Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Bonnets

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I’ll just call them Cookie Hats since Easter is now over. I made these this weekend but you can certainly do them for other occasions like Mothers Day. Showers, too. You can change the colors for different themes. Any Red Hat Society peeps out there? These would be fun. I can also see these for a Kentucky Derby party – you could get really creative with them. Or forget the flowers, paint them with silver luster dust and turn them into flying saucers.

I found the instructions for these cuties in a book called Cookie Swap.

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Here’s what they are supposed to look like. Gorgeous, huh! These are made using royal icing to coat the hat and pipe the perfect little dots. Fondant is used for the flowers and the bands.

Now, I didn’t have extra hours to wait for royal icing to dry when I made these, so I improvised. But, if time weren’t an issue, I’d go royal.

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Instead, I covered the sugar cookie hats in tinted and rolled fondant…

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And used sugar pearls to add detail. To help them stay in place, I used the pearls to press indentations around the hat. Then, I put a tiny amount of water on the sugar pearl and placed it in position.

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Here they are with and without the pearls.

The base of the sugar cookie hats should be rolled thin before baking and the top part of the hat should be thicker to accommodate the fondant band. I used the shortbread sugar cookie recipe in the book, but feel free to use your own recipe and decorate.

Note: To get the fondant and cookie shapes to match in size, I re-cut the cookies with the cutter when I took them out of the oven and while they were still warm because they had spread a little.

You can attach the fondant to the cookies with a little bit of icing and you can attach the fondant flowers with a little dab of water.

Fondant Flowers.

All I can say is I heart my flower blossom plunger cutter. Say that fast three times.

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I bought it a while ago and this is the first time I’ve used it.

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You can cut shapes out of fondant and by pressing down on the plunger, you can make center indentations… or not.

You can also press the plunger into the fondant and remove the flower shape to then press and release onto a sponge.

This will give the flowers a curved shape.

But, without a sponge handy I had to improvise again.

So I grabbed the paper towel roll nearby and laid it on its side.

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See how they curve when you press them into a soft surface and release? If you wanted, you could also add sugar pearls to the centers or pipe with icing.

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These were fun to use. Now I need to get my hands on a little leaf plunger cutter to round out the look.

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Cookie Swap is full of recipes, decorating and displaying ideas.

Like these….

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Yes, this is a cookie. A ridiculously beautiful cookie. Seriously, who does that? Amazing!

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And these are in the book, too. Love them! Looooooove them. But, I’d have to find someone to pipe those dots on for me. Mine would never look that perfect.

In addition to really pretty sweets, the book also has cute cookies to make you swoon.

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Like these hamburger and hotdog shaped macarons. Dying.

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And these watermelon cookies. Oh and umm, the lemons? Those are cookies, too. I know. Craziness.

Want to try your hand at some spectacular cookies?

Or just want to look at pretty pictures?

Enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.

Just leave a comment on this post and tell me if you’re an adventurous cookie maker or content taste tester.

Deadline to enter is Monday, April 5th at 5:00 pm ET. Sorry, Time’s Up! Winner below.

One winner will be chosen at random and announced Monday evening on this post.

Good luck!

Okay, we have a winner. But first, I’d like to say how glad I am that so many of you lean towards the adventurous side. It’s fun to challenge yourself and this book will do just that.

Alright, let’s see who won.

winner-cookieswap

YAY for Sarah the Adventurer! This book has plenty of projects to keep you busy. Have fun.

201
Tracy said...

I think I am more of a content taste tester like Cookie Monster.

April 5, 2010 12:59 AM
202
sooki said...

wish i was an adventurous cookie maker, but will have to settle for content taste tester!

April 5, 2010 12:59 AM
203
Jen said...

I am definitely a content taste tester, but maybe with this book I could become an adventurous cookie maker :-)

April 5, 2010 12:59 AM
204
Rachel said...

I’m not a super sweets lover, but I LOVE to bake, so I’m definitely an adventurous baker (but of course I have my old stand-bys).

April 5, 2010 01:00 AM
205
Lauralee said...

Oh yes, I love to make wild and wonderful cookies. Nowhere near as deluxe of the ones shown, but I do have fun and my grandgirls are thrilled with them.

April 5, 2010 01:00 AM
206
Heather said...

I am definetly both!

April 5, 2010 01:00 AM
207
Emily said...

So pretty! I am an adventurous cookies maker.

April 5, 2010 01:00 AM
208
Mishelle said...

I’m deifinitely an adventurous cookie maker! What a great looking book!! Happy Easter!!

April 5, 2010 01:00 AM
209
Connie said...

Those look wonderful! Mostly I go for taste…but, sure is fun to go for pretty!

Will have to check this book out!

Hope you had a great Easter.

April 5, 2010 01:00 AM
210
Aaron said...

I try to be an adventurous cookie maker, and thus am a content cookie taster by default. I love baking and would LOVE to win this book! :) Happy Easter!

April 5, 2010 01:01 AM
211
Cindy said...

More of a taster right now, but I am toying with the idea of trying some royal icing decorating of cookies…This book may be just the inspiration I need!

April 5, 2010 01:02 AM
212
Raquel said...

I’m an adventurous taste tester! I love to bake, but find some recipes a bit intimdating though looking at them I know it’ll be mouth-watering once I get pass the “fear” and just bake. Thank you for sharing your baking with us!

April 5, 2010 01:02 AM
213
Heather said...

I am always looking for new and fun ideas! There is something to be said for being a cookie baker and a cookie taste tester! Both VERY good jobs!!

April 5, 2010 01:03 AM
214
iheartdessert said...

adorable!

April 5, 2010 01:04 AM
215
Rain said...

I am definitely an adventurous cookie maker!! But I do my fair share of taste testing as well…. :)

April 5, 2010 01:04 AM
216
Kyle said...

Hmm… A little of both? I guess more of a taste tester though.

April 5, 2010 01:04 AM
217
Sparki said...

Wow, those cookies look awesome! I love to do crazy things with cookies (and cupcakes), so I guess I would be the “adventure” type. For my daughter’s second birthday, I made a “shoe” shaped cake and then decorated lots of gingerbread boys & girls (actually, they were sugar cookies, but I used the classic cutters) and one large mama to represent “The Old Woman who Lived in the Shoe.”

Anyway, it’ll be at least a decade before my public library gets that book, though, so could you please enter me into the contest?

April 5, 2010 01:04 AM
218
pamela said...

Oh, these are the cutest things! Cookie baker and taster here. Would love to win a copy of this book.

April 5, 2010 01:05 AM
219
Candy said...

I’m pretty much an adventurous cookie maker, always wanting to try new things. The only thing is my mum doesn’t like it when I make a big mess in the kitchen, since i’m only 13. My mum shouts at me all the time for making a big mess in the kitchen. I haven’t baked anything for a while now, scared i’ll get in trouble.

April 5, 2010 01:05 AM
220
Maria said...

Oh wow – those are some truly beautiful cookies. I love to play around and make fun things like that, but mine NEVER come out anywhere near that gorgeous. Still doesn’t deter me from trying though – it’s fun to play with your food!

April 5, 2010 01:06 AM
221
Paige C said...

I’ve got some work to do before I become more adventurous….so I’m content to taste for now!

April 5, 2010 01:06 AM
222
Kari said...

How fun! And I love the flower punch… will definitely have to get one!

April 5, 2010 01:07 AM
223
Jennifer said...

I LOVE baking cookies. I even hosted my first Christmas cookie swap last year. It was great fun! My favorite are any kind of cookies with chocolate in them! :)

April 5, 2010 01:07 AM
224
The Chocolate Cat said...

I am both a tester and a baker but only just learning how to try new ideas and decorate. This book looks amazing!

April 5, 2010 01:07 AM
225
Elizabeth said...

I am a very adventurous cookie bake! Although, I could taste test all day!!!!

I love these cookies too!!! They are awesome! You are so talented! :D

April 5, 2010 01:07 AM
226
Elizabeth said...

Adventurous COOKIE MAKER!

April 5, 2010 01:07 AM
227
Sarab said...

Adventurous…mostly with flavors but I would love an excuse to play more on decorating. Of course I have to taste…I call it quality control.

April 5, 2010 01:08 AM
228
thuy said...

i am definitely and adventurous cookie maker. this book looks adorable!

April 5, 2010 01:08 AM
229
Sinead said...

i would LOVE that book please!!

April 5, 2010 01:08 AM
230
Cali said...

Content taste tester for sure!! I love to look but these are cute enough I would even make them!!

April 5, 2010 01:09 AM
231
jen said...

I love to bake ‘em & taste ‘em! Thank goodness my family likes to taste ‘em too!
-jen

April 5, 2010 01:09 AM
232
Joanne Kennedy said...

Your cookies are beautiful. Just as nice, if not better then the ones in the book. But then again, you always make the best things!

I would love to win this book. Please enter me in your giveaway.

Thanks for the chance.

Hugs,
joanne

April 5, 2010 01:09 AM
233
Heather said...

I love making cookies…but I’m not the adventurous type. I’m a lump of dough kinda gal. Cake balls is about as adventurous as I get…I could do about 5 but then my feet and back and patience give out. :) So…taste tester extraordinare!

Thanks for the giveaway…beautiful pics.

April 5, 2010 01:09 AM
234
Stephanie said...

A taster, for sure, but if I won I could easily be converted to a tester, as well. :)

April 5, 2010 01:09 AM
235
beatriz verde said...

i like to make pretty cookies but every time i try i fail :S

April 5, 2010 01:10 AM
236
Erica said...

Oh, I am definitely a taster. I tired the whole roll out cookie thing once and it didn’t go to well! I’d rather munch on them ;)

April 5, 2010 01:10 AM
237
Christina said...

I try to be an adventurous cookie maker but am still working out some kinks.

April 5, 2010 01:10 AM
238
Angela said...

I’d have to say adventurous cookie maker. I have a large clear plastic bin of cookie cutters. I hand make my flowers out of royal or gumpaste. Maybe adventurous should be replaced with crazy. Thanks for sharing. I cannot wait to share about your book.

April 5, 2010 01:10 AM
239
Ryan said...

I’m an avid snickerdoodle maker but I love the idea of decorated cookies. People usually just think of a cookie as just that…but they can be beautifully decorated like a cupcake or a cake, I just haven’t ventured out to try it yet. I think this post has inspired me!

April 5, 2010 01:11 AM
240
Noreen said...

adventerous cookie maker!!!

April 5, 2010 01:12 AM
241
Laura Mignano said...

An adventurous cookies make while I taste test! :) Adorable cookies! One more book to get added to my list!

April 5, 2010 01:13 AM
242
Susanna said...

I’m definitely a content taste tester. Many times when I try to be adventurous, the things I bake don’t turn out as pretty as I hoped they would.

April 5, 2010 01:13 AM
243
Autumn said...

Who doesn’t like to taste? I love to try all kinds of cookies, but I also like to make them.

April 5, 2010 01:13 AM
244
hanni said...

im defintly an adventurous cookies maker and eater! im all about carbs n fat! haha :P

April 5, 2010 01:14 AM
245
Jen Owens said...

I LOVE to decorate cookies….. in fact, I’d love to publish my own cookie-decorating-idea-book someday, kinda like the one you’re giving away. I guess it’s one of those “life goal” kinda things. Please please please pick me!!!!

April 5, 2010 01:14 AM
246
Rachel said...

Oh wow! I’m a taste tester. I don’t have the patience to decorate the cookies without wanting to eat them already.

April 5, 2010 01:14 AM
247
Azure said...

Taste tester, but I like to read about adventurous bakers!

April 5, 2010 01:14 AM
248
Alex said...

I am a cookie creator for sure- to put it simply I BEGGED for a kitchen aid mix master for my 12 birthday and my mom used a new more powerful one to lure me back from studying abroad (I tried to tell her that I wasn’t coming home and she was NOT happy!) I love to make cookies and even more than that, I love to share cookies with people and see the look on their face when they enjoy something that I have created from simple ingredients, time, patience and effort! Baking is my stress relief and cookies are my speciality! Thanks for sharing all of your fun ideas!

April 5, 2010 01:15 AM
249
Anna K. said...

I try to be adventurous – I’ll try crazy baking techniques, but I’m terrified of piping icing! Go figure.

April 5, 2010 01:15 AM
250
nina :) said...

I’m trying to be more adventurous, but I just don’t have that much free time anymore.
So I’m a taste tester right now :)

April 5, 2010 01:15 AM
251
Elizabeth said...

bakkkkker!

April 5, 2010 01:16 AM
252
Michelle @ 5 Forks said...

I would love this book. I recently started playing around with rolled sugar cookies so I could use a little help on the design side of things.

April 5, 2010 01:17 AM
253
Monica R said...

I love to look at beautiful cookie pictures….everytime i start looking, i just want to start baking….
Happy Easter

April 5, 2010 01:17 AM
254
BlissfulBabe said...

I would love to attempt to be the crazy person who actually makes these. I’d prolly have to have a Xanax, though.

And I would definitely eat them. Just as soon as I got over the fact that I was about to ruin a perfect piece of ART!!

This book would be so fabulous to add to my collection! How fun!

April 5, 2010 01:18 AM
255
Kassy said...

Adventurous baker/eater here!

April 5, 2010 01:18 AM
256
Sara said...

Adventurous all the way, luckily my roommate is a content taste tester hahaha

April 5, 2010 01:19 AM
257
Hannah said...

content taste tester. :)

April 5, 2010 01:19 AM
258
Crystal pierce said...

I’m both! I like to make cookies and eat them too !!

April 5, 2010 01:20 AM
259
Cathy said...

I LOVE baking cookies. I’ve finally mastered my own chocolate chip cookie recipe :)

April 5, 2010 01:21 AM
260
Tammy Anderson said...

I’d say adventurous cookie maker — but I love being a content taste tester too!! :)

April 5, 2010 01:22 AM
261
Jamie said...

I’m a cookie maker!

April 5, 2010 01:23 AM
262
Jenna said...

Oh my goodness, now this is definitely up my alley and YES, I’m an adventurous cookie maker! This is exactly what I’ve been searching and would make such a wonderful gift for ME! oooh TY for the chance honey! Happy Easter!!

April 5, 2010 01:24 AM
263
Maria Galman said...

I like to make fancy cookies during holiday time. For the rest of the year, drop cookiers are the fastest.

April 5, 2010 01:24 AM
264
Elaine said...

Love the cookies! I want to make the butterflies for my daughters birthday. Thanks.

April 5, 2010 01:25 AM
265
Charis said...

Adorable! And now I have Fred Astaire singing about Easter bonnets in my head….

I’ve been getting steadily more adventurous, although I hadn’t thought of it that way…I think I’m mostly addicted to making things pretty ;)

April 5, 2010 01:25 AM
266
Heather said...

I like to think of myself as both ;)

April 5, 2010 01:25 AM
267
April said...

That book looks amazing! I love making new cookies and anything that impresses my friends is worth the work!

April 5, 2010 01:25 AM
268
Brittney said...

I am definitely not adventurous or much f a risk taker but I definitely enjoy having fun and making cookies.

April 5, 2010 01:25 AM
269
Nicole said...

Those look so beautiful. I love making cookies.

April 5, 2010 01:26 AM
270
T.P. said...

What a gem of a book. Your hat cookies are as cute as can be. Hats off to you and your patience Bakerella, its something I definately admire.

April 5, 2010 01:27 AM
271
kelly o said...

I used to think I was an adventurous cookie maker until I saw these!

April 5, 2010 01:27 AM
272
Sara said...

I’m a cookie taster – I mean really who isn’t! I’m only just starting to get more adventurous with creating thanks to your blog :)

April 5, 2010 01:28 AM
273
Megan said...

I’m definitely more of a cookie taster. My cookies just don’t seem to turn out right!

April 5, 2010 01:28 AM
274
chalayn said...

I LOVE cookies.
I love to look at them, taste them and make them. :)

April 5, 2010 01:28 AM
275
Steffanie said...

Can I just say chocolate covered Snikerdoodles? Num num num!!!! I’m also a master taste tester :-)

April 5, 2010 01:28 AM
276
Marlene said...

Adventurous. And I am so making those hats for Mother’s Day!!

April 5, 2010 01:29 AM
277
Jan Loman said...

I just had my first experience with cake decorating – not doing, ordered one for daughter’s wedding … I’m now AMAZED at this art! It’s all fascinating. I found your website accidentally, and so glad I did! I’m impressed enough to maybe give this a try. Probably I’ll just make a mess … but it will be fun and easy to clean it all up! YUM! Thank you for this opportunity xoxo

April 5, 2010 01:30 AM
278
Amy said...

Definitely adventurous! I just made the Easter basket cupcakes yesterday, so cute!

April 5, 2010 01:32 AM
279
Isabel said...

What a CUTE and inspiring book!! I’d say I’m an aspiring adventurous cookie maker. I’ve been off the baking wagon for a bit due to moving, etc, and not having a set-up kitchen. Now that I’m getting more situated, I’m itching to get back in there and create. :)

April 5, 2010 01:32 AM
280
Arielle C said...

You’re hats are soooo cute! I’m living in Japan right now and just had a “Sweets Day” with three of my Japanese friends during which we made your Fast Food Fun project. I can’t wait to show them this one!
I am definitely an adventurous cookie baker and I love sharing my finished products with all our neighbors!

April 5, 2010 01:32 AM
281
Stephanie Boney said...

I have been a taste tester until this past Saturday. Instead of Easter baskets full of candy, I made iced sugar cookies….. I enjoyed it and they turned out really yummy….. now the decorating is a different matter…LOL…. I need lots of work on that end… but they reminded me of actual Easter eggs that were dyed… you know how you have this great idea of dipping in one color and then another but when you finish…it looks awful…well, I had a cookie that came out like that… then I used an adorable bunny cookie cutter… well after the icing got applied… He was refered to as my “drunk bunny” his poor face looked like the blur you would see after several very strong drinks… but those were the worst out of the batch..the kids enjoyed them.. which is saying alot since they are all grown.

April 5, 2010 01:33 AM
282
Margaret said...

You are so clever. I would love to be a taste tester but now that you have tried it, I think I could be adventurous too. The book looks terrific.

April 5, 2010 01:34 AM
283
Melissa said...

I super <3 cookie making and I love to make adorable ones!!! Win or lose, thank you for all of your inspirational work!

April 5, 2010 01:34 AM
284
Jessica said...

I’m so awful at decorating (but maybe having the book would help!), so you can count me in as a taste tester!

April 5, 2010 01:35 AM
285
Emily said...

Cookie maker, although lately I’ve been too busy to really bake.

April 5, 2010 01:36 AM
286
Abbey said...

I am a content taste-tester. I can bake if necessary, but I would much rather let someone else do it, as they would do a much better job than I. (The someone else being my amazing grandmother)

April 5, 2010 01:38 AM
287
Kiana said...

Most definetly a taste tester! But once in a while I’d be an adventurous cookie make! Lol I just recently succeeded in making cupcake pops my first try I flopped, and flopped Horribly! But after a trip to my local cake store, an employee told me about paramount crystals and now I can honestly swear by them!!!! My second batch came out perfect to my standards and I’m very proud! Thanks you are my baking inspiration!!!!!

April 5, 2010 01:40 AM
288
Lindsay said...

I’m a little bit of both. This book looks wonderful!

April 5, 2010 01:41 AM
289
Kristi B said...

I would like to have a cookie adventure :)

April 5, 2010 01:42 AM
290
Alissa said...

I have that blossom ejector set..and the daisy one…and a leaf one too! Love them. A lot.

I am more of a taste tester…I own several cookie books but so far I’ve just looked at the pictures!

April 5, 2010 01:42 AM
291
Shana said...

Um, those hats are stinkin’ cute!!! And that book looks amazing! Seriously would love to get my hands on that puppy. I can be adventurous given the right circumstances….
unfortunately my three lovely kiddos make those circumstances few and far between :) Oh, and I think I need those flower plunger thingys! They look like such fun!

April 5, 2010 01:42 AM
292
Michele said...

HI,
I have looked on your site almost everyday since my friend told me about it last October. This is my first time submitting any kind of comment on a website. I LOVE YOUR SITE, and am always looking for fantastic ideas. You have a gift!!
I LOVE baking and trying out new cookies!!! Its so much fun. This cookbook would be great to own and glean from, but I do enjoy your site for that as well!! (: Thanks for all your posts and igniting creativity in me!

April 5, 2010 01:42 AM
293
Marie said...

Too Cute! I love to make cookies! We get a little adventurous!

April 5, 2010 01:42 AM
294
heleen said...

I’m afraid I’m rather traditional when it comes to cookies…! Although I often try new things, I usually recreate the same things to perfect my technique.

These flower hat cookies are absolutely gorgeous by the way, they’re almost too pretty to eat. x

April 5, 2010 01:43 AM
295
Virginia said...

I am becoming an adventurous, I am working on several upcoming projects especially now as a Wilton Instructor, but before I took the classes I was happy just tasting.

April 5, 2010 01:43 AM
296
Riley Hammond said...

Most definitely an adventurous cookie maker!

April 5, 2010 01:44 AM
297
Kay O. said...

Wow, what a beautiful book — and your cookies look great, too. I like to eat cookies that taste good, but if they look gorgeous as well, that’s a bonus. Thanks for offering this giveaway!

April 5, 2010 01:45 AM
298
Peter said...

Well, I can’t say that I’m as adventurous as you are, but I do love to try new cookie recipes (and am always willing to taste-test!)

April 5, 2010 01:45 AM
299
Tiffany said...

taste tester here. but i want to try those cute lemon cookies!

April 5, 2010 01:45 AM
300
Viiriainen said...

Baking is always an adventure – and piping a thrill.
So I’ll go with the adventurous…

April 5, 2010 01:46 AM
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