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.
You can imagine my delight when I discovered that this month’s Daring Bakers challenge involved decorating sugar cookies! I’ve been slacking a bit on the Daring Bakers challenges lately… A busy schedule and lack of inspiration got the best of me. So, the sugar cookie challenge was exactly the little burst of inspiration that I needed. Plus, it was a good excuse to pick up a few new cookie cutters!
I stumbled upon an adorable set of fall-themed mini cookie cutters at a local craft store a few weeks ago… I just couldn’t resist them. I hadn’t really thought through the fact that mini cookie cutters would yield lots (and lots) of miniature cookies that would all need to be decorated, though.
Fortunately, I already had a large pumpkin cookie cutter, so I threw in a few large pumpkin cookies, as well. Even though it got a bit tedious, the miniature cookies ended up being pretty cute and worth the time and effort. They were perfect cupcake toppers for the cupcakes I had already promised to bring to a church event!
Since I was running low on time and had to take the cookies to church, I didn’t want to risk a cookie failure, and I used my “usual” vanilla bean sugar cookie recipe. My recipe is actually very similar to the recipe that was provided, though, so I don’t think I “cheated” too much.
As I usually do, I decorated the cookies with royal icing, outlining with stiff icing and filling in the outlines with flood icing. For the accents, I used sanding sugar and gold luster dust (which didn’t really show up in the photos but added a nice sparkle to the cookies).
For the mini leaf cookies, I did a combination of yellow and orange outlines and then filled in the cookies with yellow. I used sanding sugar to outline the yellow cookies (using a paint brush to paint water onto the cookies where I wanted the sanding sugar to stick) and added a bit of sanding sugar to the middle of the cookies outlined in orange.
I added a few green accents to the pumpkin cookies with royal icing, and then I finished the cookies off with sanding sugar. I couldn’t decide if I liked the narrow sanding sugar lines or wide stripes of sanding sugar, so I did some of each.
Stay tuned later this to see the finished cookie-topped cupcakes!
Those are absolutely gorgeous! I really love the leaves.
Your cookies turned out beautiful, I loved the *sparkle* the sanding sugar added to them.
These are adorable! So beautifully decorated! Great photos, too!
Absolutely stunning Jen! (as usual!). Having eaten your sugar cookies before, I know these must have tasted awesome!
These are so cute! You did a super job. Decorating something so small is not easy and going the extra *mile* to do the sanding sugar! Wow, I know a LOT of time and effort went into these Jen but it certainly was worth it :)
those are gorgeous! I need to get to some fall baking. You’ve inspired!
Wow, these are amazingly intricate – beautiful! You must be so patient!
Great job! Thanks for detailing the techniques too. Mine were a disaster, although delicious, and next time I’ll follow some of your advice.
How cute! Your collages turned out very well. Good job!
Oooh I love these!! Those pumpkins are adorable!!
I am in love with these cookies; they are gorgeous!! I will definitely be picking up a pumpkin cookie cutter so that I can give them a try. :-)
They turned out super cute! Nice job!
Oh Jen, I love them! Not only do I love the autumn theme but your decorating is gorgeous! Perfect!
I’m so proud of you, I could weep with joy. You have really embraced the decorated cookie!!! Great job, Jen!
Jen these are adorable! My favorite part is the little green squiggly that’s at the top of the pumpkins… their cuteness makes me giggle!
You are way talented girl! These look amazing.
They look so cute and perfect. I love the sprinkles on the pumpkins, it really makes them look 3D.
I’ve missed your Daring Bakers challenges lately, it’s great to see you’re back! These cookies are super creative, and I just love all the sparkles!
These are beautiful! Love the look that the sanding sugar gives. Good job!
Jen, these cookies are beautiful! You are so skilled at decorating cookies! I’m always impressed with your designs!
WOW, great job – You are so organized too I am jealous
Your cookies look great! I like how you used the sanding sugar. Great job on the challenge!
Jen these are so flippin’ cute! Ab-fab my dear!
Awww…Perfectly themed cookies. I love sugar cookies because you can decorate them in all kinds of themes and decorations. Plus aside from the fact that they are delicious. :)
hat beautiful cookies, you are so artistic. I love them
Very cute cookies! Perfect for September!
Great job!! I love love love the pumpkins!
I really really love these! I have got to conquer my fear of royal icing!
so beautiful! :)
Your cookies are absolutely fantastic, I love those little pumpkins, but gosh, that must have taken a while! The sanding sugar really is very striking and finishes them off beautifully.
Thank you so much for taking part of the September challenge, I’m so glad that you enjoyed it :)
The only thing I don’t like about this is I can’t reach in and eat one!!!
Beautiful, I think I am inspired to actually attempt make these suckers even thought I do not have an artsy bone in my body!!! You are the cookie master!
You did a fantastic job decorating these. They’re adorable!
Jen, I am envious of your talents. My kids go absolutely nuts over this type of cookie but I am about the worst when it comes to decorating. Can you teach a class? :) I have solved the problem by just letting them take care of putting on the sprinkles.
Very cute. Loving the look of the royal icing. Makes it look perfect.
Absolutely beautiful and so very fall… love them!!
Beautiful job!
REally beautiful and so festive — love your cookies!
These are gorgeous! I love the sanding sugar effect you have on those pumpkins.
Perfect job. I must say cookies are not my best medium my children enjoyed eating the challenge.
These are gorgeous!! I like the thinner stripes better!
They are adorable.
Jen, your pumpkins and leaves are beautiful! I’m partial to the thin-striped ones myself. Awesome job!
Absolutely beautiful! And kudos to you for having the patience and skills to make them.
I made some sugar cookies this weekend (football shaped) and it was a horrible experience!!!
Perfect pumpkin designs! I could never get mine to look so flawless.
Waow, your cookies are fantastic! I love these pumpkins!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Sigh…I really wanted to do this challenge and like always I failed. However, your cookies are beyond amazing looking :)
Jen … wowza! You’re an artist!
Wonderful and inspiring for coming months.
I have to learn a lot on decorating.