One Smart Cookie Graduation Cookies, 2019 version

Can you call something a tradition if you do it two years in a row? I'm starting a tradition, and this is year two. Since Jack was valedictorian of the very first graduating class of his high school, I thought it would be fun for him (*ahem, me?*) to give cookies to the valedictorian each subsequent year.

*update: here's the girl's version of the One Smart Cookie!

[NOTE: If you're in the Houston area and looking for a Catholic High School, Frassati Catholic is like no other. The love and the joy in both the faculty and students is something to behold. If you ever want a tour, let me know...I'll arrange it. (And probably meet you there.)]

But I digress. Cookies. We were talking cookies. Last year, I made this version. I did think those were cute...and they're fewer steps to make...I like these better. How can you not love graduation cap-wearing, glasses-sporting chocolate chip cookies???

You can obviously customize the cap and tassel to coordinate with the school. This blue shade is a combination of Americolor Electric and Royal Blue. I loooooove it.

I used two cookie cutters and pieced them together to make this shape. The glasses are made from a Sweet Sugarbelle template. (You'll need to make these at least a day ahead.) Let me walk you through it...

To make them, you'll need:

• Sweet Sugarbelle eyeglasses template
• waxed paper
• cut-out cookies (I used this one, rolled to 3/8")
• circle cookie cutter, graduation cap cookie cutter
• royal icing, tinted with Americolor warm brown, chocolate brown, super black, bright white, and whatever color you want for the cap (I used Americolor Electric Blue mixed with Royal Blue) and the tassel (shown is Egg Yellow)
• disposable icing bags
• couplers and tips: #4, #2
• squeeze bottles
• toothpicks

Print out the eyeglass template from Sweet Sugarbelle. Tape the template to an upside-down cookie sheet. Tape a sheet of waxed paper on top. 

Use the black icing and a #4 or 5 tip to outline the glasses. Let the outline sit for about an hour before filling. Thin the white icing with water a bit at a time, until a ribbon dropped back onto itself disappears in a count to 5-8 seconds. Fill in the glasses. Let the white icing set for about an hour. 

Use a #3 tip to add a black "eye" in the center of the glasses. Let these dry uncovered overnight. Once dry, use a very thin cookie spatula to ease the transfers off of the waxed paper. These can be made way ahead of time and stored in a container at room temperature. MAKE MORE THAN YOU NEED BECAUSE OF BREAKAGE.

For the cookies, cut out the circles and graduation caps from the cookie dough. Use the graduation cap to cut off the top of the circle. Fit the pieces together and freeze for 10 minutes before baking.

Outline the caps in blue (or whatever color you desire) using a #2 tip. Reserve some of this blue icing before thinning.

Outline the cookie part in warm brown.

Note: you do not have to follow the outlines of the cookie cutter exactly. I wanted the cookie to be rounded and have the tassel come to the side.

Thin the warm, chocolate brown, and blue icings with water, a bit at a time, until a ribbon of icing dropped back into the bowl disappears in a count of "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two" or three. Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit for several minutes. Stir gently and transfer to squeeze bottles.

Fill in the outline of the cookie with the warm brown icing. Use a toothpick to guide the icing to the edges and pop any large air bubbles. Fill about 4-6 cookies at a time. Starting with the first cookie filled, drop dots of the chocolate brown icing on top. Use a toothpick to drag peaks out in different directions to make chocolate chip shapes.

Fill in the graduation caps with blue icing. Let the icing dry at least 30 minutes. Add the icing detail on the caps and the tassel with #2 tips. (I like a 1.5 tip for the tassel if you have one.)

After a couple of hours or the next day, add the eyeglasses transfers. Pipe a bit of piping consistency icing on the back of the glasses and lightly place onto the cookies. Use a #2 tip to add a smile in black.

Voila! Smart cookies for your smart cookies! 
I can't wait to make these again next year for year three of our tradition.