A Bun in the Oven

My sister's baby shower was yesterday and as you probably guessed, cookies were required. These "Bun in the Oven" cookies were the favors.

The idea for these cookies came from this card I bought a few years ago at Target.

My husband made a template from my sketch for the cutter out of a manila folder.

I loved the pink on the card, but my sister doesn't know if she's having a boy or girl. I went with turquoise ovens...I wanted them to look a little retro and turquoise seemed to fit the bill. I think these would be really cute in yellow, too.

A few days before making the cookies, I made the buns. They are made the exact same way that you would make a royal icing monogram. (Click here for more info.) They store perfectly at room temperature.

{This is the one and only time I've ever asked my husband, "How do you like my buns?" ;) }

To make the cookies:

Outline the oven shape and "window" in black with a #2 tip. (AmeriColor Super Black)
Thin white and turquoise icing with water until it reaches the consistency of thick syrup. Cover with a damp dishtowel and let sit several minutes. (AmeriColor Turquoise)
Run a rubber spatula through the icings to pop any large air bubbles that have formed. Transfer to squeeze bottles.

Fill in the "window" in white flood icing.

Add pre-made "bun" on wet icing.

Fill in the remainder of the oven in turquoise.
Let sit for at least one hour.

Using a #2 tip, go back over the black outlines of the oven. Add circles for knobs.

{For some reason, the ovens look blue here, not turquoise...bad lighting.}

Fill the knobs with white flood icing.
Add red hearts on the buns. (AmeriColor Super Red)

Change the black tip to a #1. Add burners to the oven and detailing to the knobs.
Let dry overnight.

I was a little nervous that people wouldn't know what the cookies were supposed to be, so I found some little heart-shaped tags and added them to the ribbons.