Monday, January 14, 2013

The year for sugar cookie excellence

Here it is, the middle of January, and I haven't even told you about an important New Year's Resolution! Now I love to make resolutions each year, and even have success with a few of them. This year, my resolutions range from the physical (crank up my speed on the treadmill a notch each month) to the professional (complete at least two books, one fiction, one non-fiction) and the spiritual (memorize the Sermon on the Mount). I also made a tea-related resolution, and it is this: master the art of making sugar cookies in teapot and teacup shapes.

Over the weekend I decided to do an inventory of my tea-themed cookie cutters. My most-used set is this one, which I believe is missing the largest of what once was a set of three. The middle one (the larger of the two here) is the one I use most often for cutting out bread for tea sandwiches.

This teacup-and-saucer cookie cutter still had the original tie-on with it, telling me I'd never used it. It was time to untie that twine and get down to business!

I believe the only cookie cutter I've used in this set is the teaspoon. I saw some cute sugar cookies online that used this particular cutter, so now I'm inspired to make teaspoon cookies to match my teacup cookies.

And I'd bought this Wilton set last year but hadn't used it yet, so it was time to break it in as well.

In fact, the rounded shape of the Wilton cookie cutter teapot was easiest to cut out of my sugar cookie dough—I use the recipe from the wonderful book "Cookie Craft"—so this is the cookie shape I ended up using the most. For this first try, I just wanted to make sugar cookies, not decorate them, to make sure I remembered the techniques from "Cookie Craft." Done. And tomorrow, if you're into baking, I really *must* tell you about a new gadget I have that has revolutionized my cookie baking!

17 comments:

  1. What wonderful cookie cutters! By the end of the year your sugar cookies will be works I of art. The undecorated ones are darling just as they are.

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  2. Those are really sweet. Great for a tea-party.

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  3. What homespun fun, and perfect for tea parties, or a thoughtful gift for a friend - who doesn't like to receive a plate of homemade cookies!

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  4. I have the Wilton set still attached to the card ! Thanks for reminding me to USE them !

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  5. I meant to tell you - I found some new Mary Englebreit notecards at Michael's yesterday, with two little girls sharing tea, and a quote about friendship. Really cute! Also found a soft, stuffed, teaset (teapot, two "cups" and two "saucers" at Cracker Barrel, in their 40% off things. Perfect for my grandbaby's first birthday, I think! I was going to send you pictures, thought I had kept your email last week, but now I can't find it. Oh well...trust me, they are cute.

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  6. GREAT resolutions!

    And I love it when cookies are part of one's promise to one's self, heh heh.

    You have so many cutters, what fun.
    Sure would love to come for tea there, bet your parties are just lovely.

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  7. Fun post... I think my tea themed cookie cutter collection matches yours!

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  8. I used to make cookies fairly often & then my family grew up. I look forward to seeing some cookies to inspire me to bake again.

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  9. I have been eating my way through the Crabtree and Evelyn shortbread cookies. I forgot to picture the tin on the blog but I bought it because it has a pretty teacup on it (of course).
    Cookies are for grown ups too! Perfect with tea.
    Come and visit, Angela
    xo Ruthie at Lady B's

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  10. Brilliant New Year's Resolution, keep it up!
    What kind of tea do you like to have with these cookies?

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  11. I have some of the same tea themed cookie cutters as you, but I need to look for the Wilton set. I love your cookies, and could go for one right now!

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  12. They look wonderful - what's not to love about sugar cookies!

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  13. I love the Cookie Craft book. I think you were the one that introduced me to it. Good luck on your cookie making journey.

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  14. What a great collection of tea theme cookie cutters.

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  15. OK I had been thinking about sugar cookies for Valentine's, but now I am really hungry for a good sugar cookie.

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  16. Hello Angela
    Sugar cookies are what I make most often and I have a ton of cookie cutters, some tea related like yours.
    Judith

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  17. What a great collection, Angela - never saw a teaspoon cookie cutter! Very cute, Joanie

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