Cookie inspiration can come from anywhere...greeting cards, invitations, fabric, catalogs...and even going to mass.
Yes, going to mass. This summer, a woman sitting a few pews in front of me had on the prettiest 2-tone pink dress. Halfway through mass, I realized that her dress wasn't just a swirl of pinks, it was actually covered in pink butterflies!
I tucked the idea away for this week because one of my very favorite people, who just happens to be a butterfly lover, is having a birthday. I shouldn't even say "butterfly lover"...she's more like the butterfly whisperer. She has a talent for butterflies...butterfly gardens, butterfly photos...she is an inspiration. ONE DAY, despite my black thumb, I am determined to have a butterfly garden liker her. :)
I think she needed pretty, pink, birthday butterfly cookies! Don't you?
For the cookies themselves, I wanted them to be extra special. I used my regular cookie recipe, but instead of 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, I substituted 1 tsp vanilla bean paste.
{The color is a little off here, but I like that you can see the vanilla bean flecks. This is the same recipe I used for PW's cookies.}
To decorate:
- Make Royal Icing in two shades of pink; I used AmeriColor Deep Pink and Soft Pink.
- With a #2 tip, make the body of the butterfly (I used dots of icing) and outline the wings.
- Thin both shades of icing with water until they reach the consistency of a really thick syrup. Cover with a damp dishtowel and let sit several minutes.
- Stir the icings gently with a rubber spatula to pop any air bubbles that have formed on top and transfer to squeeze bottles.
- Fill in the interior of the wings with light pink, but don't bring the icing all the way to the edges...leave about a quarter of an inch. (Work a few cookies at a time.)
- While the light pink icing is still wet, add the dark pink icing to the edges and add the veining. The dark pink and light pink icings will dry as one smooth surface. (I was going for a Monarch butterfly here, but feel free to get creative!) :)
- Drop in a few non-pareils on the wings for detailing.
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im a a big butterfly fan too! can never seem to get them to land on me though.. i need a buttefly garden too haha love the cookies!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful! I love the detail on the wings!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful butterflies!! They are so sweet!!
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous cookies! After you spend so much time on them and they look so good, how can you eat them??
ReplyDeleteahhhhh Love it!! what amazing detail-i bet you get just giddy coming up with new ideas! oh and by the way Im eating my Christmas bulb cookies you gave me-yum-I just need a cup of tea to wash it down :-0
ReplyDeleteI love these so much- I have a thing for butterflies :)
ReplyDeletep.s. I made a batch of your cookie dough and I'm going to make cut-outs this weekend!!
Simply stunning!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful. A pleasant look of Spring in the cold!
ReplyDeleteOh Bridget!
ReplyDeleteJust lovely!
I just can't believe you can decorate cookies to look the same over and over!
I know I have never told you this...HA!
I THINK YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
Soooo talented!
You are the Iced Cookie Fairy!
XXOOXX
WOW! WOW!! WOW!!! Those are gorgeous! You are my cookie hero!
ReplyDeleteThose are gorgeous!!! You continue to amaze...
ReplyDeletethese are absolutely lovely! so very beautiful and i'm sure your friend will adore them.
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!! You are so stinkin talented!! I have missed a few posts so had a Grand Ole Time catching up with your beautiful and mouthwatering creations!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Amanda
Those took our breath away! Literally--there were three little gasps form my girls when they saw them. Magical.
ReplyDeleteLoving these! Great addition with the non pareils!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful design! Wish I could duplicate it.
ReplyDeleteThese are BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeletemeravigliosi!! aggiungo l'applauso!!! complimenti!
ReplyDeleteThey are so lovely! I love the colors!
ReplyDeleteHow creative and original! They're just beautiful.
ReplyDeletei don't know how you do it but the pink outline of the butterfly didn't run into the white!
ReplyDeleteso creative !
these look too good to eat!
but i hope your friend enjoyed them anyway! :)
Oh I have a friend who's into butterflies too!.....though I could never make cookies this beautiful!! Great job!!
ReplyDelete~TidyMom
Gorgeous cookies, as usual! I have been having some problems with my royal icing lately and I have no idea why!!! I have switched over to a glaze because it still tastes yummy and I cannot keep doing my cookies over and over and over, it takes forever! The icing isn't drying smooth it is more of a leathered look, which, while interesting isn't what I am going for!! Maybe I will post about it this week. Email me if you have any idea what I am talking about :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love the colors, they are so pretty. :-D
ReplyDeleteThese are soo beautiful and sooo sweet!
ReplyDeleteGosh, those are Beautiful butterflies!
ReplyDeleteThey look so delicate... Perfect!
I spent today lost in your cookie recipe too!
I love the little touch of the non-pareils on the tips of the wings - too perfect!
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me over and over again! I want these just to frame or something, haha. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThese butterfly are beautiful. You are talented.
ReplyDeleteOoh! These are SO pretty!
ReplyDelete-Jenniffer
http://cupadeecakes.blogspot.com
Oh my goodness your frosting skills are awesome. Just checking out your blog via your link at Tasty Kitchen and I'm very impressed.
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty! I love the non-pareils!
ReplyDeleteI have a question, for a newbie at all of this -in everyway. where is the best place to start at??
ReplyDeleteI think your cookies are just awesome and would love to make some. Thanks
busy mom...hello! Look at the labels in the sidebar. You'll find one for "the basics" and one for "the details." that should get you started. :)
ReplyDeletethanks I must have missed it.
ReplyDeleteEverything is so pretty that you show.