Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to celebrate the decorated cookie. No one really expects cookies for this holiday. They’re too busy looking for the pie, right? At least that’s the way it is in my family. This year, I just had to give in to the call of the turkey-shaped cookie cutter. The only reason I’ve resisted for the past few years is because of the color brown...yes, the color brown. Up to now, I haven’t been able to achieve the perfect shade of brown for the noble bird. To get my royal icing to be that rich brown shade that turkeys demand, I had to use a lot of food coloring, which tasted awful. The answer to my dilemma was chocolate. (Isn’t that the answer to a lot of life’s problems?)
“Chocolate is the answer. Who cares what the question is.” Anonymous
Yes, chocolate was the solution. It’s brown. It’s delicious. It’s perfect. And chocolate royal icing came to my rescue. I’ve always wanted to make chocolate royal icing and turkey cookies seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a try. I wasn’t disappointed. After a few experiments, I came up with the perfect combination of flavor and consistency. It’s delicious and so enjoyable to work with...a welcome addition to my list of cookie-decorating flavors.
Cookie specifics
I decided to use my tried-and-true Classic Sugar Cookie recipe because it’s yummy and makes a lot of cookies. Cover it with Chocolate Royal Icing and it makes a heavenly bite.
Classic Sugar Cookie. This classic sugar cookie brings back memories of the Christmas cookies my mother made during the holidays...with a bold vanilla flavor and slightly soft texture, they make me smile every time I eat one.
Chocolate Royal Icing. The chocolate version of royal icing has a slightly different consistency from its more traditional “cousin.” It’s thicker and fluffier. I also found that I needed to add a bit more meringue powder to get it to dry in the same amount of time, but it tastes so good and dries very smooth.
Shapes
big turkey, small turkey, big and small pumpkins
Sizes
Sizes range from 3½ inches for the “papa” turkey to 2½ inches for the “mama” turkey. The pumpkin is also 2½ inches...my favorite size for decorating and eating!
Chocolate Royal Icing Recipe from These Talented Cookie & Cake Artists
I got my inspiration for the Chocolate Royal Icing from these amazing blogs:
Cookie Recipe is My Own (Tweaked) Family Recipe
Classic Sugar Cookie. A recipe based on the one from Mrs. Gregor, a neighbor of my mom’s when she was a newlywed. I’ve modified it a bit, but I still credit Mrs. Gregor with the inspiration.
Cookies
Classic Sugar Cookies: flour, butter, granulated sugar, egg, pure vanilla extract, baking powder, salt
Icing & Decorative Embellishments
Chocolate Royal Icing (for the turkey body): confectioner’s sugar, Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa, meringue powder, corn syrup, almond extract, food coloring
Royal Icing (for the embellishments): confectioner’s sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, almond extract, cream of tartar, food coloring
Plate, Box or Bag?
Plate. For the Big Day, I plan to arrange the cookies on a festive Fall-themed plate and proudly set it on the dessert table next to the pies.
Box. I packaged the cookies I gave away in a cardboard bakery box with a clear window on top that makes the contents visible to anyone who wants to peek.
Bags. I wrapped the cookies I mailed to family and friends individually in clear, food-safe bags, secured with a twist tie. This packaging makes the cookies stackable without causing damage to the decorations.
Mailing. I mailed cookies to my family and friends throughout the U.S. I always send them Priority Mail through the U.S. Post Office. I use the boxes provided by the Post Office and lots of bubble wrap. In almost all cases, the cookies arrive undamaged. I know they are appreciated when they arrive because of the texts I get with all those smiling faces.
Chocolate Royal Icing is easy and delicious. If you’re a cookier and have never tried it, you really must! When making sugar cookies, it’s crucial to use the best ingredients you can find. They are such a basic cookie but they deserve to be the star of any dessert table. If they taste amazing, they will be just that. I’ve experimented with less expensive ingredients, but have come to the conclusion that flavor is best when I use the best. Why spend all this time baking and decorating if taste and texture are just so-so? Decorating the cookies takes time, but it’s an enjoyable process for me and I know that those who receive them appreciate that. Life is just better when you can share something you love with someone you love. Don’t you agree?
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