As of yesterday, I'm caught up on Downton Abbey.
{Now, *what* will I do with my free time?!?}
Side note: Let me say that watching Downton Abbey has made me long for a return to chivalry, manners, dressing for dinner, and politeness. Yesterday, at the Godiva store, I approached the cashier to buy a truffle from the case. Instead of asking "how may I help you," or even "hello," the cashier said, "what's up?" Only when I got in the car did I think that I should have answered, "yo."
Anyhoo...no spoilers here, since I know many of you are just jumping on the Downton bandwagon, but ever since there was that little spark between Anna & Mr. Bates in the first episode, I've been completely smitten with these two. ♥
And, I thought their cookies deserved a little lace.
Lace is about the easiest way to decorate a cookie with piping. You really can't do it wrong...and you get major bang for your buck...or pipe...or whatever. It looks classy and elegant and all you did was pipe on random designs. (I'll link at the bottom of the post to some lace inspiration from other blogs.)
To make the cookies, you'll need:
- heart-shaped sugar cookies
- royal icing, divided and tinted with AmeriColor Super Black, Ivory & Regal Purple (I added a touch of ivory to my purple to tone it down a bit.)
- disposable icing bags
- couplers and tips, #3 & #1
- squeeze bottles
- toothpicks
Thin the purple and ivory 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 white 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.
Fill in the outlines with the thinned icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.
Let the cookies dry for at least one hour.
Use a #1 tip to pipe a lace pattern and/or personalization onto the cookies. For inspiration, try an google image search for "simple lace" or "lace patterns."
Let the cookies dry, uncovered, 6-8 hours or overnight.
For more lace cookie inspiration, check out these beauties:
- Rosey Sugar (major inspiration for these cookies)
- Sugarbelle
- Haniela's
- Sweetopia (using Sugar Veil)
Now, without any spoilers...let's not ruin it for the Downton newbies out there...are you as in love with Mr. Bates & Anna as I am? ♥
Downton Abbey is the best! These cookies are adorable. I know the feeling when you finally catch up with shows that you're just getting into (it sucks), but I guess the positive is that now you'll be less likely to have any plot points spoiled for you, simply because you'll be watching with the rest of us :)
ReplyDeleteI love the whole show! I don't think I've ever watched a TV show I've enjoyed as much as this one. The costumes and dialogues are outstanding. My favorite is probably Edith, though I do love Mary for her rarely bending, old school ways. I too miss the days of manners. People are so inconsiderate nowadays. It's a really sad state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteI'm way beyond in love with those two. That show is my singular obsession. I mean oh my gosh! I have all three seasons on Bluray and they are practically on repeat all the time. John Bates and Anna are just magical - and how it made me realize how much I miss chivalrous, courteous and well mannered people. These are cookie perfection Bridget.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome. I love Downton as well as everybody else. I love being transported into their world. :)
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous! I love the black outline!!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more with you about the manners! I just love so much about that show. I can't wait for the final on Sunday!
ReplyDeletewow! so amazing. I love this.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to watch this show, so many things I want to see too:) But your cookies are darling:)
ReplyDeleteI have recently become totally ADDICTED to this show. I started watching this season, and then I went back to Season one. I only let myself watch one or two episodes @ a time, because I don't ever want it to end. It's hard to say which relationship I like the most....probably Mary and Matthew, just because Matthew is such a mensch. Love that man! You are so clever to think of making cookies as a tribute to the show.
ReplyDeleteI, too. Love Downton Abbey. I am sooo sad that this Sunday's episode is the end of this season. :-(
ReplyDeleteYour cookies are just perfection, as always! (I think Anna & Mr. Bates would be very pleased.)
I love Downton Abbey and was sad to be caught up, too. Have you seen this?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.happyplace.com/21258/downton-abbey-facebook-recap-season-3-episode-6
It's pretty funny - enjoy!
I am obsessed with Downton Abbey, and I love Mr. Bates and Anna's relationship. I think Anna would like that the fact that you wrote "Mr" Bates, and I think it's funny how long she called him that!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the cookies. I too think Anna and Mr. Bates would agree!I love the show too. I agree that manners and respect all seem to be missing from today's society. Never knew growing up that I'd be referring to the "good old days" so soon!
ReplyDeleteI love that you made Downton cookies so much!!! This is totally something I would do.
ReplyDeletePretty.
ReplyDeleteBeing in the service business for soooo long I guess I expect everyone to treat me the way that I treat people...the "whats up" would have not set well with me either...but I have a question, how do you get your black so black, sometimes mine turns grey and sometime I see some green!! do you use a lot??...m
ReplyDeleteThese cookies are gorg. But I have to admmit, and I feel slightly ashamed about this, I have never watched Downton Abbey. I know.
ReplyDeleteGood рost however , I was wаntіng to know іf you cοulԁ wrіtе a litte more on this tοpiс?
ReplyDeleteI'd be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Many thanks!
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Love the show..Love Mr Bates and Anna:) I could only watch that show and be happy.
ReplyDeleteYour cookies are adorable:)
And how cute is their new place now?
Cute! Per your book, I made Ole Miss Rebel cookies for the first time last week and blogged about it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://jordananddillan.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/ole-miss-sugar-cookies-for-jts-29th-birthday/
Yummy and cute. I did get frustrated with coloring the icing and my squeeze bottle continuously clogging when flooding the cookies.
I'm sure Mrs. Padmore would love having you in her kitchen. Great show. Super cute cookies!
ReplyDeleteI don't watch the show, but I love your cookies! Simple elegance - always my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI entered the Downton Abby community late and had to watch a year and a half of episodes to get caught up because it is both contagious and addictive. Somewhere between the manners of that era and what we deal with today is a happier medium for sure. I'm afraid I might have said something to that person, seriously...and beyond 'yo' too!
ReplyDeleteThese cookies are just perfect for everyone's favorite couple!
Oh I tried and tried to watch the show!
ReplyDeleteNo such luck, it put me to sleep!
But the cookbook is fabulous--does that count? lol
Totally gorgeous!!! I can totally see anyone using these for wedding cookies.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cookies! I am smitten with Branson, and my roommate is waiting for Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes to hook up!
ReplyDeleteSoooo in love with Anna and "mistah Bates." And these cookies are PERFECT!!
ReplyDeleteYour cookies look like they could be served on the show......with tea, of course.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to hear you've joined the cult. ;) (Kidding, sorta)
ReplyDeleteYes, they are a darling couple. These cookies are completely fitting - great job!
Have you seen the Downton Abbey Cookbook? http://www.amazon.com/The-Unofficial-Downton-Abbey-Cookbook/dp/1440538913/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp
Oh isn't it the best show ever!!! Sunday evenings are now my most favorite night ! So sad to see this season end. Love love the cookies!!
ReplyDeleteLove Downton Abbey and love your cookies! I'm anxious for Edith to find her Mr. Bates!
ReplyDeleteI love Mr. Bates and Anna too! These cookies are so sweet!
ReplyDeleteAhhh these are amazing! Mr. Bates and Anna are so wonderful together - love their story! And I love that you're a huge Downton fan :)
ReplyDeleteI have yet to watch Downtown Abbey. My mom really likes to show and she has even gotten my dad to be a fan of it. I feel like I should watch the show to see what I'm missing :)
ReplyDeleteThese cookies look beautiful!
It's Saturday... Downton was the talk of dinner last night. Frustrating when 1 person is not caught up!
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Love these Bridget and love Downton Abbey!
ReplyDeleteI'll be jumping on the Downton Abby bandwagon very soon and I know I have a lot of catching up to do but I'm looking forward to it. Love these cookies. Outlining in black piping and doing the lace design with the black really makes them pop! Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI love these cookies and I love Downton Abbey VERY much! I will be devastated tonight after the finale. I will pine for the show's return until it does!
ReplyDeleteYour cookies are worthy of being served at high tea!
xo
First, there's always time to talk about love! Love love! Second, I totally have to practice with my piping before I can take on these bad boys :)
ReplyDeleteI love Downton Abbey, but having just finished Season 3, we have started calling it "DOWNER" Abbey. I don't know if I'll have the chutzpah to watch season 4!
ReplyDeleteI love these two! I think that's one of the reasons I watch Downtown Abbey. Now I can say I hardly have any free time :)
ReplyDeleteThe cookies are so adorable Bridget.
these look absolutely gorgeous! a brilliant idea!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant !!
ReplyDeleteI so need to learn to do this. So many fun items
ReplyDeleteI am finally going to start watching Downton Abbey! These cookies are so cute. I love the ivory color.
ReplyDeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog and fell in love.....
And I love downton abbey too!
ReplyDelete