I first learned of Pier Giorgio Frassati several years ago. Our new high school was named after him which is perfect because he's an incredible role model for teens, young adults, and...for *ahem* middle-aged moms like me.
THIS bio of Blessed Pier Giorgio is fantastic and really captures his personality, not just facts from his life.
Yes, he's on his way to sainthood, but even if you're not Catholic, I think you'll be inspired by his life.
{That's Pier Giorgio in the center. How can you not love that face???}
Sometimes we (or at least I) get the idea that in order to be good...in order to strive for holiness...we must be stoic, boring, maybe even sad. Not Pier Giorgio! He was filled with JOY! I love that about him. ♥
Alrighty. Now we make the cookies. I decided to use the iconic image of Frassati on the mountain as my inspiration...the boots, the climbing stick, the pipe!!!
To make Pier Giorgio Frassati cookies, you'll need:
- cut-out cookies, gingerbread man shape
- royal icing, divided and tinted with AmeriColor Super Black, Copper, Bright White, Sky Blue, Chocolate Brown, Warm Brown
- disposable icing bags
- coupler and tips, #1 and #2
- squeeze bottles
- toothpicks
- black food coloring pen
- pocky cookies
[Note: once the icing is tinted, press plastic wrap onto the icing to keep from drying.]
Use a #2 tip and black icing to outline the body, separating the head, hands, shirt, and pants. (Don't worry about the shoes yet.)
Use a #2 tip and black icing to outline the body, separating the head, hands, shirt, and pants. (Don't worry about the shoes yet.)
Let the black icing set for at least 30 minutes.
Reserve some black, chocolate brown, and copper piping consistency icing.
Thin the copper, bright white, and blue icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring gently until a ribbon of icing Thin some of the white icing with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup. You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin. Count of 2-3 is good. Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.
Transfer the thinned icing to squeeze bottles. Working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the head and hands with copper icing. Go back to the first cookie filled and add white icing on top for a smile. No worries if the smile isn't perfect.
Again, working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the shirts with white, then go back and add blue stripes, starting with the first cookie filled.
Use a toothpick to guide icing to the edges and to pop air bubbles.
Let the icing dry for at least one hour. (I like to use a dehydrator here.)
Thin the warm brown icing and fill in the outline for the pants.
Use the black icing and #2 tip again to pipe an outline for hair and the boots.
Thin the chocolate brown icing as above and fill in the outlines.
Let the icing dry for at least one hour.
Use the reserved chocolate brown and black piping consistency icings to add details on hair and boots using #1 tips. Add a belt with a #2 tip.
Place the reserved piping consistency copper icing in the refrigerator overnight. (I go ahead and out it in a piping bag.)
Let the cookies dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight.
The next day, use the food coloring pen to add the eyes and smile outline.
Cut the Pocky cookies to fit your Pier Giorgio cookies.
(I found these at World Market...you can also order from Amazon or check your grocery store. My grocery store carries Cookies and Cream Pocky, but not chocolate. Go figure.)
Pipe some of the reserved copper icing onto one hand. Press the Pocky onto the icing and let set up for at least an hour before transporting. For extra security, you can also add a bit of icing to one boot to secure the other end.
Pier Giorgio Frassati...in cookie form. Somehow, I think he'd get a kick out of these. At least, I hope so! ♥
{Here's the link to his bio again.}
Transfer the thinned icing to squeeze bottles. Working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the head and hands with copper icing. Go back to the first cookie filled and add white icing on top for a smile. No worries if the smile isn't perfect.
Again, working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the shirts with white, then go back and add blue stripes, starting with the first cookie filled.
Use a toothpick to guide icing to the edges and to pop air bubbles.
Let the icing dry for at least one hour. (I like to use a dehydrator here.)
Thin the warm brown icing and fill in the outline for the pants.
Use the black icing and #2 tip again to pipe an outline for hair and the boots.
Thin the chocolate brown icing as above and fill in the outlines.
Let the icing dry for at least one hour.
Use the reserved chocolate brown and black piping consistency icings to add details on hair and boots using #1 tips. Add a belt with a #2 tip.
Place the reserved piping consistency copper icing in the refrigerator overnight. (I go ahead and out it in a piping bag.)
Let the cookies dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight.
The next day, use the food coloring pen to add the eyes and smile outline.
Cut the Pocky cookies to fit your Pier Giorgio cookies.
(I found these at World Market...you can also order from Amazon or check your grocery store. My grocery store carries Cookies and Cream Pocky, but not chocolate. Go figure.)
Pier Giorgio Frassati...in cookie form. Somehow, I think he'd get a kick out of these. At least, I hope so! ♥
{Here's the link to his bio again.}
