(Actually, I'm all for legislating that one.)
When we moved to Alabama, I still remember my husband walking in the door with a plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies from our neighbor. I knew we would be fast friends.
I contemplated slipping a note under their door that went something like this,
"Hi, I'm Bridget...from next door. I promise we're nice people...and you WILL get cookies. It's just that we've been gone for 8 days and we have no clean underwear. Or groceries. So, I must do laundry and go to the grocery store. And do you know that royal icing has to dry overnight? I promise, I'm not ignoring you. I'll be over with cookies soon."
Mr. E thought that was a little overkill.
So, I just made the cookies.
To make the Welcome house cookies, you'll need:
- house-shaped sugar cookies
- royal icing, tinted with AmeriColor Super Red, Turquoise and Bright White
- disposable icing bags
- couplers and tips (#3 & #1)
- squeeze bottles
- toothpicks
Thin the turquoise and white icings to the consistency of a thick syrup. Add the water a bit at a time, stirring gently with a silicone spatula. Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit for several minutes.
Stir gently again to pop any air bubbles that have formed. Transfer to squeeze bottles.
Go back to the first filled cookie and add dots on top of the wet icing.
Let dry at least one hour.
Let dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight.
Maybe you'll want to make some Welcome cookies, too.
Remember it's mandatory.
Remember it's mandatory.
When I was little younger and home in the summer I remember making brownies from scratch all by myself for our new neighbors. They talked about it for years. Nothing like that around our home now, so sad:( I love the colors you used.
ReplyDeleteI can make cookies like this IN MY DREAMS. I am green with envy at your ability to write in cursive with icing. I can't even hold my camera steady. Can't write on a whiteboard. Can't even imagine what my cursive on a cookie would look like....Needless to say, I think these are spectacular!
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure what is supposed to say welcome would end up looking like some illegible note from a serial killer. They are beyond cute though! Maybe I could master the polka dot houses for our hopefully soon to be new neighbors!
ReplyDeleteYou hilarious and the Picasso of Polka Dots :)
ReplyDeleteADORABLE. That color combo is perfection!!
ReplyDeleteI sooooo wish you were my neighbor. Sigh.
Also, don't you hate it when you go to park and then at the last minute you notice that an empty cart is in the middle of the parking spot???? Oh Em GEE. Citizens Arrest!!!!
I want you to be my neighbor. I just have to convince my husband to move to texas.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful and perfect for new neighbors.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you that I followed your recipes and deocrationg suggestions over the holidays and made the most beautiful cookies. Thank you for helping me "crack the nut" to be able to decorate beautiful sugar cookies! I'm hooked!
Bridget, I love you because I feel like I could do this cookie. Or some reasonable facsimile. And it is adorable. I enjoy looking at cookies that I couldn't do -- say a house with a brick chimney, some windows with floral window boxes, a door with a shiny brass knocker, you get the picture -- but it's nice to remember that simpler cookies can be terribly cute (and delicious) (and welcome!).
ReplyDeleteSo lovely. Do you have any tips for improving writing on cookies? I look and my handwriting and no wonder I struggle piping perfect cursive or print letters on baked goods. Any suggestions will help!! I love your blog. I have had so much fun decorating cookies with my girls since I stumbled upon all this great info!
ReplyDeletealso... what brand tips are you using?
ReplyDeleteI think I need to move out and then move back in :)
ReplyDeleteCute as are all cookies you do. Lucky neighbors
ReplyDeleteI am completely envious of how easy you make this - okay, everything - look! You have very lucky neighbors.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm just like you - I feel GUILTY when I don't have fresh cookies ready as the neighbors arrive. For me, that rarely means sugar cookies, and usually just chocolate chip cookies. I can pop those babies off quickly. And, living in base housing, we have new neighbors constantly on our street - aieee!
ReplyDeleteThey should be mandatory shouldn't they!!!! These are lovely!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I strive to be as amazing at cookie making!! The little house cookies are too precious! I know you inspire more than just myself!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Anna
http://shinelikeglitter.blogspot.com
Those are soooo cute!
ReplyDeleteCan someone pleaaaase tell me how to get the bigger pictures with the text? I am brand new to this and struggling. Any help is appreciated! www.bakeskool.com
How funny, we just moved to Utah from California and my neighbor brought over some cookies for us. They weren't as fancily decorated but they were delicious none the less. Thank you for the great post!
ReplyDeletethese are the cutest house warming/new neigbors cookeis I've seen. I wish our neighbors would have brough us something when we moved a couple of years ago!
ReplyDeleteI have moved 10+ times in the past 10 years, call us nomads. Some by choice, some b/c landlords selling the places, etc...but never have I even MET some of my neighbors until months later, if ever...and no one brings cookies. This is so adorable and amazing!
ReplyDeleteI just made cookies for my new neighbors! You are so right they are the perfect "welcome to the neighborhood" gift, who doesnt love cookies?!
ReplyDeleteThese are the perfect looking housewarming cookies. I love good neighbours. :)
ReplyDeleteThese are addorable!
ReplyDeleteLovely cookies! Would you like to be my neighbour? ;P
ReplyDeleteLove these! Perfect timing, since there are two houses right near us that are for sale. Now I have an excuse to try your Welcome Cookies! (not like I needed an excuse! lol)
ReplyDeleteThese are absolutely adorable! Love the polka dots!
ReplyDeleteLove these! WIsh I were in a neighborhood that would have brought me fresh cookies! lol
ReplyDeleteAlso... totally agree about the shopping carts! People should get tickets for leaving them out. In Canada, you need a quarter to unlock the cart from the other carts and then get it back when you return it! LOVE this!! and it is an even better score when someone doesn't return their cart.. you get the quarter for being a good citizen shopper! lol
I always bake for new neighbours too...except around here they end up being anti-social! One guy who moved here in October 2010...I've never laid eyes on him! He did bring the pan back and thanked husband for the cake...I was out at the time.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletereally cute. love the cursive
ReplyDeleteI've always been afraid of trying flooding icing, but maybe I should just do it, you know?
ReplyDeleteIt looks so hard.
It looks so complicated.
But, it's 2012.
A new year, a new day.
I'm gonna do it!
Oh, I'm sure they loved them and didn't even think about the delay, especially since the holidays were in full swing. Those houses are so perfect. I need to move next door to get in on that welcome gift.
ReplyDeleteI have a quick question, I was looking for meringue powder and don't know which to choose. I found the powder on Amazon, but there are different kinds. There is ateco 475 and then there's a larger container that reads 480. Which do you recommend I get? Is there a difference?
ReplyDeleteYou have lucky neighbors. I hope they are worthy of your cookies. I know that our new (crazy) neighbors are not... No cookies for them. Ever!
ReplyDeleteCute and Simple...Just the way I like it! :)
ReplyDeleteAre there any more available homes in your neighborhood?
ReplyDeleteThose cookies are the most adorable things I have seen all day!!
ReplyDeleteBridget! These may be one of my favorites you've done ever! They are darling, and would make any new neighbor feel welcomed.
ReplyDeleteThese cookies are great! Every time I visit your site I'm surprised all over again at just how perfect your cookies are each and every time. They're wonderful!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are just about as sweet and adorable these cookies are. The world needs more of you..and cookies too!! I love your blog and adore your work!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New year and thanks for sharig!!
Maureen
Won't you be my neighbor.........
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty! I knew the writing reminded me of something..the hostess cupcakes! LOVE THESE!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely idea and those cookies are SO cute!!! Receiving cookies like these couldn't help but get a relationship with your neighbours off to a great start.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet gift and very cute! I'm impressed with your writing with icing skills. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are the best neighbour! And I'm completely jealous on how well you do cursive with icing - I can barely write that well with a pen and paper. I love these cookies and am now hunting for a house-shaped cookie cutter of my own...
ReplyDeleteThe writing on them is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute, and such a great way to make folks who are new to the neighborhood feel at home.
ReplyDeleteI have this cookie cutter and could not figure out a funky way to use it but you, of course, did! I simply love the polka dots, writing and warmth that envelope this cookie.
ReplyDeleteThese are so fantastic! Love the colors. I want to live on your street! Just posted a link on edible crafts :).
ReplyDeleteThe cookies look adorable and your handwriting is incredible!
ReplyDeleteWe do not do that in Spain with new neighbors but I think that it is a very nice idea and it always make me smile when I watch Desesperates Housewives.
ReplyDeleteThe handwritig is awesome!!!
These house welcome cookies are so cute and love the tutorial and can I be your neighbor? Hubby does want to move to Texas, but it's huge and I'd only agree if all the Texas bakers were super close ;-) How do you get your colors to not bleed? Wait an HOUR to write red on your cookie? Mine would bleed like crazy I'm sure and I'm in California where there isn't too much humidity. I generally wait til the next day to do writing or detail work since I'm scared of bleeding colors. But you know, if you have new neighbors, I'd probably rush cookies over to the them too ;-) Love your post as always Bridget!
ReplyDeleteOh, my...how did I not know that you live in the Great State of Alabama??? Born and bred! (Although no longer there...)
ReplyDeleteIt's just a guess that your amazing cookies more than made up for an 8- or 10-day delay. :)
oh my my... I LOVE these! I love the colors, I love the polka dota, I love the cursive, and I love that you are such a sweet neighbor!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this inspiration, I want to try writing in cursive on something now.
The polka dots are too cute. Don't suppose you'd like to be my neighbor?
ReplyDeleteWow! lovely colors on your cookies.I adore polka dots.Thank you for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteTe quedaron estupendas!! se ven muy bonitas!
ReplyDeleteFeliz año nuevo Da & Mer
It makes me so happy to see someone else loves etiquette and welcoming new neighbors. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI made my neighbors your hostess cupcakes for the start of school. They love me forever. But now I need to learn how to make these. Love, love the colors Bridget!
ReplyDeleteThat is very sweet of you. I would love to move next door to you! The cookies are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful neighbor you are! I have always wanted to be able to make cookies like this! I think I'll just watch you make them for awhile before I attempt it! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love your cookies! Very nice!
ReplyDeleteI'm moving onto your street. Stat.
ReplyDeleteI've never ever gotten cookies or treats from a neighbor before. Ever. And we move a lot, being military and all.
Now I'm sad. Oh well, good thing I can make my own cookies. :)
Nice mandatory rule! I love your cookies. I can't write like that, not even on my cakes, my hands are way to shaky :) Love your tips, thanks.
ReplyDeleteFrom DR,
Mari
Yes, much better that you just brought the cookies!! Such a sweet gesture & I really wish that you were my neighbor. Really!
ReplyDeleteI can't stop singing Mr. Roger's song now~
ReplyDeleteWANT YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR!
xo
I really really really wanna be your neighbor!
you need to be MY neighbor!!! These are adorable! you know I love the colors!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely precious! I'm inspired!
ReplyDeleteDarn, you make it look so easy!
ReplyDeleteYour cookies look so fun and welcoming:) I'm sure you made yourself a forever friend with these cookies!
ReplyDeleteThese are insanely cute!!!! So professional and well done!
ReplyDeleteThis may sound bizarre, but me and my neighbors have never really had a 'connection'. I think I will go and bake some cookies now, you know, just to be friendly :]
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These look great! I'm just curious what recipe you used for your cookies... if you could let me know that would be great!
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The cutest cookies to ever walk the earth.
ReplyDeleteSo I don't bake, really. Or cook. Live, ever. But I'm hosting a housewarming this week for a bunch of friends because I moved into a new place all on my own for the first time (buh-bye roommates and sharing a fridge between 4 people!) I found myself getting really excited about making a bunch of appetizers, and after perusing Pinterest for hours on end stumbled upon these cookies -- they're (clearly) too perfect!
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say I've never heard of royal frosting, or a coupler, or known that there are actually numbered sizes for frosting tips... but I bought everything and am fully prepared to take this on! I made the house-shaped sugar cookies last night and am going to attempt this frosting situation tonight. Fingers crossed I'm not a story for pinterestfail.com!
Those are fabulous house cookies! Would you happen to know/share where the cutter came from?
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous! You have really inspired me to get on the cookie train! You're my cookie hero! I gave a shout out to you on my blog here: http://frostedbakery.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/guess-how-many-cookie-cutters-i-have-no-seriously-guess/ I hope to be as good as you one day!!! Thanks for the amazing tutorials!!!
ReplyDeleteI just have to say that this idea inspired me to tell about your post on our blog where we want to make Jesus welcome when He comes again on our Jesus Is Knocking at the Door--Are You Ready? I think it is so darling to have a cookie like this and welcome words on the door.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how many times we had to do a GUEST PRETEND exercise at our house to get ready for people when they come. Instead, if our GP drill wasn't done that week, we had to sweep the dirt under the rug for unexpected visitors.
THANKS AGAIN.
I love the quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, "Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts." This cookie says it all. - Mary Ross, GospelGrabBag.com, Etsy.com/shop/GospelGrabBag.com.
hahaha :) You really think that there is no better site like mmogah right now?
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