I am not a professional baker nor even an amateur. I started baking just a year ago. This is my kind of therapeutic way to deal with one significant change in my life: from Career Woman to Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). I learned from many sources, most of them are online. I don’t favor one or two, but I collected many sources to support the baking idea in my head. As a beginner baker, I would love to have a collection of reference of how to make a beginner baking product, from the cake ingredients to cake decoration. Instead of hoping people make one for me, why not share what I already collected.
Beginner Baker Series – 3
- Cookie : Chocolate Cookies
- Icing : Blue & White Royal Icing
- Color : Blue, White & Chocolate
- Theme : Baby, Boy
- Occasion : Baby Shower
FIRST: “THE COOKIES”
For a Beginner Baker like me, the shorter the ingredient list, the better! I was looking for the recipe in so many places, and finally found two that attract me the most. The first one is coming from Ochikeron with her 3-Ingredient Egg Free Cookies (it has two benefit, short ingredient and it’s vegetarian friendly), you can get the recipe here!
The second one is coming from my “first online baking mentor”, Beth Le-Manach from Entertaining With Beth. Actually, the recipe is for a Soft Serve Ice Cream Sandwich at first place, but I can’t resist the chocolate cookie recipe. It’s not as short as I want it, but it so easy to make. Thus, I go for Beth’s cookie. You can get the recipe here!
My special note for this cookies:
- I used Celebrate-It Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter. Because I thought I don’t need to buy a special baby look alike cookie cutter, right?!
- If you like gooey chocolate cookie (which I prefer) then follow the baking time instruction for 8 minutes ONLY! But if you love the crunchy one, then change baking time to 10 minutes.
- Please do so like Beth’s, put the cut cookie into FREEZER for 5 minutes before baking in the oven. It really works to preserve the edge of each cookie.
SECOND: “THE ROYAL ICING”
A sweet icing will compliment my bittersweet chocolate cookie! And I need to differ this chocolate cookie with gingerbread man cookie to follow my baby shower theme. I choose royal icing recipe, which is so easy to make (this is my first time making it). Here is what I used:
- 3 Tbsp Meringue Powder
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 6 – 10 Tbsp water
- royal blue gel food coloring
The hardest part is to ensure the consistency. What I learnt from my first timer icing cookies is that there is a different consistency between making a line or a shape and fill it with the icing (it called “flooding”). Stiff consistency is to make the line/shape (to make eyes, smile and diaper triangle for my cookies) and runny consistency is to fill the shape (to fill the diaper triangle and to make milk bottle for my cookies). I watch this video to learn about icing consistency.
THIRD: “HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER” (TAG DESIGN & WRAPPER)
To put my baby shower treat together, I fill each cellophane bag 4×6″ with one chocolate-baby-cookie and tie it with white plastic ribbon. Then to complete everything, I give finish look with my very own tag design. You can download the tag here!
TK | TS Journal 