Truth be told, when I was asked to make summer tea party cookies, I was a little stumped as to what designs I was going to make. Call it cookier’s-block or something. I was happy with the tea party cookies I made a few years ago, but didn’t want to make the same ones. After all, if was going to the effort to make cookies, I might as well try a different design.
One of the first things which comes to mind as a quintessential tea party symbol are the teacups and saucers themselves, along with delicate flowers adorning their sides. Like these ones, on my girlfriend’s cups and saucers, in this older cupcake post:
I know myself enough to know I’m not good at drawing, so the mere thought of painting tiny roses onto a cookie (with edible food gel of course), was enough to make me not want to make the cookies at all. Even the fact I really wanted to try and replicate the flowers on my tiny tea set from childhood, didn’t change my mind, as I guessed that even my trusted Kopykake projector would not be able to help me with making the absolute miniature roses I would need to make on a cookie.
On the other hand, I do like trying new cookie techniques, and would love to learn how to draw freehand on cookies some day (the cookie as the canvas… how sweet [pun intended] would that be!), but with some deadlines to meet, I wasn’t in the mood to try something really new. And, because interest in the cookies I make was shown by the lovely ladies at House & Home magazine, I wanted them to happy with them… And my experimenting with cookies doesn’t always work out. {Just ask my husband, he’ll tell you}.
So, the perfect solution for me involved the edible ink printer (I seem to be using it a lot lately!). Instead of a logo, this time I printed the rose pattern, which is, by the way, from Cath Kidston’s gorgeous wallpaper, and used it for the center of my white tea pots.
I confess, I probably should have spent a little more time making sure I cut the images out to the exact size of the cookie (you can see some of the edges of the frosting paper over the outline). The tea pot cookie is actually quite large; I wanted it to be in scale to the matching tea cup cookies. Let’s just say, this cookie is meant to be shared!
If you’d like to try making them, a full tutorial on applying edible ink images can be found here and here, however, here’s a quick pictorial on how I applied the edible ink image as well.
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Prepare Your Cookies
After you’ve made your cookies, piped the outline and flooded your shape {click here if you’re new to cookie decorating} and let that dry, print your image on a frosting sheet, and you’re ready to apply the edible ink image.
Adding the Edible Ink Image
Step 1. Project and trace the desired image on regular paper. I used the Kopykake to project the image, but you can draw it freehand or just plain trace it, if the inspiration image is the same size as your cookie.
Step 2. Place your paper template on the frosting sheet. I centered mine over the flower pattern.
Step 3. Trace with an edible ink marker.
Step 4. Cut your image out, making sure you cut on the inside of the edible marker lines.
Step 5. Place it over your iced cookie, and trim as needed.
Step 6. Lightly coat your dried royal icing with clear corn syrup and gently a smooth the edible image onto the cookie.
I usually pipe some sort of a border so that the edges of the frosting sheets aren’t visible, but in this case, the look of the border didn’t really look right.
As for the rest of the cookies, like these ones…
I just made them the usual way, outlining and flooding, and to add a little something on the plain teapots, a little alphabet stenciling.
For the fan below, I used coconut on the top edge, white sugar pearls and edible gumpaste flowers on the handle.
The fans are {almost} completely and totally copied from one cookier I admire very much, Rosey Sugar {Yukiko}. I changed the designs of the fans a little bit, but the idea and overall design is most definitely from her. I’m in love with her whimsical & pretty style, really admire her royal icing work, and hope to be at her level some day! Here are some more cookies I’ve made, which are influenced by her, and here are her awe-inspiring cookies on her site. A must-see. {Prepare to be lost in the beauty… you’ll likely be there for a while!}
I was so happy to hear that the House & Home team enjoyed their cookies! You can check out Reiko Caron’s blog post about it here if you like.
Believe it or not I really had fun playing around with the icing and coming up with some linear patterns. So, coming soon, a post about piping lines.
Until then, happy baking and decorating to you!
Please feel free to leave me a comment below, drop me a line on my facebook page here, twitter, or you tube.
I’m happy to hear from you!
xo,
Marian
Marian – I just got back from camping and found this beautiful post in my inbox! These are FABULOUS cookies (Alexandra likes them too)! Looking forward to seeing you soon 🙂
These turned out great Marian. Thanks for sharing this with us all.
I am visiting from Tidy Mom this weekend. Nice to “meet” you and find your blog!
Blessings,
LaVonne @ Long Wait For Isabella
WOW! WOW! These are truly works of art. How can you eat something as beautiful as these!!! I’m blown away!!! Stopping by from {tidy mom}
Kristin
I learned the hard way how cookies look if you don’t cut the edible ink paper correctly. I was just trying to maximize cost effectiveness. Still got lots of compliments though! But I think yours look spot on.
These are just gorgeous! I love the monogrammed teapots and the fans are just stunning.
Your line work is just so lovely…
I wonder if you would give us some pointers on how to improve piping skills…a tutorial maybe? 😉
Hi Marian,
Where did you get this gorgeous white cake stand from? I’ve been looking for it for a while now (the one where you can put your own ribbon in).
I live in Toronto as well so any store you can direct me to would be a great help.
Thanks!
@ Jenn: I got this one from Holly’s Sweets & Eats in Barrie. She always has an eclectic mix in her store, but you could try calling and asking her.
Check amazon, home sense and ebay for cake stands too; they always have a good selection.
Have fun shopping!
@ Joanne: Oops, just saw your comment. Yes, for sure! I will do a video on it eventually!
Thanks for all the nice comments everyone!
Hi, I’m trying to write a comment in your last post, for the Kitchen Aid, but there is a problem and I could see the form to write :-(( I have tried on two different computers but nothing…How can I do?? Anyone has the same problem??
I love your blog, I have met before thanks for Julia of Postreadicción.es I love make decorated cookies but I’m learning.
Sorry for my english, I’m spanish.
If you can help me…
Thanks a lot!!!
If only I had a little girl so I could make this for a tea party! Adorable!!!! They sound quite delicious too.
Oh my god they are sooo beautiful!! I love them 🙂
Love from Sweden 😀
Hi Marian,
I was wondering where did you find the fan cookie cutter and also what size is it?
I found another fan cookie cutter but without the little holder in the bottom. I am really struggling to find it, if you can help me would be much appreciatted!
Thanks a lot!
Best wishes,
Beatriz.
@ Beatriz: I bought the cutter at ecrandals. Here is the link:
http://stores.ecrandal.com/-strse-662/FAN-SIMPLE-MED-COOKIE/Detail.bok
Hi! I love your blog! I am a new young blogger, and was wondering if you would see my blog http://susugirlinthisworld.wordpress.com/ it would be a BIG honor!
hola sweetopia….que decir de tus galletas!!!!! me encantan!! me facinan!!!! disfruto mucho con tu trabajo y tus consejos. ojal algun dia pueda decorar galletas como tu lo haces. un abrazo muy fuerte.
this is simply UNREAL!!!
i could eat streight from the screen…
what a great idea using cath kidston’s flowers, they are so great and yummy on your cookies!
🙂
You are so talented, not only with icing, but you are truly creative!
Dear sweetopia:
I’m loving it!
These are truly beautiful. Love the floral transfer that you applied to the tea cups.
Beautiful work, Marian. My favorites are the fan cookies.
Hugs
I love those fans! So delicate and beautiful!
Hahaha, how pathetic am I? I was there when you were making these! It was when Kelly was doing the Oxfam Trailblazer and Dave was so sweet and went out to buy some treats for us! Gorgeous as usual 🙂
Hi, I was wondering if I could feature these on my blog. My blog is about world crafts and recipes. I would place these under England. Please let me know if its ok.
Thanks
@ Kristen: Absolutely! I would be delighted! Thank you. =)
Hi,
I’m first time here but I already adore your blog and your works! Such an inspiration for me! Thank you for all the tips and ideas!
Thanks so much with @ Anna!
Hi Marian,
I absolutely love following your posts. they are so inspiring. I had a question about using sugar sheets. I just bought an Ink4Cake printer and want to start making cookies with edible images. I noticed in a majority of your posts about that you pipe a border around it. If i apply the icing sheet with corn syrup to a dried flooded cookie without piping a border will the edges curl up? I noticed you didnt pipe a border in this post and im wondering if that worked out as far as curling. Thank you so much and Happy New year!!
Hi @ Jessica: No, the edges don’t curl up if you apply the icing sheet with corn syrup to a dried flooded cookie, but you can still see the edge a bit, so I usually like to cover that up. Thanks for your nice comment and Happy New Year to you!
It just blows me away how wonderfully straight you can pipe. So wonderful. xxx
Love this “tea” party! Those cookies are unbelievable – especially the fans! So much wonderful detail! Thank you for sharing this! : )
oh my!!! This is so lovely! My daughter would love to have this kind of cookies treats.
Those are really impressive, I LOVE the fans! Next tea time.
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