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. We also had to incorporate the theme of September.
September means many things to many people. In the Northern Hemisphere we are headed into fall, so a lot of bakers used fall as an inspirations, such as leafs and acorns. In the Southern Hemisphere they are headed into spring, so a lot of bakers used spring as an inspiration, such as flowers, birds, and bees. And for other bakers September meant celebrating loved ones, so heart cookies rained galore. For me, September reminded me of the State Fair. I have been looking forward to the Fair coming for a year now.
So, to celebrate the Fair I made cookie lollipops in tribute to all that great Fair food! I can remember as a kid my mommy buying me a huge swirly lollipop, as big as my head and it took me days to finish it! So, I took this great memory and turned it into a cookie. I make decorated sugar cookies all the time, so I wanted to challenge myself to do something a little different. That is where the cookie-on-a-stick idea came in. I have always wanted to try it
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Also, this sugar cookies recipe was different then my standard recipe. The challenge recipe did not use any leaving agent. (My standard recipe calls for baking powder.) I actually really liked how easy this dough was to work with and that the cookies did not spread during baking. Lastly, the cookie was firm enough to support itself on the stick yet soft enough to eat and enjoy. I have a new go to recipe.
Lastly, I took time to read through hours of materials on making royal icing. I definitely discovered a few mistakes I have made in the past: 1) I never mixed my royal icing long enough in the mixer (until it is light and fluffy with a matte finish), 2) My piping consistency royal icing was too firm and I could not get clean, straight lines, and 3) My flood consistency icing was too thin and contained a lot of air bubbles. So, in completing this challenge I solved those issues and I am a better cookie decorator for it.
Love your cookie lollipops! Great that this challenge brought perfection to your decorating skills. I learned a lot as well!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute! Definitely reminds me of those swirled lollipops :)
ReplyDeleteThese look great! Love the cookie on a stick idea.
ReplyDeleteCute cookies! Like the lollipop on a stick!
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