There are so many things I love about these watercolor cookies:
1. They're not my idea. ;) The inspiration and technique for these cookies come from Rosie of Sweetapolita and her brand new book, The Sweetapolita Bakebook. (More on this later.)
2. There's no making or dividing or tinting or thinning royal icing. The cookies are topped with a mixture of fondant and candy clay...so cool.
3. Here's a chance to release your inner princess. Pink, purple, disco dust, gold edges and speckles? Not only will your cookies be sparkly, but so will your hands and your entire body. Embrace you inner princess...I didn't even know I had one!
4. These cookies are imperfectly perfect. Do you ever fall into the "perfect trap" when making cookies? You think...oh, my lettering is off...or, there's a peak where there shouldn't be...or, my piping is a little shaky. Well, these cookies are abstract...and not perfect. And, I think that's what makes them so cool.
Next time you find yourself falling into the perfect trap, get yourself to an art museum. I'm serious...do it! The imperfections, the textures, the quirks...those make the art all the more beautiful. I love Rosie's watercolor inspiration for these cookies.
So, try a little cookie watercoloring. Rosie shows these in the book as circles, but they are just so pretty for Easter. She also makes hers a little extra special with the addition of 24-karat gold flake. I'm going to have to try that next time.
Here's how to make some watercolor cookies of your own:{inspiration, ideas, and recipes from The Sweetapolita Bakebook, with permission}
- cut-out cookies
- 7 ounces white ready-to-use fondant
- 7 ounces white candy clay (recipe follows)
- confectioner's sugar (I used corn starch)
- piping or fruit jelly (I used corn syrup)
- Americolor gel paste food coloring
- vodka
- disco dust (I used rainbow)
- gold luster dust
Make the candy clay:
14 ounces white candy coating
1/3 cup light corn syrup
In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the candy coating in 25-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Repeat until melted and smooth.
Combine the corn syrup and white food coloring, and microwave for 10 seconds. Add the corn syrup to the candy coating and stir until blended and thick, about 30 strokes. Turn the clay out onto wax paper and flatten it to about 1/2 inch thick. Let dry out for about 1 hour.
Knead the clay until it is smooth and pliable, about 1 minute. Put it in a well-sealed zip-top bag. Let the clay sit overnight at room temperature before using.
*for this project, I didn't find it necessary to let it sit overnight since it's mixed with the fondant.
For the cookies:
Knead 7 ounces each of white fondant and the candy clay together. Dust work surface with confectioner's sugar (or cornstarch). Roll a ball of candy clay mixture to 1/8" thickness. Cut with the same cookie cutter used to make the cookies. Let the cut-outs sit to firm up, about 30 minutes.
Spread a small amount of piping or fruit jelly (I used corn syrup) on each cookies. Gently press the candy clay cut-outs onto the cookies.
Dilute one or two drops of gel paste food colors with a splash of vodka - the more vodka you add, the more washed-out the color will be. Using sponges, dab the color onto the cookies, letting them merge and blend. Be careful not to oversaturate the surface. Press a tissue onto what you've painted and pull off to reveal a textured surface.
Sprinkle the cookies with disco dust. Mix a small amount of gold luster dust with a few drops of vodka. Paint the edges of the cookies using a clean, food-only paintbrush. Spatter a few drops of the gold paint onto the cookies. Let dry overnight.
The cookies will keep in a box or container with some airflow for up to 1 week.
Let me show you a little peek of the rest of The Sweetapolita Bakebook...
You're going to find cakes and cookies that are utterly dreamy! Instructions and recipes are included for each project. It's like a delicious fairy tale kind of book.
I encourage you to hop over to the Sweetapolita blog because there is a super fabulous giveaway going on right now!
(Including a pair of ballet flats with sprinkles....yes, sprinkles!!!)
Then, go make these cookies!
