2.06.2011

Valentine Painted Cookies


My Valentine's gift to you this year are these adorable painted cookies. Rather than making a design with frosting, this design is baked into the cookies. They were such fun to do! Easier than they look, too. And if you have kids, they could do the painting; it doesn't need to be hearts, could be shamrocks or a birthday candle or even funny faces! As you can see from the photos below, the bottom side of the cookie is the painted side. What's even better, these cookies are not too sweet, which is kind of unexpected with a sugar cookie. What better present for your Valentines?

Painted Cookies

From The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark


 

Cookie Ingredients:
12 (1  1/2 sticks) tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1  3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup almond flour

Cookie Paint Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
4 large eggs, room  temperature
2 tablespoons corn syrup
Food coloring

Method for the cookies:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and confectioners sugar. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

In another bowl, combine the flour and almond flour. Add gradually to the butter mixture, scraping down the sides. Place the dough in a piece of plastic wrap and wrap it tightly. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or over night.

For the Cookie Paint:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the eggs, flour and corn syrup. Beat until smooth. Allow the mixture to rest, covered, for 1 hour.

Divide the mixture into several containers and stir in food coloring as preferred. I only used red, but you can see by the accompanying photo below (from the book), you can do any design your heart desires. Little play on words there. :) 

To Paint and Bake:
Preheat oven to 325. Line several baking sheets with silpat or parchment paper. If using parchment paper, spray with a cooking spray and then blot with a paper towel.

Using the cookie paint, paint on the parchment paper with a brush, your fingers or a stencil. (I made a little heart stencil out of heavy paper. Do you remember doing those in school?) Don't forget to make your artwork smaller than the cookie! Use one ever so slightly thick coating (I used a paintbrush). The cooking spray on the parchment paper makes it a tad difficult if you use a thin layer as the cookbook suggested. You'll understand when you try it.

Flour a work surface and roll out the cookie dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters.(I used 2 1/2 inch round) I rolled out the dough between sheets of wax paper so I didn't have to deal with flour on the cookies. If you roll out in flour, be sure to dust the flour off the cookie before you put it down on the paint.


I placed each cookie top side down onto the painted heart on the baking sheet. I found the heart design on the cookies turned out more even that way. Took me one batch to figure that out! Press firmly. Repeat with the remaining dough. Sprinkle plain tops of the cookies with granulated sugar before baking.

Bake for 9-12 minutes (I found it took longer) or until the cookies are firm and the edges are barely golden at the edge. They will be browner on the painted side. Cool the cookie sheets on a wire rack before removing from the parchment paper.

69 comments:

  1. Barbara, these cookies are so adorable. I love how you put on the heart shape to those cookies. Simply amazing! Thanks so much for sharing & hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
    Cheers, Kristy

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  2. wow...those heart cookies are so unique and beautifully done!

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  3. I am impressed Barbara. Very professional.
    Sam

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  4. Super easy way to paint cookies and give them a Valentine's feel.

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  5. I am so dim, Barbara! WHen I looked at the cookies, I first thought they were one of those cookies you insert a different middle section then cut them.. but couldn't figure out how to do the heart!!! This couldn't have been simpler. Great idea and useful for many holidays, I can see a great St. Patrick cookie waiting in the wings and I just got new food colors over the holidays so I'm ready to go (mine were dried out... I don't decorate as much as I should and need to practice!).

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  6. Barbara , these cookies are calling out my name :-)
    I have to try these , super cute..jus like u and super easy too.
    Hope i do get them as pretty as u did.
    And u know how muc i loveee hearts :-)
    Happy day Babe!

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  7. What a great idea! And, I think my artistic talent might just go so far as to accomplish it. I love the freeform look as well.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  8. How cool! What a great way to decorate a cookie. we will be giving this a try next weekend.

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  9. Wow, what a cool idea. Love the upside down reveal of it all. Must experiment with this ASAP :) Thank you Barbara.

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  10. I don't have almond flour or I'd do these for the Knight... oh, wait. This is beignet morning. I can get almond flour for next weekend's sweet treat!!

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  11. What lovely cookies Barbara! amazing!! gloria

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  12. Sooo pretty!! Happy V-Day!

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  13. these are darling, i love food art... and sugar!

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  14. I am the WORST at decorating cookies with royal icing so these are the perfect solution should I want festive V-Day cookies! So pretty.

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  15. Beautiful cookies, what a cool idea to paint them!

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  16. These are very pretty with the hearts!

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  17. So pretty! A great idea.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  18. I like how these cookies lend to so much creativity. They are beautiful!

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  19. I love the idea of painted cookies. These are great!

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  20. This is a really interesting technique! I love the tulips :)

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  21. Beautiful and amazing cookies Barbara

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  22. they're so pretty! they look like little stain glassed windows!

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  23. wow these are adorable love all of your cookies :-) did you make these when your kids were younger or even now ?

    love Rebecca

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  24. What a wonderful way to decorate cookies! I hate frosted and super-sweet cookies so these sound just perfect. Thanks for doing the hard work and figuring out how to make these. I will most definitely be trying them!

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  25. Oh my gosh, these cookies are ADORABLE!!!

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  26. These are so pretty Barbara! I've never seen this technique before - thanks for sharing! It looks fun - like art.

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  27. This is so much fun! I remember in pastry school we played with a technique that transferred images onto frosting. So many fun things to do in the kitchen!

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  28. So pretty! I am going to show these to my children. I bet they will want to make them very soon.

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  29. Dear Barbara,

    First time I see this technique...that I have to try absolutely, though I must confess I was never very skillful in this art things! Thanks for teaching me this!

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  30. Aww they're so cute! Great job Barbara! :D

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  31. My son would love this and he can paint his surrealistic drawings to these cookies and be happy!

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  32. I know two little girls who are going to love making these! Love your pictures--so cute!

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  33. What a cute V-day treat! I love this!

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  34. I am going to try these. What a great idea, Barbara!

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  35. Wow..these are beautiful...first of its kind that I have seen. Must be so fun painting and sticking them onto the cookies :D

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  36. These look so much better than those pre-made Pillsbury cookies with the shapes in the middle!

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  37. You are so amazing. These are just gorgeous!!!

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  38. Oh Barbra, the heart decorated cookie are SO SO cute, absolutely perfect for the Valentine's Day :-) By the waym the flowers one are very cute too!

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  39. These are the sweetest little cookies, Barbara! I love how customizable they are...I bet they'd be such a cute favor for a kids birthday party!

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  40. That's so cool that the decoration is painted onto the parchment! That's the second interesting tip I've heard from that book. I'm going to need to get a copy. Great-looking Valentine's cookies!

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  41. These are great! What a cute idea for Valentine's Day cookies! I love it :)

    Thank you for your very wise comment on my blog, by the way. I know that not everyone will approach issues the same way I do, and I honestly think that dialogue we have makes us all stronger (and more loving) towards each other. I'm so very grateful to have you as a blogger-friend.

    Hugs!

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  42. These are so pretty! I love the painting technique- you could use that with just about any simple shape! :)

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  43. Barbara,
    You are a true artist~ Your cookies are amazing, and prettier than any I have seen at any of our local bakeries this Valentine's day season. We have a couple amazing French bakeries near my home and they can't compare to this...I want to add this recipe to my Valentine's Day folder along with the Valentines cookies Heavenly Housewife made. Between the two of you I Have a folder filled with amazing recipes and ideas. Have a wonderful week
    xx
    Bunny

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  44. what a crafty and fun idea! i tend to get more giddy for the chocolate side of things on valentine's day, but i'm awfully tempted by these. clever work, barbara!

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  45. I love your pretty little cookies!
    I wanted to let you know that I've given you the Stylish Blogger award. If you want to pick it up, you can do so at my blog (Of Muses and Meringues). Thanks for keeping such a great blog!

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  46. I am crazy about these cookies! love the look--and love the painted possibilities, not just for Valentines, but other sunny occasions. very very fun. thanks, Barbara!

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  47. Oh I love these!! They are so unique...could just eat them nonstop.

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  48. I have never seen anything more precious! Love the idea!

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  49. Sooo cute Barbara! What a wonderful idea!

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  50. Ohh...Barbara...well done...these are so very pretty.

    Those free-form heart shapes are very telling of your personality ;)

    Very interesting technique to keep in mind if ever I'm in the mood to paint on my food ;o)

    Ciao for now and Happy pre-Valentine,
    Claudia

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  51. I never thought of painting cookies before, Barbara! I can picture my goddaughters having an absolute ball making these. :-)

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  52. Your cookies are adorable and perfect for Valentine's Day! I will make some to send to my daughters.

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  53. They look so beautiful!!!!Cute idea,Barbara!

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  54. These are lovely. Great work!

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  55. I am a super fan of homemade gifts and these are amazing! Fun to make and fun to eat - they look delicious! (although I'm not sure my crafting skills are quite up to the level of yours!)

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  56. Painted hearts.... on cookies! Lovely.

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  57. Hey I love this idea....I am soooo going to try this my friend..thanks for sharing. xoxoxo

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  58. Wonderful fun and such a novel idea. I have never seen anything like it ever before. I love this kind of discovery, and they are gorgeous.
    :)
    Valerie

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  59. These are adorable. They seem like a bit of work (though fun, too)--I wish someone else would make them for me!

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  60. Such a fun, original way to change up a sugar cookie!

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  61. Wow Barbara, you're obviously a true romantic! These cookies are oh so cute. I don't have a valentine but will share them with those dear to me.

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  62. WHat a fun way to decorate cookies. These are really too cute.
    Mimi

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  63. very nice cookies Bravo barbara !!!
    Paris is beautiful today !!!pierre

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  64. Oh, my. Aren't these adorable? You're a genius. Thanks for sharing this with us!

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  65. How pretty! These look like those adorable little candies. I know two young girls who would LOVE to help me make these. :)

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  66. Pretty, Barbara! And what a neat idea-anything to avoid frosting is great with me too:)
    p.s. Sorry for being away for so long. I went to Key West and I didn't go near the computer the whole time I was there. I loved it. Have you been there btw? After going, I feel like Fort Lauderdale is a toilet (smile but seriously). Ah, Key West...!!!

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  67. Just love the cookies Barbara! Love is definitely in the air :)

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  68. Your cookies look great. I just made these the other day after finding the Bill Yosses' article in the November 2001 New York Times Archives. I had a terrible time painting using a stencil, but did somewhat better freehand doing simple stars and star cutouts. I'm not sure why he sprays the parchment with cooking spray. Initially I did it, then I tried a sheet half with, half without, and left a couple of painted designs cookieless, just to see how the "paint" reacted. It didn't seem to make a difference, so after that I painted on bare parchment. It didn't seem to affect the outcome. I wish I could find a better painting technique as I love the look.

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