Looking at my post now, I suppose I should have called it, Citrus Cookie Recipe, because you can easily interchange the lemon for orange or lime. But, there is a special reason why I wanted to mention lemons, which I’ll explain in a bit.
A little forewarning for you, this is a different kind of a post. A small change from the regular programming. 😉
It was about two years ago, this time of year, that I went through some life-changing events. Nothing terrible, not to be alarmed, but definitely different and unexpected. I certainly made my mistakes along the way, but the old adage, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” (or, in my case, make lemon cookies!), has certainly been true.
Besides the obvious message – making the best out of a situation – making cookies and treats has been a way of relieving stress. And as I mentioned in #19 of this post, decorating cookies can be a zen experience in that you focus on nothing else than what you’re doing, so worries fall away, and pretty cookies are the result.
Along with the “When life gives you lemons…” saying, another fave on myPinterest board, Word Love, rings true for me; “Finding joy in the unexpected”. I’d love to hear if you have any favorite sayings too!
So without further ado, here’s a little tutorial on how I made these cookies…
How to Make Lemon, Orange or Lime Decorated Cookies
Click on the item below to find it online:
What you’ll need
- Lemon Cookie Recipe (below)
- Round Cookie Cutters
- Royal Icing Recipe
Add 1 Tbs real lemon, lime or orange juice - Piping Bags (3)
- Couplers (3)
- Piping Tips (#3, #6)
- Americolor Electric Orange Gel Paste
Made two versions & like the brighter Americolor Electric Orange better than Americolor Orange - Americolor Electric Green Gel Paste
- Lemon Yellow Americolor Gel Paste
- Americolor White Gel Paste
- Toothpick
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How to Ice the Cookies
Here’s a pictorial summary for you:
And broken down a bit more…
Step 1. – Outlining – Using a #3 piping tip, outline your cookie with royal icing. I like using a larger piping tip to outline and fill in larger areas, as the ‘flooding’ goes faster.
Step 2. – Flooding – Fill in the center of your cookie with the same piping bag and icing, either right away to help the icing melt into each other, or 10 minutes later if you’d like to see a distinct outline. I use the same icing to outline and fill in, as it saves time. Here’s a video if you’d like to see how.
Step 3. – Shaking – Shake gently to help smooth icing over. A couple of tips – You need to be gentle with the cookie while you’re shaking it, so that it doesn’t break, and working quickly is important so that the base doesn’t start to dry.
Step 4: – Wet on Wet Technique; The 2nd Layer – Using a #6 piping tip and white icing, pipe a circle close to the perimeter of your cookie and a dot in the center. (You can use a smaller piping tip here, it’s personal preference. I liked the look of a thicker white line).
Step 5: – Marbling – Drag a toothpick through the wet icing, starting from the outside and working your way to the center of the cookie. If you think of your cookie as a clock, I dragged the icing at 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock, so that the circle was split into four quarters, and then split those sections in half. If you’re particular about every line being perfectly white, with no little dabs of color, wipe your toothpick between each drag. Working quickly is important as the royal icing starts to set almost immediately. For a video on how to marble cookies, click here.
Step 6. – Shaking – Shake gently to help smooth icing over.
Step 7. – Drying – {Instagram photo} Let your icing dry for 12-24 hours. If you’d like to see a video on drying decorated cookies click here.
And if you’d like to add some seeds, pipe a small white dot of icing, with a little yellow on top, and slightly drag a toothpick through it, towards the center of the cookie.
Btw, these orange cookies were made using Americolor electric orange gel coloring… preferred it to just Americolor orange (the tutorial cookies were made with that color).
And the dough itself – sweet sugar cookies with a lemony zing – I really enjoyed the added dimension in zesty flavour!
Lemon Cookie Recipe
{Click here for the printable version}
Notes:
- You can experiment and add more or less lemon, according to your preference. All my cookies were lemon, although if I were making a huge batch of cookies, it’d be neat to match the cookie flavour to corresponding cookie color. Lime cookies would be interesting, wouldn’t they!? If you try it before I do, please let me know what you thought.
- The zest adds quite a bit of flavour and looks like this in the dough (please excuse the dark iPhone photo):
- You can leave the zest in or take it out – it’s all personal preference.
Cookies in Fall/Winter 2012 Issue of Weddingbells Magazine
And last, but certainly not least, I was so thrilled to be asked to make these citrus cookies by Weddingbells Magazine, for their Fall/Winter issue. I’ve been excited to share these with you since March when I made them.
I can’t even describe how fun it is to see them in the stunning magazine spread below:
If you look closely at the print above the cookies, you’ll see mentioned, “Price upon request”. A wee typo; a DIY blurb was meant to go in there, but, no worries, for those of you who are here wanting to order cookies, I’ve got a bevy ot talented ladies who can make them for you! You see, because I just don’t take cookie orders, I’ve created a World Map Directory of people who do! Click here to find a decorator near you, or any one of them on the list who ship.
If you’re a decorator who would like to be added to the list, please see this page.
I hope this tutorial has helped you! I welcome any questions or feedback… Have I forgotten to mention something? Do you need clarification on anything? Please ask or let me know!
Have fun creating!
xo,
Marian
Kathy says
This idea is incredibly adorable!! I can’t wait to give this a try myself!
Janine (sugarkissed.net) says
I always like to see different uses for the marbling technique. I love how it’s used in such a simple way in these cookies. The colors are so bright and beautiful too. They’re really eye catching. Plus, the theme is a great reason to use some different flavoring.
Miriam @ Overtime Cook says
Absolutely adorable!!! Definitely making these!
Lara says
AMAZINGLY CREATIVE ON YOUR PART, WILL MAKE THESE RIGHT THIS WEEKEND…
Gretchen says
Congrats on the magazine spread, Marian! These cookies (like all your others!) are simply adorable. Planning on making all 3 flavors soon and I’ll let you know how the lime turns out! 🙂
Toni says
How wonderful to be in the magazine! Congratulations! Isn’t it exciting to have attained another level of recognition? Think about when you first got this idea for your site (what got that idea in your mind? how did it get from an idea to an actual mock-up? how did you get started?) Then you sit back and look at the amazing pace it took on and where you are now. Then think of where this will all be next year! It excites the psyche!!! We’re all quite happy for your great blessing! Enjoy the well-deserved recognition, Marian!
Briciola says
Marian!!! I found your site and i falled in love, immediately!! All so amazing!!! Congratulations!! I was at the sea, but i watched only at your site on my iphone!!!
You have a really, total, new fan, from Italy! (sorry for my english, in fact!!)
Briciola says
Oh… I just can’t wait to try to decorate cookies, now!!! 😀
Betty Bake says
Congratulations on your magazine feature 🙂
Hugs
Betty Bake
Courtney @educatedderelicts says
These are so cute! I love how simple and effective the color scheme is. Makes me want summer back 🙂
Tesei says
Congratulations!!! You must feel so proud to see your work on a beautiful magazine, I sure do. Thank you for the tutorial!
Dotty says
So exciting Marian! Thanks for the tutorial (as always)!
Vicki (Sweet Tweets) says
These are SOOO cute! And easy to do…but I would have never thought of it.
Thanks for sharing this and all of your wonderful pictures and tutorials! You have “homeschooled” me for 2 years now!
Vicki
marian says
Thanks, @ Kathy! They’re so easy to make – one of my favorite cookies to play around with so far. Would love to see yours when you make them, if you’d like to share on my facebook page. =)
I know, @ Janine (sugarkissed.net), isn’t marbling the best! Thanks for dropping by!
@ Miriam @ Overtime Cook: Let me know how it goes – would love to see yours too!
@ Lara: Thanks, they’re pretty simple actually =) I’m so glad the magazine asked me to make citrus cookies – they gave me the inspiration!
Oh, awesome, @ Gretchen! Please do let me know how the flavours turn out.
Aw, thank you so much, @ Toni! I definitely feel blessed, as there are so many talented people out there; I was lucky enough to be asked. And how did I get started? It was actually my brother who suggested I start a blog, as friends & family were often asking me how to show them how to make the sweets I shared with them. From there I imagined I would blog about all sorts of things, like fashion and home decor too… so pictured in my mind the header above (but couldn’t draw it well), so hired someone to draw it, and another person to build the site. Steep learning curve from there… learning how to blog and a bit of html, and the blog morphed into more of a sweets tutorial site than an all around ‘my favorite things’ site. It’s lots of fun, and a lot of work, but I love it (so it’s not really work for me), and I would recommend blogging to anyone!
Hi @ Briciola: Ha ha, that was cute! I can imagine a beach in Italy would be SO beautiful, I’m amazed you spent time on my site there! Thanks and happy to ‘meet’ you!
p.s. Have fun @ Briciola!
Thanks, @ Betty Bake and hugs to you!
@ Courtney @educatedderelicts: Thanks so much; hope you create your own kind of sweet summer!
Hi @ Tesei: Thanks so much! xo
My pleasure, @ Dotty: Thanks for visiting!
Eftychia says
Thank you so much for the tutorial. I learn a lot of techniques from you! Thanks once more!
Paula says
Marian, congratulations on getting featured in Wedding Bells! I love these citrus cookies and the last photograph of them is my favourite.
P.S. One of my favourite sayings is “Your life can turn around on a dime.” Just a reminder to enjoy the good times and hang on through the bad times for you never know how long either will last 🙂
marian says
So glad, @ Eftychia! Happy to see you visiting once more. =)
Thanks, @ Paula! I really like your saying too… It’s so *true*! Life can and has (for me here and there), turned around on a dime… such a good reminder to, as you say, enjoy the good times and hang on through the bad. Thank you so much for sharing yours. xo
niner bakes // sweet treats says
Ohmygoodness, I just LOVE that post, sweetie!!!
That’s so easy actually but looks sooooooo lovely!
It made me smile..these bright colors…perfect!
It’s an awesome feeling to be in a magazine eh?? I’ve had this happen twice and I couldn’t believe it!! SO AWESOME, your talent deserves it anyway 😀
Thanks so much for this post, Marian!!!
XOXO..niner
FairlyOddMother says
Lovely cookies and tutorial! Thank you so very much for taking time out to share with all of us.
Congrats on the magazine feature! Isn’t it so very hard to wait to share the excitement?
Deborah
Angie says
Love it!!!
Merschon says
Beautiful, as always! My favorite quote: Peace is not the absence of trouble, peace is the presence of God.
ThisBakerGirlBlogs says
Aaahhh these look too cute!! 🙂
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Thanks @ niner bakes // sweet treats! You too – love your sweets and am glad you have had yours in a magazine! It is kinda fun, isn’t it!
Hi @ FairlyOddMother: I’m loving your on line name – so cute! I’m thinking I could use a similar one. 😉 It was fun to finally post them, I can see you know the feeling!
Thanks, @ Angie!
Oh what a beautiful quote, @ Merschon. A new favorite of mine too, thanks!
Thanks so much, @ ThisBakerGirlBlogs!
Samantha says
These cookies are so refreshing and cute looking! I love the vibrant colours of the cookies! Thanks for sharing this.
sandie says
For such a basic technique these looks absolutely fabulous!
Tina Dahl says
Congrats on the magazine article! My two favorite saying: “when life gives you lemons, add vodka” and “Life is not a dress rehearsal,” which always gives me great perspective to enjoy every day with my family and be thankful for ALL I do have 🙂
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Thanks, @ Samantha!
Hi @ sandie! Thanks! Yes, they’re so easy and fun to make – I think they’re a new favorite for me.
Oh, I love those, @ Tina Dahl! Thank you! xo
Maria says
Hi Marian,
Beautiful, colorful decorated cookies. You make it look so easy…thank's for teaching us all your talents.Congratulations for being featured in the magazine. ML
Briciola says
Marian… Believe me: the beach was nothing compared to your cookies!!! ;)))
marian says
Aw, thank you, @ Maria!
You are too kind, @ Briciola! I hope you have fun decorating when you get started. Just in case you didn’t see them, I have videos on YouTube (yellow YouTube button at the top of the site), which might be useful if you’re decorating for the first time. xo
Kiera says
These are so cute! Congrats on the magazine spread too! They kind of steal the show. 🙂
Kimmie says
PERFECTION
Sue {munchkin munchies} says
Marian, Your citrus cookies are genius! Thanks so much for sharing the tutorial! I think perhaps I can handle these wedges. CONGRATS on your magazine feature~very exciting!
Tammy / Duke & Dutch says
So fresh & summery!
marian says
@ Kiera, @ Kimmie, @ Sue {munchkin munchies}, @ Tammy / Duke & Dutch: Thanks so much guys! xo
kelley {mountain mama cooks} says
Well if these aren’t the cutest cookies I’ve ever seen. Seriously! And you know what? Life is full of “lemons” and other tests along the way. It’s what you do with them that determines who you are. You are giving, honest and seem to making some pretty sweet lemonade. Keep it up, friend! 🙂
marian says
Aw, @ kelley {mountain mama cooks}: Thank you so very, very much! xo
Manal says
Marian,
You are amazingly talented and creative!! Thank you sooooooo much for being so gracious in sharing with us ur recipes and techniques.
April @ The 21st Century Housewife says
These cookies look gorgeous, and you have made them look so do-able, even for someone like me who isn’t terribly good at icing! Love the magazine spread – congratulations!
Heidi @foodiecrush says
Oh wow, another outstanding and totally creative idea! I will never for the life of me have the talent you possess in the wink of your eye. One of my views on life and lemons and a favorite sayings is from my grandmother: “Inch by inch life’s a cinch but mile by mile it’s a trial.” Take it step by step instead of longing for the easiest, fastest route and enjoy the ride. OXXOXO
Patricia Aguado says
I just can’t find words Marian
lara says
they are very delicius! you are amazin! bye bye
marian says
Aw, thank you @ Manal! xo
Thanks, @ April @ The 21st Century Housewife, you should try it! I know you would do a fantastic job!
What an awesome saying, @ Heidi @foodiecrush! Storing that one away for sure! And, um, yes you are so talented – stop it girl! Anyone reading this should click on Heidi’s name (comment 40), and see the stunning work she creates!
@ Patricia Aguado, @ lara: You guys are cute. Thanks!
Briciola says
I saw your videos on youtube: amazing!!! and I subscribed to your channel! 😉
Piping Bags says
They look so bright and cheerful! My baking skills may not be up to making these…but I’m darnwell gonna try 🙂
Maria says
I LOVE the bright colors! So fun!
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Aw, thanks @ Briciola!
Good for you! @ Piping Bags: You can do easily do it! If you like learning from video, I do have some on my youtube page.
Thanks so much,@ Maria!
Kim Bee says
These are just the cutest little cookies I’ve ever seen. I want to make them but I am so not talented enough to tackle this.
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Yes, yes you are @ Kim Bee!!! xo