power at 30 second intervals; stir well between heating until melted and smooth. Place a graham cracker into the melted chocolate and turn using two forks. Lift the graham cracker out of the chocolate with a fork and place on the parchment. Repeat this process with half of the graham crackers. After dipping about 12, the chocolate will begin to harden so re-heat it for about 30 seconds or until it can be stirred smooth. Wash and dry the forks; proceed with dipping the next 12 graham crackers. Allow the chocolate to set up at room temperature, about 20 minutes.Melt the white chocolate candy coating in the microwave as before with the chocolate coating, and transfer it to a disposable piping bag or a zip-top bag. Pour the toffee bits and nonpareils in small bowls and have them ready to hand. Drizzle four chocolate-covered graham crackers with the white chocolate and then immediately sprinkle on toffee bits and nonpareils. Repeat process until all of the graham crackers are drizzled and coated with toffee and sprinkles. Let stand at room temperature until set, about 20 minutes.When the white chocolate is set, peel a graham cracker away from the parchment and break away excess candy from around the edges. Lay on a clean plate or serving platter. Repeat process with all of the graham crackers. Store the coated graham crackers in an air-tight container, or package 6 in each of four clear gusseted treat bags and tie with festive ribbon for gifting.

      link Chocolate Dipped Toffee Graham Crackers By Heather Baird Published: Saturday, December 19, 2020Saturday, December 19, 2020Chocolate Dipped Toffee Graham Crackers Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Festive Black and White Cookies

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      Also called Half-Moons, these rich, buttery cookies have a cake-like texture and colorful frosting. The classic black and white version is glazed with vanilla and chocolate frosting, but this version is dressed for the holidays in red and green.It seems strange to call these 'black and white cookies' when they are so obviously not black and white, but I couldn't resist giving this New York native a holiday spin. Contrasting colors of thick glaze covers each side of a large lemon-scented half dome. It's not cake, but I also hesitate to call it it cookie. It's somewhere between the two. What I do know for sure is that their size and heft will power you through any intense gift wrapping marathon you may be gearing up for this week.Continued, click to read more… LEGGI TUTTO

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      Frosted Animal Cookies for Christmas

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      These cookies were inspired by a nostalgic childhood treat – Frosted Animal Cookies! This version gives shortbread a holiday makeover in red, green, and white with lots of sprinkles on top.

      These cookies were the result of a happy accident. I ordered a set of cookie cutters (these) for a client project, and when they arrived they were much smaller than I expected! I love miniatures of all kinds, and these cutters were too adorable for words. If you look closely, they are all dog shapes – although the dachshund could pass for a seal which is one of the original Keebler Animal Cookie shapes – ha!

      I instantly knew these cutters were destined to stamp out shortbread shapes for a version of animal cookies all dressed in holiday colors!

      Because the cutters are so small, one batch of dough makes many, many cookies! It’s definitely an intense session of stamping and re-rolling dough, but it goes pretty fast. And the beauty of the icing is that there’s not a lot of fussy detail – it’s simply icing and sprinkles.

      I divided the assorted shapes into three batches and decorated each batch of shapes a different color. I think they look really festive!

      These don’t have to be dog shapes, of course, but if you’re like me and love doggos, or have friends that are dog owners, then bags of these would make fun gifts for them! If you’re more interested in the traditional circus animal shapes, you can find those cutters here.

      These are so buttery which is the hallmark of any good shortbread, and the royal icing gives them just the right amount of sweetness. They are so adorably mini, it makes eating handfuls a totally reasonable thing to do!
      Frosted Animal Cookies for Christmas[Click for Printable Version]
      Yields 8+ dozenSmall animal cookie cutters are required for this recipe. See blog post for sources.Shortbread
      4 cups all-purpose flour
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
      1 teaspoon lemon zest
      1 cup confectioners’ sugar
      2 teaspoons vanilla extractPreheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment paper.Sift flour and salt into a bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer or in a medium bowl with a hand mixer, beat butter and lemon zest on medium low speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until smooth, about two minutes. Beat in vanilla extract. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture, gently stirring just until incorporated. Flatten the dough out into a disk shape and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut out animal shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters, and place on the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate for 15 minutes so the dough will firm and cookies will maintain their shape when baked. Bake cut-outs for 7-9 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottoms but still pale on top. Cool thoroughly on wire racks before frosting.Royal icing
      4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
      3 tablespoons meringue powder
      1/2 cup warm water, plus more for thinning
      1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
      green gel food color
      red gel food colorRed, white, and green nonpareil mixIn the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, stir the confectioner’s sugar and meringue powder on low speed until combined. Add the water and beat on medium high speed until very stiff peaks form, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add flavoring and beat on low until combined; divide into three bowls and tint one portion of icing with the green gel food color; tint another portion red; leave the third portion white. Bring each to flood consistency.Flood Consistency: Stir drops of water into each bowl until the icing is thinned but still has the consistency of a thick milkshake, this is called flood consistency. To make sure the consistency is correct, drag a spoon through the center of the icing in a straight line, creating an indentation. When the icing is of perfect flood consistency, the indentation should completely disappear in 10 seconds. If it disappears too quickly, then the icing is too thin and will not dry properly. The indentation should disappear as close to the 10 second mark as possible. It is much harder to thicken the icing after it has been thinned than to make thick icing thinner, so take your time and add water drops a few at a time.Place a #2 round decorator piping tip into the bottom of a small piping bag; snip off plastic on the end of the piping bag. Fill piping bag with green icing and seal the open end with a rubber band. Repeat steps with the red and white icing. Stand each piping bag in a tall glass with a moist paper towel in the bottom to prevent the icing from drying out and the tip from clogging.Pour nonpareils in a small container and have them close to hand. Divide cookies into three batches of assorted shapes on large parchment-lined baking pans. Pipe one batch of the cookies with the green icing, stopping to sprinkle on nonpareils immediately after piping each cookie. Pipe the second batch with the red icing and sprinkles, repeat steps with the white icing.Allow the cookies to dry for 4 hours or overnight. When cookies are dry, package assorted shapes and colors of cookies in cellophane bags and tie with festive ribbon. Or, keep them in airtight containers.

      [embedded content]
      link Frosted Animal Cookies for Christmas By Heather Baird Published: Monday, December 14, 2020Monday, December 14, 2020Frosted Animal Cookies Recipe LEGGI TUTTO

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      Dreidel Sugar Cookies and a Tablescape for Hanukkah

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      No Hanukkah celebration would be complete without the four-sided spinning top game known as dreidel! This sugar cookie version pays homage to the tradition, and becomes part of a beautiful tablescape dressed in blue hues, gold, and silver. 

      Happy Hanukkah to all my friends and readers who celebrate! This post features the second of three holiday tablescapes I created for HGTV.com (see the first right here). This one is dedicated to the Festival of Lights, and each place setting has an edible dreidel favor in the form of a frosted sugar cookie.

      I absolutely loved putting this table together – pulling items from my own collection, curating a few new dishes, and crafting some table decors, too! 

      I wanted to convey an air of celebration – cue the Hanukkah confetti poppers! Even though there’s lots of gold and silver on the table, it doesn’t feel stuffy or too formal. Metallic table scatter, patterned plates, thrift store blue glassware, along with specially crafted gelt vases filled with roses made everything feel festive yet comfy. 

      The image gallery on HGTV.com is the best place to see all the little details, and you’ll find a link to the to it at the end of this blog post. I hope you enjoy browsing it all!  

      Here’s a little more about the cookie favors! The entire recipe is on HGTV’s website, but I’ll give you a quick preview here. You’ll need a dreidel cookie cutter, or you could cut a dreidel template from a heavy piece of card stock and cut around it with a paring knife.

      You’ll also find my royal icing tutorial alongside the cookies. It’s great for all kinds of designs.

      Gold sugar pearls gave these cookies just enough sparkle. They’re made by Wilton, and are a little different from gold dragees which have a mirror-like shine. These are slightly more matte, and have rich color. You can find them right here. 

      You can freehand the Hebrew characters on the cookies using a food color pen, but a stencil will make them look picture perfect! 

      Here’s wishing all the Jewish families and communities that celebrate this special occasion a very happy first night of Hanukkah!

      Links:

      Dreidel Sugar Cookie Favors

       
      11 Tips for a Guest-Impressing Hanukkah Table Setting

      Glowing Gelt Hanukkah Centerpiece

      DIY Hanukkah Confetti Poppers

      link Dreidel Sugar Cookies and a Tablescape for Hanukkah By Heather Baird Published: Thursday, December 10, 2020Thursday, December 10, 2020Dreidel Sugar Cookies and a Tablescape for Hanukkah! LEGGI TUTTO