Will you BEER mine?
BEER my valentine ♥
Here's a tip that cuts down on the decorating time: I used dark chocolate cut-out cookies for this set. The dark brown color mimics a beer bottle, so it's less icing you have to make and less decorating you'll need to do. Yay!
I definitely recommend using Dutch-process cocoa in the recipe. Dutch-process and natural cocoa react a little differently with leaveners. Find Hershey's Dark Cocoa at the grocery store or Target, or grab a more prestige brand from Amazon.
If you don't have a beer bottle cookie cutter, never fear! You can make a cookie cutter template from a quilting stencil or file folder.
Let's Make Will You BEER My Valentine Cookies.
When I'm making a new cookie design, I find it helpful to sketch out my ideas first. This also helps inform me of how much icing of each color I'll need.
You'll need:
- dark chocolate cut-out cookies
- heart and bottle (or template, see above) cookie cutters
- royal icing
- gel paste food coloring: white, pink, red, and black
- disposable icing bags
- couplers
- icing tips: #2 and #1.5 or #1
- squeeze bottles
- toothpicks
- cellophane bags
- ribbon
- package shred
- 6-pack holder
[NOTE: I've found that chocolate cut-out cookies really shine when they're rolled just a bit thicker. I roll my chocolate cookies to 3/8" instead of 1/4."]
For the beer bottles:
Use a #2 tip to outline the cookies in red and white.
Reserve some of the piping consistency icing. Thin the remaining white and red icings with water. Stir in a bit at a time until a ribbon of icing dropped back onto itself disappears in a count of "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three."
(If it's too thin, stir in some piping consistency icing or sifted powdered sugar.)
Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes. Stir gently with a silicone spatula and transfer to squeeze bottles.
Fill in the outlines, using a toothpick to pop large air bubbles and guide to edges. Let this icing dry at least one hour.
Use a #1.5 or #1 tip and pipe details using black and red icing. (It's not lost on me that this arrow is crooked.)
Let the cookies dry uncovered 6-8 hours or overnight before packaging.
Use the same method to make the heart cookies.
Once completely dry, it's time to package!
Fill a beer 6-pack carrier with paper shred. If needed, cut the dividers inside.
Place cookies in individual cello treat bags. Tie with ribbon and place in the carrier. Give to your valentine!
Cheers!
