Flower Power
I did it. I’m sooooooo excited. I have been wanting to learn how to make homemade decorated sugar cookies since I started this website. But, I’ve been putting it off because they really intimidated me. The whole homemade dough thing. (As far as sugar cookies go, I grew up making the refrigerated Pillsbury kind. You know what I’m talking about.) Not to mention, I didn’t have a rolling pin. That’s right. Me. No rolling pin. Never owned one. Then, there’s the whole royal icing issue, in two consistencies, and making sure it doesn’t dry out. It just always seemed like too much. Then I came across the book, Cookie Craft. And, wow, everything just seemed possible. My dreams of smooth sugar-coated cookies could come true. So, I bought the book and then, went a couple of stores over to Williams-Sonoma and bought my very own rolling pin… a silicone one… look how pretty it is. (Yes, I probably overpaid, but I was in the moment and had to have one.)
It worked wonderfully with some very helpful tips and tricks from the book.
Now, I don’t really own that many cookie cutters, so I used this set of Ateco daisy cutters that I had on hand to do most of my experimenting. Thought they would be a great way to practice flowers.
So far, so good. Guess this might not be so hard after all.
Now, skip ahead the several bowls of icing color, squeeze bottles, sugar crystals, and toothpicks that covered my kitchen table and ta-dah… beautiful sugary flowers.
I’m really excited about how they came out. Not too shabby for my first go at it. Especially since I have a really hard time piping. Now, all you veteran cookie bakers, cut me a little slack here. I know I can improve a lot on the look of these, but, oh how much fun it will be to practice getting better. Think of all the poor cookies I’ll have to sacrifice as test subjects. Yay!!!
I also made some teddy bears with this batch. They’re so cute. I think I’m in love with them.
And, after all that work, this is what makes it so worth while.
Thanks Cookie Craft, for giving me the guts to go for it. I love it when things work out like you hope. And, your recipe and directions were perfect. I guess it’s true, you never know what you’re capable of until you try.
Now, for the good news. I liked this book so much, I went and bought another one just for you.
ENTER TO WIN!
Want your very own copy of Cookie Craft?
Just leave a comment below with an answer to these cookie questions.
What’s your favorite homemade cookie?
What’s your favorite store-bought cookie?
- Make sure to leave your email or a link back to your blog with your comment so I can contact you if you win.
- Cutoff to enter is Friday, September 26th at midnight.
- The winner will be announced sometime Saturday.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
The Giveaway is over. Commenter #419, Amylouwho wins a copy of the book.
Thanks for playing everyone!
Note: The winner will be chosen using the random.org integer generator.
oatmeal chocolate chip–homemade. rugella (sp?)–store bought.
My favorite homemade are Ranger Cookies and store bought are the ginger snaps from the Moravian Bakery!
missionride@hotmail.com
My favorite homemade cookies are M&M cookies (I use the tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe and just substitute M&Ms for the chocolate chips).
My favorite store bought cookies are Girl Scout cookies… well you don't get them from a store, but you buy them, so close enough?
my favourite homemade cookies are the martha stewart sugar cookies i make and decorate with my son…
as for store bought, i am partial to arrowroots. they are so good dipped in coffee!
andrea
asoos@yahoo.com
oh-my-GOD! first attempt? I don’t believe you!
What’s your favorite homemade cookie?
never get tired of plain old chocolate chips.
What’s your favorite store-bought cookie?
none :(
YUMMY COOKIES!!
Favorite Homemade: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Favorite Store Bought: Chocolate dipped macaroons from Costco
Fave homemage: oatmeal chocolate chip
Storebought: Good old Chips Ahoy!
My favorite homemade cookie are tollhouse choc chip cookies.
Store bought are pepridge farms sausalitos.
Favorite homemade cookies are snickerdoodles!
Favorite store-bought brand is Keebler Fudge Sticks!
I recently discovered your site, and what a treasure! Love it!!
My favorite homemade cookie would have to be warm chewy peanut butter cookies with a sprinkling of sanding sugar on top. Mmm!
My favorite storebought cookies are the Archway Wedding Cookies only found around Christmas time. They are sooo good!
My favorite is my late grandma’s sour cream cookie. It’s so gentle and subtle, yet so delicious!
My favorite store bought would have to be Nutter Butters. They are the reason I married my husband!
my favorite homemade cookie is a chocolate chip cookie that’s nice and buttery, with a soft warm middle.
favorite store bought? the giant ones with MnMs in them. Or snickerdoodles done right from a bakery.
jessica
mmm, now I want some cookies!!
My favorite homemade cookie is peanut butter and jelly cookies I made last christmas. My favorite store bought is mint milano’s.
My favorite homemade cookie is also a sugar cookie using my husband’s perfected recipe. It’s simply the best. My favorite store bought cookie is the good ‘ol Oreo. I bought myself some orange filled Oreos recently and I’m waiting to have the time to make the Panda cupcakes from the Hello Cupcake! book.
My favorite homemade cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip- only my recipe though because they are perfect!
My favorite store bought cookie… the delicious sugar cookies you can get from Wal-Mart. They are soft and the icing is perfect!
My favorite homemade cookie is oatmeal, peanut butter chocolate chip.
My favorite store-bought cookie is chocolate covered shortbread.
My favorite homemade cookie is called Vana’s Sugar Cookies – it is a recipe by the director of our department. They are the most phenomenal sugar cookies with an almond glaze on them. To. Die. For! My favorite store bought cookies are Nutter Butters, they are so yummy with my coffee :D
My favorite homemade cookie is a Monster cookie — peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate bar, M&M's, butterscotch chips, nuts, and coconut. All my favorite cookies in one.
My favorite store cookie is a Raspberry white chocolate chip cookie from Safeway. I bought one six months ago and haven't been able to get them again and I have a serious craving for them!
Way to go! Your cookies are beautiful!
My favorite homemade cookie is any kind of chocolate chip and my favorite store-bought are those Lofthouse sugar cookies with a ton of icing on them…yum!!
home made – sugar cookies hands down. reminds me of christmas time.
store cookies – milanos or rainbow chips delux.
My favorite homemade is frosted sugar cookies and my favorite store bought would have to be Mother’s Circus cookies! Love them!
I think your cookies look GREAT! :)
My fave homemade: I have two – The Chewy (Alton Brown’s recipe) and Housepoet’s Famous Oatmeal-Chocolate-Chip-Flaxseed Lactation Boosting cookies (they’re really, really good)
My fave store bought: Do girl scout Thin Mints and Tagalongs count?! They’re my favorite “not homemade” cookie.
My favorite homemade are Scotcharoos (rice krispy peanutbutter w/ chocolate/butterscotch “frosting.”)
Store bought are pink/white frosted animal cookies. YUM.
Your cookies are gorgeous.
You make them look so great! I love your blog! My favorite homemade cookie has to be chocolate chunk and store bought are jelly tops. I have loved them since I was a child.
ntldv97@yahoo.com
What’s your favorite homemade cookie? Honey cookies….yumyum.
What’s your favorite store-bought cookie? Grasshoppers or Thin Mints!
fav homemade are chocolate chip of course.
fav store bought are white chocolate macadamia for sure!
mes@radiantuv.com
maria
Homemade — chocolate chip
Store — Oreos!
favorite homemade-oatmeal cranberry
favorite storebought-lofthouse sugar cookies covered in brightly colorede buttercream…yuummy!
homemade- choc. chip!
store bought- break and bake choc. chip!
what can I say? I love those chips.
Choc-chip and oats – homemade. Oreos for store bought
My favorite homemade are Italian Chocolate Chip cookies.
My favorite store bought are shortbread with chocolate ganache drops in the middle.
I have 2 favs of homemade cookies that I can’t decide between, pb milky way cookies and Levain bakery style Chocolate PB Chip cookies. Yuummm!
As for store bought, has to be Mallowmars!
your flowers are beautiful
andyleeni@gmail.com
My fav homemade cookie is the choc chip- I make these rarely or I would weigh a ton!Store bought would be decorated sugar cookies from local bakery- it would be fun to learn how to make them.
I love homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies made with milk chocolate chips, and my favorite store bought cookie are Oreos.
qtee_pi@hotmail.com
I forgot to mention in my last post how much I love your new rolling pin! And as always, I love your photographic genius!! :)
Nothing beats a Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookie for comfort food at home…
My favorite storebought cookies were Mother’s Flaky Flix, but I can’t find those anymore. Standby would have to be Oreos.
fav. homemade – snickerdoodles
fav. store bought (not really from a “store” but…)Girl Scout Samoas (the ones w/ caramel and coconut!)
Hi, my favorite homemade cookie is a decorated sugar cookie and my favorite store bought cookie is Oreo.
I would love to be able to make decorated sugar cookies as beautiful as yours.
My favorite homemade cookies are snickerdoodles.
I’m not sure what my favorite store bought cookies are… maybe Oreos or those one sugar cookie-like cookies with the frosting and sprinkles. I have no idea what they’re called. ;)
Favorite homemade: my Grandmother Pitchforth’s sugar cookies
Favorite storebought: oreos!
Favorite homemade cookie is Mexican Wedding Cakes – cookies made around Christmas time.
Store made cookie – oatmeal raisin.
roseowens2000@yahoo.com
Favorite Homemade: Pumpkin
Favorite Store bought: Oreos
Stephanie
momofcutekids@gmail.com
Beautiful cookies!!
My favorite homemade cookies are oatmeal with craisins and pecans.
My favorite store bought cookies are form Aldi. They sell break and bake white chocolate macadamia nut cookies that are awesome!
WOW, talk about people who wanna win a book about cookies!
My favorite would be some buttterscotch cookies that my aunt makes, mmm good.
The commissary sells some oatmeal cookies with cranberry, raisin and white choco chips…I may have to go get some tomorrow.
Wow, you have a lot of comments!! I enjoy your blog too… I guess I’m not the only one!
Homemade… good ol’ chocolate chip
Storebought… Nutter Butters
jfrank3360@yahoo.com
my favorite homemade cookie is chocolate chip
my favorite store bought cookies are Mother’s Circus Animal Cookies.
My favourite homemade cookie varies on a daily basis, I like Dorie’s World Peach Cookies, or my Team Cookies, (peanut butter, oatmeal and choc chip) but really I just love all cookies. Except for storebought, I almost never buy them. I do have a soft spot for oreos though…
Favorite homemade cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Favorite store bought cookie: Famous Amos.
Erica- Sabrinatheb@aol.com
My favorite homemade cookies are the ones my mom makes for our business (see them here). My favorite store-bought cookies are the soft Gingeroos from Trader Joe’s. Yum.
My favorite homemade cookies has got to be chocolate chip cookies.
My favorite store bought cookies are chips ahoy and oreos.
All are great with a glass of milk!
Fav. homeade cookie is oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies (a little of everything!) :) They’re moist and wonderful!
Fav. store bought cookie would have to be double stuffed oreos
My favorite homemade cookie, a Kolachki, has a cream cheese and butter pastry with a variety of fruit fillings (my fav, apricot), and it is also my fav because I know that when I am making them here in Peoria, Arizona, my sister in CA, and father in Tucson, AZ, are making them at the same time!
My favorite store bought cookie is Nutter Butters, the thin wafer like kind, in all it’s peanut butter glory…
ednascafe@gmail.com
My favorite homemade cookie is my mother Chocolate Chip cookie cake, which is really just a gigantic cookie with chocolate chips and oatmeal and peanut butter and all kinds of tasty stuff!
My favorite store bought cookies are Mother’s Double fudge. My dad always bought these when I was a kid and they are so excellent with milk! I love them WAY over Oreos!
http://www.eheizerphotography.blogspot.com
THis is my favorite time here- what a terrific blog! My fav home made cookie are my choc chip cookies- yum. I love to buy the puffy pink frosted sugar cookies from costco – they are delicious! Would love to have some help to make some yummy deserts -hope I win. http://thelauritsenfamily.blogspot.com
My favorite homemade cookies are my dad’s chocolate chip.
Favorite store bought are the Mint fudge Keebler cookies.
My FAVORITE homemade cookie is my pizza cookie. You basically make a giant (I guess you can make mini pizzas too) circle cookie and bake it. Then you ice it with a VERY thin layer of red icing then freeze it. Then you ice the cookie with plain white frosting. Decorate with candy that look like pizza toppings and you’re done. It’s great for kids (when you don’t have to watch them) and they look great, especially after you slice them into little pizza slices.
My favorite homemade cookie is Lemon Bonbons. They are these tiny lemon cookies you form into balls with a flat bottom and then cover with layer upon layer of glaze. Then pipe decorations on top when dry. Very time consuming but worth it.
My favorite store bought is mint milano cookies.
Oh my, your cookies look so pretty! I want to eat them all :)
My favorite homemade cookies are gingerbread cookies.
My favorite store bought cookies are definitely Oreos. Yum!
discoelfqueen at gmail dot com
My favorite homemade cookie has GOT to be my moms Date Nut Pinwheels. If no one is looking, I can eat a dozen easily.
From the store…. I’m not really liking ANY from the store but if I have to have a quick fix, I’d say Oreo’s.
My favorite homemade cookie is my mom’s oatmeal raisin cookies.
Favorite store bought cookies are Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies. They are so light and yummy!
My favorite homemade cookie are snickerdoodles!
My favorite store bought is the Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough, though the dough rarely makes it to cookie-hood!
My favourite homemade cookies (couldn’t narrow it down to one) are: Chocolate Chunkers for when I’m in a chocolatey mood and Snickerdoodles for when I don’t feel like chocolate.
My favorite store bought cookies are: Toffee Crunch by Verkade (a Dutch brand). These cookies are nice and crisp with crispy pieces of toffee and rice crisps, covered with a layer of delicious milk chocolate
ONE favorite homemade? Geez – that’s hard. It so depends on the time of the year. Iced lemon for the summer…something spicy or pumpkiny for the fall…biscotti for dipping into hot cocoa (or coffee for a yummy winter breakfast)…and decadent chocolate chip.
Store bought — Fig Newmans. I can’t make any as good as they do.
joyce.michele@gmail.com
My favourite homemade would be shortbread!
My favourit storebought would be Tim Tams yummo!!!
Your cookies are just beautiful.
I love to make Pumpkin Cookies and I love to buy Oreos :)
my fav homemade cookie is my aunt’s famous-amos-like chocolate chip cookie
hmm, currently my favorite store bought cookie is Arnott’s Lemon Crisps. Reminds me of how I used to get them (homemade) at the night markets a decade ago.
stephgurl_lsy@hotmail.com
my favorite homemade cookie is “everything but the kitchen sink”…my kids love these cookies.
My favorite store bought cookie would have to be anything by Pepperidge Farms
favorite homemade cookie is new receipe I found on a blog I read for thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies they are a yummy yummy crowd pleaser!!!
favorite store bought would be Le Petit Ecolier extra dark chocolate
gratefulsoul at hotmail.com
My favorite homemade cookies are my mom’s chocolate chip.
My favorite store bought is oreos.
Your cookies are beautiful!
jlgleason12@yahoo.com
Favorite homemade cookie is cornflake/grassroots cookies, cooked or raw.
My favorite storebought cookie is really a three-way tie between Samoas, Uh-oh Oreos, and Kroger brand cranberry oatmeal cookies (the kind you bring home and bake), especially the old recipe. The oatmeal is something you ought to be able to make at home by the hundreds, but I can’t find a recipe that quite makes the cranberry oatmeal right.
longquarles (at yahoo (dot) com.
My homemade is my grandmothers peanut butter, my favorite store bought would be plain vanilla wafers.
my mom's friend was an awesome baker. she made these wonderful sugar cookies that the taste & texture just melted in your mouth! not to mention were beautiful too. i now own this recipe and use it all the time.
growing up, not once did my mom buy store bought cookie dough and not even store cookies. we always made our own. but now that i am a mom and have children of my own, i'll buy that big tub of tollhouse choc. chip cookie and much on it here and there…i won't even bake them half of the time.
i LOVE to make cookies, i hope i am chosen.
and i LOVE your blog,it makes my mouth water!!
Homemade – oatmeal chocolate chip loaded with walnuts or pecans. (And truly, it’s the dough that I love the best. It is definitely better than than baked cookies.
Store bought – Oreos hands down. The originals, not double stuffed. I can eat the whole package in one sitting without blinking an eye. Of course, I’ll also drink a quart of milk to wash it all down.
My absolutely fav. homemade cookie is the classic chocolate chip (right out of the oven).
As for the store-bought version, I’m a pretty big Oreo fan. :)
– homemadebyjen.blogspot.com
Homemade? Chocolate chip of course!
Store bought? LU biscuits “Le Petit Ecolier” schoolboy cookies, usually with the hazelnut milk chocolate. :)
My favorite homemade cookies are peanut butter with mini peanut butter cups! My favorite store bought cookies are Pepperidge Farms Gingerbread Men!
My favorite homemade: Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
My favorite store bought: Vienna Fingers by Keebler
Congratulations on your cookie victory! And that rolling pin shot almost looks a little naughty…
My favourite homemade cookie ever was an amazing batch of spice cookies I made and emptied my cupboard into. Pecans, chocolate, white chocolate, raisins, a whole lot of chunky goodness.
My favourite store bought cookie? Some HUGE snickerdoodles my mum brought home form a small market in Maine. Tosier’s, I think it was.
I repeat: (It didn’t give you my blog address.)
My favorite homemade: Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
Favorite: storebought: Vienna Fingers
In case it doesn’t again, you can reach me at apeekathome.blogspot.com
favorite homemade cookie- peanut butter
favorite storebough – oreos
I’m impressed and inspired! I wonder if I could do half as well…Anyway my favorite homemade cookies are Toll House chocolate chip cookies. I won’t say how many I can eat in one sitting. My favorite store-bought cookies are those shortbread fingers the come in the red package…YUM.
favorite homemade – oatmeal raisin, must be chewy!
favorite store bought – Jesspersen’s (sp?) almond fingers (these were from a long time ago, but I still remember them!). Eli’s in NYC has a similar one that run a close second.
You did so great on those cookies. They are beautiful.
My favorite homemade: Sugar cookies with green crystals
Favorite Store Bought: Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Michele (mbailey6453@hotmail.com)
My favorite homemade cookie..do I have to choose just one? My newest favorite is a chocolate cookie using a cake mix. It is so soft and stayed soft the next day (they didn’t make it past that point!)
My favorite store bought cookie–hands down, the Mrs. Fields hand dipped peanut butter cookie.YUM.
I too have had a fear of those cookies, I would just love a copy!!
–Kim Metcalf camnkim@comcast.net
The cookies look awesome!!
My favorite homemade cookie…well, I have to say I like my cookies…and I have a few that I make that are quite yummy, but maybe my Hooty Creek Cranberry Cookies are my favorite.
My favorite store bought cookies is a three way tie between Oreos, Milano Raspberry and Mint cookies, and Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Like I said, I love cookies and I love baking too!!
angelabarton@mac.com
http://www.webartons.com
My favorite homemade are good old fashioned chocolate chip. As far as store bought goes I love the pink and white frosted circus cookies. Yummy!!
http://www.christiansenhome.blogspot.com
Oh I would love this book!
My favorite homemade cookie dough is either Sugar cookie (because it can be decorated) or Chocolate chip.
My favorite refrigerated right now is the Pillsbury break and bake oatmeal chocolate chip because I can at least pretend the oatmeal is a little healthy. lol
My fav homemade – classic choc chip. My fav store – oreo’s. Gotta have an ice cold glass of milk with both of these!
What’s your favorite homemade cookie? – I love my soft homemade peanut butter cookies the best!
What’s your favorite store-bought cookie? – Hmm I’d have to say Oreos. My hubby would agree. ;)
My favorite homemade cookie is the good old fashion chocolate chip cookies. It reminds me of coming home from school, and smelling that delicious aroma of those delectuble little bite size cookies!
My favorite store bought are pumpkin chocolate chip cookies from a bakery called great harvest. They taste homemade!
i have been wanting to get my hands on the book, cookie craft!!! it looks amazing!
viv’s favorite homemade cookie: chocolate chip oatmeal
viv’s favorite store bought cookie: the sugar cookies you find in the bakery with the massive amount of brightly colored frosting on top!
My favorite homemade cookie is chocolate chip. My favorite store bought cookie is the grasshopper. Yum.
Favorite homemade: Snickerdoodles
Favorite Store bought: Wedding cookies
Yum, now I’m hungry.
My favorite homemade cookies are no-bake cookies. ^__^ Sometimes I’ll eat ’em for breakfast!
My favorite store-bought cookie has to be Oreos, hands-down.
Favorite homemade: oreo
Favorite Store Bought-Pepperidge Farms Chessmen :)
Love the posts! Your blog has aided in exploration of my creative baking side! Ahe’hee!
Homemade – tie between sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting and Russian tea cookie (shortbread with pecans, rolled and dusted with powdered sugar!)
Storebought – Anna’s Ginger Thins
Love your pictures. Great job on your first decorated sugar cookie effort!!
What’s your favorite homemade cookie?
Chocolate Chip!
What’s your favorite store-bought cookie?
Sugar Cookies – esp. with frosting!
:)
What’s your favorite homemade cookie?
Rolled sugar cookies. Without a doubt. I love making them and I love eating them (I don’t, however, love the extra 5lbs I gain every time my Fiancé talks me into making them). I make them every year with the kids in my family and it’s so much fun to decorate them!
What’s your favorite store-bought cookie?
I am guilty of LOVING the Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookies that come in the tube. I usually end up baking only half of the tube, because I eat the other half raw! :-P
My fav. homemade are sugar cookies.
My fav store bought are pumpkin cookies.
(trinna at mac dot com)