Claddagh Cookies, decorated nine ways!

Ah, the claddagh. If you're not familiar with it, the claddagh is an Irish symbol for Love, Loyalty, and Friendship. You'll most often see a claddagh on rings.

[NOTE: I just could not decide how to decorate this cookie, so I decorated it nine different ways! Ha. I'll show you how.]

There was a time in my life when I went through a big claddagh ring phase. I think I was in my late teens/early twenties. I always had that ring on. The tradition goes that you turn the heart outward if you're single, and towards yourself if you're taken. I felt like I'd always be the single girl with my ring turned out. ;)

(This site has some really pretty claddagh rings, and now I think I need one again...gold this time, please, and turned inward.)


When I first started decorating cookies, I searched for a claddagh cookie cutter to no avail. And then, I forgot all about it. Last month, a claddagh cookie cutter arrived on my doorstep courtesy of Truly Mad Plastics.

Not only is this design perfect for St. Patrick's Day, but wouldn't it be SO, so pretty for an Irish wedding or engagement party? I just love it.

Obviously, I was torn about decorating.

Go all-color?

Or all metallic, like a ring?

Or, partially metallic?

Or even all white?

How about this one...full-color with black piping accents?
(Actually, I think this one is my favorite.)

To make Claddagh cookies, you'll need:

• cut-out cookies, claddagh shape
• royal icing, tinted with AmeriColor Super Red, Gold mixed with Egg Yellow, Copper, Leaf Green, (optional, Super Black and Bright White) 
• disposable icing bags
• couplers and tips: #2, and #1
• squeeze bottles
• toothpicks
• Truly Mad Plastics Super Gold, Silver, or Rose Gold metallic powder
• clean, food-only paintbrushes
• everclear or vodka

Fit piping bags with #2 tips and outline sections of the claddaugh. Reserve some of this icing.

Thin the icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup. (Reserve some of the green icing for piping details later.) 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.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed. Pour into squeeze bottles as needed.

Fill in the outlines, using a toothpick to guide to edges and pop air bubbles. I like to fill the non-touching areas, let set a bit, then do the others.

Let the icing dry for at least one hour.

Add details with the reserved piping icing.

Alternately, use black to pipe the details OR flood the entire cookie in white and pipe details in white.

Let the cookies dry 6-8 hours or overnight, uncovered.

The next day, mix Everclear with the metallic powders. I loved the way these painted on...much smoother than what I've used in the past. I'm not sure if it was the Everclear or the TMP metallics, or the combination, but I'm sticking with it.

(Side note, why do I feel like I need a scarf and big sunglasses to purchase Everclear? The woman at the counter asked if I wanted a bag...like she thought I was just going to stash it in my purse for when I needed a sip.)

Paint the crown gold for the full-color cookie. (If doing the piping in black, wait until AFTER adding the gold to pipe the details.) If making a metallic cookie. make the cookie all-white, then paint the areas you'd like.

Which version is your favorite? I think I like the black outline, Jack liked the all-copper (which was really rose gold), and I think Mark was focused on getting them to the office and didn't say his favorite.

Claddagh, I've missed you!

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