Pumpkin Cookies with Succulents and Roses

I love that succulents are so popular right now. My mom always had plants around the house...kalanchoes in baskets, big ferns in tall wicker planters, and always a jade plant.

I also love succulents because they take a little longer for me to kill. #blackthumb


Here's the inspiration for making the succulents: this cake from Craftsy. 
Those succulents are made from buttercream and I made mine with royal icing. I used these instructions as a jumping off point and kind of winged it from there.

Honestly, as I was making them, I wasn't sure I loved them. Then once they were dry and on the cookies...yeah, I totally fell for them.

I also made toothpick roses. Here's the post on how to make those. I used a 101s tip.

For the cookies, I used my tried and true cut-out cookie and royal icing recipes.

Make all of the succulents and roses a day or two before. Let the icing harden at room temperature.

The cookies were outlined with a #2 tip.

I thinned the 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.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed. Pour into a squeeze bottle. Pour into a squeeze bottle and flood the outline, using a toothpick to guide to edges and pop large air bubbles.

Flood the outlines, starting with the outside sections, letting that set for a bit, then the center. Use a toothpick to guide the icing to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.

If adding wording to the cookies, let the orange icing dry for at least an hour before adding. Use a #1 tip to pipe the text.

At this point, let the icing dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight.

Once the icing is dry, use some piping consistency royal icing to attach the pre-made roses and succulents to the cookies. Use a leaf tip to add leaves and #1 and #2 tips to add additional flowers and greenery, if desired.
The addition of the leaves really fills in blank spaces and ties everything together. 

For the "thank you," I used Rolkem Gold mixed with vodka and painted it on the letters I'd piped on the day before.

We used these cookies as a way to say thank you to so many people for various reasons...writing college recommendation letters, concert tickets, help with a volunteer project, beautiful photos. We're so lucky to have some amazing and generous people in our lives. ♥

Are you a fan of succulents, too?