I entered Hallmark with the intention of finding a card for a friend, and discovered a happy thing. The perfect cookie platter. There it was, in all it’s red and pink glory… The word cookie splayed out on the platter, in the shape of cookies themselves. How could I pass it by?
I didn’t, of course.
Copying these cookies was easy enough. Besides royal icing loops on the C and the heart (the C kept reminding me of those chocoloate hostess cakes and were igniting some serious cravings for one btw), the E (don’t have small e cutter) was lined with clear sanding sugar, and the “sprinkles” on the S were actually royal icing lines.
The tricky part was going to be the clear ‘droplets’ on the heart. (Which by the way I forgot to make my cookie into a heart shape… I made a circle… Oops).
How to Make “Water Droplets” out of Sugar
Turns out, it was easy after all. I just crushed up some clear, Trebor glitter mints, put the now powdered candy on a plate lined with parchment paper, melted the candy 10 seconds at a time in the microwave, and was left with little, sweet, water-like droplets. I wish, my dear friends, I had taken photos, but at the time, my head was thinking about this post; 50+ Secrets of a Cookie Decorator. You see, this little cookie plate really was the catalyst for making me think about just how cookie obsessed I really am. Click on over to check it out, and leave me a comment if you’ve remotely thought any of those things before; it would help to know that it isn’t just me.
A couple of notes – It takes a lot of the little dew droplets to cover the cookie. Notice how mine are spaced out more than the one on the platter. Got tired.
If you’d like a little more explanation on how to crush candy and melt it in the microwave, click here. I bought my Trebor glitter mints at Bulk Barn, and if you’re having trouble finding them on line, you can melt any other clear candy or, as an alternative, use isomalt. Isomalt is often used by diabetics as a sugar substitute as it only has a small impact on blood sugar. The amount on this cookie isn’t considered a large amount, but you should know, ahem, apparently “…if consumed in large quantities flatulence may occur”. Here is an article on wikipedia if you’d like to see more; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isomalt
Oh, and a wee dab of royal icing under each dew drop, and tweezers to pick each little one up and attach.
If you were to look closely at the ‘e’ in the platter, you’d see it has the same water droplet effect. My E cookie doesn’t. Again, got tired.
I’m thinking though, if you ever need to make the sugar droplets, I don’t think you’ll need as many. They could work as dew droplets on sugar flowers or leaves, or any kind of water effect for a gingerbread house or bathtub cookie/cake etc.
Hope you’re enjoying the weather and life, wherever you are. I know Lionel (our Lionhead bunny), is as excited about spring as I am. On the bottom left instagram photo, he’s waiting patiently by the door for his daily ‘outside play’. The other instagram snaps are of H-banana and my lack of ‘hair-do’ skills, and Mr. Sweetopia with a fluffed up Lionel.
Oh, and can’t forget this one! There’s a new, pretty and fresh, pastel ‘Cookies’ platter out at Hallmark now, too…
How pretty would those cookies be!
Have fun baking and good luck!
xo,
Marian
p.s. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you’d like to find out about my newest videos and, if you’d like to never miss a post, and/or receive more tips on cookie decorating, click on this button below to sign up:
Maria says
Love the platters and the cookies! I need to go shopping now! I hope I can find the platter!
Malinda says
You make beautiful cookies! ^^
Courtney says
These are perfect! You must have put so much time into them – hope they tasted as good as they look 🙂
Janine (sugarkissed.net) says
The dew droplets are just amazing! They would take “April showers” cookies to a whole other level!
Lightleaf Studio says
Oh my… you’re a fae, this is so magical every time I come here to look at your work.
Cristin (Pinkie) of Cristin's Cookies says
LOVE the platter and super LOVE that you made cookies to match and even took the time and energy to figure out how to make water drops on your cookies. These are all so beautiful and I just LOVE knowing that I’m not the only one that sees something and MUST make it into a cookie! Adorable Marian! Thanks for sharing!
Jan J. says
Just amazing how you copied these and the “water” droplets are something I have never seen before in all my cookie viewing – awesome!
Sarah says
Water droplets, I love it, one of those things you file away in the back of your mind cos you KNOW it will come in handy one day. Marian on your 6 day cookie schedule you make the icing one day and ice the cookies the next day, please please could you tell me how to store the icing for the interveneing 24hrs as I left some in a piping bag at room temp and it was kind of a bit runny the next day. Thanks you so much for all your posts I am addicted!!
Arantxa says
So cute!!!!
Kate says
Fantastic!! Just as I was feeling a little short on inspiration, some fantastic ideas for me to shamelessly copy – if that’s ok! Well done again 🙂
Helen says
Wow Marian, yet another fantastic e-mail with lovely ideas and superb cooies!! Your e-mails really do make me happy! Especially on a day like today when I am stuck inside planning (I am a part time primary school teacher)
Thank you again for all your wonderful ideas
Helen
x
Isabel says
Hi Marian!
Thanks a lot for your beautiful post!!! Your water drops are so cute and beautiful… I’ll try to make them but for sure they won’t be as lovely as yours…
It happens to me quite often that I’m thinking in cookie decorating everytime. When I see cartoons on the TV with my children or some beautiful (and simple!) desingn in some paper napkins I’m wondering if I could put it in royal icing over a cookie…. I see cookies eveywhere! ;o)
Thank you very much for sharing this awesome work with us!!!
Gail says
The drops! THE DROPS!!! [slapping self in head] Why, oh WHY didn’t I think of this?
Fabulous!!!!
Theresa Murphy says
the dew droplets is amazing and very pretty, it’s a lovely idea!
Julianne says
Your family are as gorgeous as your cookies 🙂
Maria Helena says
Don’t the drops melt??? How long can it be stor??? They are amazing. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Jen Mc says
As always, very clever and adorable! Thanks again for the great ideas.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
Such a fun platter, and even more fun that you re-created the cookies on the platter. So great you shared how to create the dew drops.
Paula says
I am amazed at the *dew drops* on the cookies. Very excited about the technique but still amazed. They are beautiful.
Laurie says
RAIN DROPS!!! Brilliant!! I am starting a project TODAY that has to have raindrops. Now I have to figure out an alternative candy to use … Hmmmmmm.
Thanks for your wonderful tips as always!
Georgia says
This is such a fun post. It made me smile this morning. Thanks for sharing the drops technique with us.
Cookie decorating starts people seeing patterns/possibilities in everything. “So many cookies… so little time.”
Heather s says
Those are utterly adorable! LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Now a new video is in order!… right?
Yael says
I LOVE those platters! And of course your cookies are flawless!
teresa says
Marian!
AmaZing!
How adorable are these cookies!
Love the platters too!
COOKIE magic!
xo
Cat says
Love the drops! CK has a hard candy mix that doesn’t say “isomalt” in the ingredients at all. I wonder if it’d work?
Flor says
Love this, and ALL of your posts! So inspiring!!!
Maria says
How amazing are these tears or water droplets. You surprise me again with your creative mind…..
Love your family pictures.
ML
Toni says
You absolutely ROCK the cookie decorating world!! I wish I had 1/10th of your creative thoughts! You’re the best! Thanks so much for sharing!
marian says
Hi @ Janine (sugarkissed.net): Great idea, april showers cookies!
I like faes, thank you, @ Lightleaf Studio. 😉
Absolutely, @ Sarah, this will answer your questions: https://sweetopia.net/2011/01/how-do-you-store-royal-icing-and-how-long-can-you-keep-it/
@ Maria Helena: The dew droplets stay exactly like that on the cookie, they don’t melt like candy floss/cotton candy does. Since they are candy they’ll stay hard, *unless* they are in a really humid area, then they, along with the icing on the cookie, will ‘melt’.
@ Georgia: Exactly! So many cookies, so little time!!
@ Heather s: For sure! ;-D
It’s worth a shot @ Cat! Please let me know how it goes. xo
Thanks so much y’all, for your funny, lovely, supportive and kind comments!
Cupcake and Talk says
You are a cookie artist. Thank you for sharing the rain drop technique. I love all the pretty cookies.
Melissa {thebakedequation} says
I adore the dew drops, what a fun idea!
Tesei says
Thank you for sharing! I’d love to try them myself, these cookies look lovely!!
Sam says
Wow Marian, what a beautiful effect. You are so creative. This is definitely going on my Pinterest cookie board 🙂
Laurie (Cookie Bliss) says
Hi Marian … A follow-up question to icing storage. I just quickly re-read the link you posted on that but unless I missed it I didn’t see you mention freezing your icing. Some cookiers I follow on facebook mentioned they do store their RI … have you tried that? That never occurred to me but since I use your recipe, I wanted to see if you’d tried it. Thank you!
marian says
Hi @ Laurie (Cookie Bliss): I had the very same question! I wrote about it here – for the answers, check the comment section. https://sweetopia.net/2012/03/easter-bunny-lamb-decorated-cookies/
Thanks for the comments everyone!
Bertie's Bakery says
This is a great technique that allows for a totally differnt dimension than cookies are used to! Thanks for the tip!
sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more says
why oh why did I have to see this, now I want those platters!
Laurie (Cookie Bliss) says
@ marian:Thank you! I don’t know how I missed that post because I know I’ve seen those adorable cookies! I will definitely be trying that – I end up throwing out bits of RI because I always over-make the amount I will need. It would be nice to have some in the freezer for when you just need a little red or a little blue, etc. Someone on FB mentioned theirs dries out in the freezer, so it was interesting that someone on your post said theirs thins out! 🙂 I will give it a shot! Thank you!
Traci says
I love the platter, but the cookies are even better looking. Those water droplets are just beautiful!
Nikki Goldman Stroh says
Your Cookies are truly incredible and an inspiration to any baker!
Sarah says
Thanks so much Marian. As usual that covered EVERYTHING I needed to know. And just in time, I have M’s 1st birthday this weekend so better get decorating! The trial run (1st time ever) went well thanks to all your amazing videos and posts. Here’s hoping the next lot go so well.
Jane says
I did not even notice the lower “e” and one of the heart shaped “o” until you mentioned it…the cookies looked perfect.
Novi says
Hi Marian,
Lovely cookies and platter too.. You are so amazing!! I am just curious how much cookies do you make in a week? and what do you do with all the cookies? Love your posting.. a lot. 🙂
Georganne (LilaLoa) says
Okay — that dew drop cookies is all out STUNNING!! You put so much time and effort into your cookies and it REALLY, REALLY shows! I love the platter and all your fun cookies, but the dew drops really are GORGEOUS!! Thanks for telling us how you did it! I can’t wait to have a reason to try it out!
nikki says
I think yours look better than the ones on the plate and I had to double take as the drops looked so real!! This technique would also look fab on some sugar flowers i’m inspired! Fantastic idea…xo
CuteEverything says
Wow, the droplets turned out just perfectly! Wonderful work! And what a lovely family you have.
Sarah Phillips says
I love the dew drops technique! Simply brilliant and so creative!
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says
I need to make a stop @ Hallmark! I absolutely LOVE the cookies & platter!
peace says
Sweet morning 🙂
Which Hallmark location did you find the pastel coloured platter? No luck so far at the ones I’ve been to – they may only be available by Hallmark stores that are actually owned by Hallmark (many of them are privately owned).
If you may let us know, that would be great (I’m downtown Toronto)
Thanks!
marian says
Hi @ Novi: Hmm, how many cookies do I do in a week? Well, I generally work on some sort of cookie project every week, but it can range from one cookie (the Alice in Wonderland or Cinderella, to just several (these ones only have 7 cookies, to a bunch (Valentine’s). I made these cookies around Valentine’s, which was perfect, because it was the same color palette. The cookie decorating schedule I use (it’s in the tutorial section), really helps me.
@ peace: The Barrie location for the red platter and the Newmarket location for the spring one. They can have them shipped to your nearest store… Just ask them about the platter, or show them a photo, and they an phone another store. Good luck!
Thanks for your comments, guys! Means a lot! xo