Friday, June 17, 2011

Fireworks Cookies


Get ready for the 4th of July with these "Fireworks Cookies" -- they will add some pop, crack , and sizzle to your celebration.  When I spied the cover, of the current Martha Stewart issue, I knew I would be making a version of the featured cookies. So light up the 4th with these colorful cookies.

They are surprising simple, and forgiving to make.  Just whip up a batch of these "No-Fail" Sugar cookies and some Royal Icing.

No Fail Sugar Cookie Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

6 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture. Mix well.

Roll to desired thick and cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or just until beginning to turn brown around the edges. I like to roll them at least 1/4 to 1/3 inch-thick; they just taste so good thick. Also be sure to check them at 8 minutes with the first pan. Most likely, especially if they are thick and large cookies, you will need time, but just to be sure, check them early.


Royal Icing Recipe

Makes about six cups of icing

7-1/2 cups confectioner's (powdered) sugar
6 tablespoons meringue powder
12 tablespoons warm water

Beat in a stand mixer for about 4-5 minutes until smooth. You may have to add a slight bit of water, if it is too thick for you to outline the borders of your cookies. If the icing is too thin, then add more powdered sugar. When adding water, do so carefully. You can use a decorator tip or bottle to make the outline. Outline your cookies and allow them to dry for at least one hour. For flow consistency, filling in your cookies within the outline, you will need to add additional water. Fill in with the help of the back of a spoon; back up the icing to the border. When all the feathered, firecracker or psychedelic details are added, let dry overnight.
Pipe an outline of the cookie -- this is a stiff version of the Royal Icing.  Flood the cookie with the back of a spoon and back it up to the outline -- see details above. While the flooded cookie is still wet, you can pipe the elements described below.  It is best to work with one cookie at a time.


Firecracker or Pinwheel Effect -- Bottom Left and Right Cookies

 
Flood cookie with white Royal Icing.  For the "firecracker" look, pipe concentric circles in your choice of colors.  The circles don't have to be perfect -- mine weren't :). 


With a toothpick, drag lines from the center circle to the outward circle. 

Psychedelic Cookies


Flood cookie with white Royal Icing. Pipe colors randomly on cookie. Drag toothpick in swirling motions.

Feathered Cookies -- Top Right

\

Flood cookies with white Royal Icing.  For the feather cookie, pipe lines across the cookie, then drag, with a toothpick, the piped lines from top to bottom.

All the Cookies


I have included a "hand-drawn" guide below for the firecracker or pinwheel cookies and the feathered cookies.


Thanks for dropping by my Red Couch today.



66 comments:

Lynn said...

The cookies are beautiful Joni! What a festive, fun idea for the 4th:@)

Debbie said...

Trying again to comment. I'm having huge problems commenting. I hope this isn't the start of yet another blogger issue.

I really want to try this, Joni. I'm sure mine will be a hot mess, but they are so festive I still want to try.

Cathy said...

Great cookies, Joni. Sugar cookies are my family's favorite and these are perfect for the upcoming July 4th get together.

Moore Minutes said...

Wow!! These are the coolest 4th of July cookies I've EVER seen. Awesome. These are so original and fun.

Abbey D. said...

I love love love this!! We'd love to see you at our Monday Link Up at www.dimpleprints.com!

Anonymous said...

VERY Cool Cookies1
I'm hosting my first link party "Cast Party Wednesday" and would love it if you came by and shared these awesome cookies!
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!

The Charm of Home said...

Joni,
Those are awesome! I saw the picture and I had to come see these! Have a wonderful weekend. Your cookies will be a hit.
Sherry

jamie said...

almost too beautiful to eat! :)

Sarah said...

Joni, these are gorgeous and so festive for the 4th or any patriotic party. Thanks for the detailed instructions. You are the best! ~ Sarah

Sarah @ Scissors and a Whisk said...

Each cookie is like a mini masterpiece.

<33

La said...

You've done it again! You've made the most festive cookies in blogdom.

Sue said...

I've never tried this decorating technique, but I think it's time to try! These really do look like fireworks/firecrackers, Joni! Beautiful job!

Christina said...

I am so into decorating cookies right now and I love the effect of draging the icing. I would have never thought to use it to make "firework" cookies.
Really nice job!

PaperVine said...

These look amazing and thanks so much for sharing how you did them!
Lowri :-)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

These are awesome!!!.. love that frosting design. Now, can I pull it off....

Marigene said...

Cute cookies, Joni! That is the best cookie recipe...I have been using it for 30+ years!

Joy Tilton said...

Perfect for any summer gathering! That cookie recipe is a keeper.This will be a great project for the grandkids to help with and they will love it! Have a great weekend Joni~

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Wow! Fireworks is right! I'm keeping this... what a brilliant idea!
Yvonne

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!! I can see cut out maple leaves with red designs for my celebration on July 1st!! Thanks so much!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

I love your cookies! So fun!

I just added these to my pinterest page!

Anonymous said...

You are so artistic! I love these and they would add flair to any 4 th party! Anne

Judy said...

Such a great idea for when all the family gets together on the 4th.

~Judy

Beth said...

Joni, Your cookies are really gorgeous! You make it sound so simple, too. Have a great week.
Beth

Lanell said...

Those cookies look to good to eat. I'm your newest follower. My husband and kids just had fun listening to your playlist of music. I just have to say that Kathy Mattea is one of our favorite singers and one of her songs was our wedding song.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Ooooooo! Ahhhhhhh! They're beautiful fireworks, Joni! I saw the cover too and thought they were beautiful. As always, you did a great job with them!

Bonnie said...

Joni, I saw these and planned to make them. After seeing yours, I have to. They're beautiful!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I love to visit here. There is always something interesting to make. You've created a great spot for your readers to visit and I always enjoy the time I spend here. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Clements Family said...

Those are beautiful!! I don't know if I would want to eat one...or share at them!

Allison said...

Wow those look just like the cover cookies. Amazing!

Susie said...

I am so glad I found this. These look awesome! Can't wait to make them. I think this will impress my in-laws!

Kimberlee said...

Great job! Thanks for the post. I don't think I have ever seen patriotic sugar cookies before, LOL!
~Kimberlee
www.TheSpunkyDiva.com

Mandy Beyeler said...

thanks for linking to TAke-A-look Tuesday - - I just featured you on my FB page!

Carolyn said...

These are fantastic! The best 4th of July project I've seen. I would love for you to share this project at my linky party.
http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/2011/06/inspiration-board-link-party_21.html
Thanks for the creative inspiration.

Mimi's Kitchen said...

As soon as I saw that issue of MS I made these cookies too. They were so pretty and fun to make.
Mimi

Jacqueline said...

I got that issue and want to try them too. Yours turned out beautifully. Lindsay was looking at the Martha Stewart magazine and wondering how they were made. So gorgeous and so tasty too.
I have been gone all weekend and am off for another youth activity next week. 3 1/2 years as YW Pres. is a lot, but how can I complain when I was Kirk's 5th YW Pres.!

Michelle said...

These are beautiful! I'd love for you to come link up at DIY Thrifty Thursday at www.thrifty101.blogspot.com
Michelle
Thrifty 101

Erin said...

Your cookies are fantastic! Love all the designs!!!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Joni, These cookies are wonderful and perfect for Fourth of July get togethers. If I wasn't on this stupid diet I would make these tomorrow. They look delicious! Thanks for joining Summer Entertaining.
xo,
Sherry

Jackie said...

I saw these on the cover of MSL and thought they looked so cool! Yours turned out great!

Allison @ Alli 'n Son said...

Oh, I love these! So festive.

I'm hosting a weekly link-up, Sweet Tooth Friday, I hope you'll stop by and share your recipe. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/06/23/maple-bacon-cupcakes/

Susan @ Entertain Exchange said...

Wow, these look great!

Unknown said...

I saw these in the magazine too and your are awesome!! Great job! We sometimes make spiderweb cookies using this technique for Halloween.

Rettabug said...

OMGosh...these are the most awesome cookies I have ever seen, Joni!! Thank you so much for the great instructions on how to make them. I just know my grandkidlets are going to be tickled with them.

Your photos & instructions are GREAT & most appreciated.

fondly,
Rett

Laura Beth said...

These cookies look AWESOME! I think this is a must for some of the kids on our annual 4th of July beach trip. I'm including this in my weekly Blogland's Fabulous Friday Finds!

www.astepinthejourney.blogspot.comv

Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

I just love these cookies. I saw them in Martha Stewart too and you did a wonderful job of executing and giving directions to make them. Thanks for coming by and sharing your recipe. Have a great weekend.
Katie

Our Italian Kitchen said...

These are so cute! Incredible! Will be making these for the 4th!! ~Newest follower

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

These are adorable and perfect for a 4th of July party. No fail sounds good to the non-baker in me. Happy Foodie Friday.
Sam

KelleysFamilyJewels said...

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend.

The Outlaw Mom said...

Such an excellent tutorial - thank you so much for sharing this :-) I just stared at the cookies, before reading the tutorial below, and wondered to myself, how ever is this effect possible? Really appreciate the details and the cookies are spectacular!!

Martha said...

Wow!! Cool cookies! I'm your newest follower.

Nicole Feliciano said...

I found you from the Friday Foodie linky, I'm always on the hunt for fun cookie ideas for the kids. I hope you can swing by Momtrends and link up this great idea. We do a recipe linky called Friday Food:

http://www.momtrends.com/2011/06/friday-food-farmers-classic-pickle-event/

Cindy said...

Wow, just plain (not really 'plain') fun!!

Anonymous said...

these are beautiful, well done!

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

YEAYYYY these so so fun!!! I am pretty impressed that you actually drew out a design!

Kim McCallie said...

These are so pretty! There are just so many options if you change the colors for different holidays. I'd like to invite you to share your recipe on A Well-Seasoned Life's Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

http://www.wellseasonedlife.com/2011/06/sweet-indulgences-sunday-10.html

Anonymous said...

How would I store these to take them camping for the Fourth of July? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I am so excited to make these for the 4th this year. My mom has already made a batch but was frustrated that she couldn't get such vibrant colors using the Wilton royal icing kit and the wilton royal blue and red food gel. Any suggestions as to how to get such "explosive" colors.

I did spy some "glitter" edible gel (wilton) at Michaels and I was considering using that...thoughts?

Unknown said...

great ideas... wonderful instructions for all us newbies at this stuff Thanks!
KAT

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

These are so festive and perfect for 4th July! Love the colours! Wonderful instructions.thanks for sharing:)
Hope to see you on my blog:)

Anonymous said...

Yum! I would love it if you shared this with WorkShop Wednesday. It would be a great addition to the party!

Kristen Alexis said...

Oh-My-Tastiness! These look sooo good. I am going to have to try these. I hope you don't mind I put this post on my blog, because I think they're THAT amazing!! Great 4th of july recipes!!

Leslie said...

I’ve heard about this technique before, but your tutorial is fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing!

Karee Cannon said...

What fabulous cookies, I can't wait to try them!

Lisa said...

Wowza! Those are hot! Thanks for linking these up to Sweets for a Saturday. They made the Top 5 for last week. Great job!

Kristen said...

Those cookies are very cool! I'm definitely going to try them out this summer!!

http://kcs365days.blogspot.com/

Angell said...

I featured you today on my blog!

I have a button if you'd like :-)

http://passionateandcreativehomemaking.blogspot.com/2012/06/friday-finds-new.html

Engageya