How to create a 3D Winter Wonderland - Classic Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Are you ready for the holiday baking season?  Traditionally, I have always been busy baking goodies for friends and family during the holidays!  What are your favorite things to share around the holidays?  This year, I have created these whimsical 3D Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies.  Be sure to check out the tutorial above on how I make them.



These 3D cookies are made out of Classic Sugar Cookies and decorated with Royal Icing.  Not only these cookies are crispy (with a hint of butter and vanilla), they are also more sturdy and can hold up to the decorations better than other kind of cookies.   According to my Little Girl, these cookies are perfect for dunking in a cup of hot cocoa! Does she talk like a foodie or what?!  In addition to these Classic Sugar Cookies, I also made a variation of a chocolate flavored ones.




In this 3D Winter Wonderland, you will find Christmas Tree, Snowman, Reindeer and Santa’s Sleigh that are all made of cookies.  As shown in the video above, they are cut from from a 3D cookie cutter set that I bought online from awhile ago. 







In addition to Snowman and Christmas Trees, I also created a few gift box/present cookies to place in front of the Christmas Tree!  We’ve got to have some presents for the holidays, right?  The great news is that you don’t need a cookie cutter to make these gift boxes.  Check out my video tutorial and I’ll show you step by step on how to make them.  They are easier to make than they look, and they are super delicious with a layer of chocolate sugar cookie stacked in the middle! 










So, which one is your favorite?  I personally love the present/gift box and the Santa’s Sleigh cookies the best.  Best of all, just a few simple sprinkles and icing can transform these ordinary sugar cookies into something so amazing!  I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and make them for your family and loved ones.  My kids and I had so much fun decorating these cookies together.  They could be a fun holiday activities with your kiddos as well.  Stay tuned for more fun and festive holiday recipes!




Tools and Ingredients Used:
3D Christmas Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for more information)
Natural Food Coloring (Click here for more information)
Meringue Powder (Click here for more information)
Valrhona Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Click here for more information)
Silver Dragee (Click here for more information)
Fall Color Sprinkle Pearls (Click here for more information)
Christmas Sprinkle (Click here for more information)
Star Shape Sprinkle (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Organic All-Purpose Flour (Click here for more information)
Rolling Pin with Adjustable rings (Click here for more information)
Pizza Roller (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Rolling Mat (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup Set (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)



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How to Make Witch's Fingers Shortbread Cookies - Halloween Recipe 女巫手指餅乾 - 萬聖節食譜

Do you like Halloween?  To be honest, it’s not my favorite holiday of the year.  However, I do enjoy creating fun treats and scary snacks for friends and family.   It’s one of the occasions where I can let my creativity runs wild!



Today, I’m sharing these creepy Witch’s Fingers Shortbread Cookies with you.  This recipe is my classic go-to shortbread recipe, as I've shared here in the past.   It’s actually quite easy to shape them into “fingers” form.  The details and decorations couldn’t be any easier to add on as well.  Be sure to watch the video tutorial on my YouTube channel for all the details and tips.



When I serve these Witch’s Fingers, my Little Boy likes to dip them in strawberry preserves for a bloody effect!  My Baby Girl is a bit less graphic, she chose a mud puddle, a.k.a chocolate sauce as her dipping option!  Either way, these cookies are super fun to eat and just as finger licking good as-is.



These Witch’s Fingers are perfect for Halloween Party.  Last year, I packed them up to share with some school friends and they were a big hit!  You can make them a day or two in advance and store them in an air-tight container.  They stay fresh for at least 5 to 6 days if you store them well without direct sunlight.



How’s your Halloween planning so far?  Do you or your kids dress up?  It’s was such a surprised that my Kiddos have decided so early on what/who they want to be this Halloween.  It’s even more surprising to me that I’ve their costumes already prepared!  They only need a few final touches here and there and that’s it.  Yes, this year's costumes are partially handmade.  But luckily, nothing too complicated.  Phew…. just a side note, I’m just happy that the kiddos are not into scary costumes, at least not yet! 



I hope you enjoyed today's recipe and tutorial.  Stay tuned for another fun and easy Halloween treat next week!  BOO!




Tools and Ingredients Used:
Valrhona Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Click here for more information)
Sliced Almonds (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Salted Butter (Click here for more information)
Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)
Silicone Pastry Brush (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Rolling Mat (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)



Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

How to Make Unicorn Poop Rainbow Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies 檸檬彩虹蛋白曲奇:

Are you ready for another magical and whimsical recipe?  A recipe that involves a mysterious, fascinating, and imaginary create!  Yes, I'm talking about the Unicorn! After all, everything associated with the Unicorn has been so gorgeous and adorable, even with its byproduct such as... its poop!?



Sorry, I just couldn’t help it!  I had so much fun making these Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies with my Little Girl.  We were laughing, joking, and goofing around in the kitchen as we bake and enjoy each other's company…and these cookies, of course!



If you haven’t watched my video tutorial yet, you’ve got to check it out.  I guaranteed that you won’t be disappointed! I’ll show you step by step procedures on how to create the perfect rainbow swirls that shaped these cookies.  They are actually easier than you think.  Plus, you’ll get my tips and secret on how to make the perfect meringue cookies!        



These rainbow colored Sour Lemon Meringue Cookies are made from all natural food coloring deprived from fruit and vegetables (I’ll link my food coloring tutorials below this post).  If you don’t have the time to make your own coloring, I’ve found out that my local health-food store/supermarket do carry some all natural coloring options.  I’ll list the product links below this post so that you can check them out as well. 



If you’ve baked meringue cookies before, you know that they don’t like moisture!  So, we bake them at low temperature for a long time.  Plus, we need to be careful on the flavoring option as well.  Since I made these in lemon flavor, I use lemon zest to give these cookies the refreshing lemony aroma.  But for the tartness, I used citrus acid (which is really sour and in powder form) instead of fresh lemon juice.  That way, I won’t be adding too much moisture into the batter. 



These cookies are so light, crispy, and packed with lemony aroma.  The sweetness and tartness is perfectly balanced!  Give them a try and you’ll fall in love with them.




I hope you enjoyed today’s post and recipe!  Remember, Eat, Drink, and Be Happy!  Stay tuned for more fun recipe next week!




Ingredients and Tools Used:
All Natural Food Coloring (Click here for more information)
Wilton 1 A Round piping tip (Click here for more information)
Citrus Acid (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Leaves (Click here for more information)
Disposable Piping Bag (Click here for more information)
Silver Dragees (Click here for more information)
Freeze Dried Strawberry (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Corn Starch (粟粉) (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Stars (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)

How to Make All Natural Blue Food Coloring Tutorial:
https://goo.gl/8nT8Sm

How to Make All Natural Red Food Coloring Tutorial:
https://goo.gl/zTcc2h

Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Tea Flavor Cookies - 4 Ways (Original, Matcha Green Tea, Earl Grey, and Rose)

My Little Girl and I love tea parties.  We often host our own “party” at home for afternoon tea.  From savory sandwiches, petit fours, French Macaron, hot chocolate, to classic English tea, you name it and we’ve tried them all!  One of our favorites got to be these Tea Flavor Cookies!  Not only they are quite easy to prepare, they are also very delicious!  The bonus is that they are super adorable, don’t you agree? 



Today, I’m going to show you how to make them, not just 1, but all 4 flavors.  I’ll show you how to turn 1 basic cookie dough into 4 different flavors: the Original flavor, Matcha Japanese Green  Tea, Earl Grey, and Rose.  If you have some other tea that you enjoy more other than those that I listed,  by all means, substitute with the tea or tea bags of your choice.



If you haven’t check out my video tutorial yet, go ahead and watch it.  I’ll show you step-by-step on how to turn your cookies into these cute little tea bags shapes.  Best of all, there’s no special cookie cutters required!   But of course, you can use your favorite cookie cutters to stamp out the dough as well.   







These Tea Flavor Cookies are crispy, buttery, and elevated with a hint of tea flavor.  I kept the tea flavor to the mild side because that’s how My Girl likes them.  If you prefer a stronger tea flavor, check out my recipe notes below and I’ll show you how to do that as well.






Out of the 4 flavors, I have to say, my favorite one is the Rose Tea flavor cookie!  The floral tone is simply beautiful and elegant in these tea cookies!  You’ve got to give these a try to see for yourself.  So, what is your favorite tea to enjoy?  Have you tried other treats that are also in tea flavors?  I can’t wait to hear from you!  Stay tuned for another yummy recipe next week!   



Ingredients and Tools used:

Rose Tea Buds (Click here for more information)
Rose Extract (Click here for more information)
Matcha Powder (Clickhere for more information)
Cookie Stamp Set (Click here for more information)
Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Salted Butter (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)
Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)
Rolling Mat (Click here for more information)
Pizza Wheel (Click here for more information)
Rolling Pin (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Heat Proof Measuring Cups (Click here for more information)







Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Matcha Cookies with Cranberries and White Chocolate - for Chinese New Year

Happy New Year!  Did you go somewhere fun to count down to the new year?  As usual, we stayed home for the count down and had a wonderful feast along with some bubbly to ring in the new year!  While the vacation and days off might be over for some people, the celebration is still going on in my house.



This year, January 28th marks the first day of the Chinese New Year!  In Asia, Chinese New Year is the biggest celebration of the year, comparable to Christmas and Thanksgiving in the U.S.  It’s a 15 days long celebration!  Schools, most shops, and businesses are closed during the Chinese New Year so that everyone can spend time with the family to celebrate. 



Although we don’t get any days off for Chinese New Year in the States, I try my best to pass down the traditions and culture to my Kids, mostly through story telling, and more often, through food.  There are many traditional food and special dishes that we prepare mainly for the Chinese New Year.  But some are so good that I pretty much make them all year round, such as these Matcha (Japanese Green Tea) Cookies with Cranberries and White Chocolate.



These cookies are quite simple to prepare.  They are the “slice and bake” type of cookie which you can (and should) prepare the dough ahead of time.  When it comes time to bake, you simply slice the cookie dough into disks and bake them off.  If you haven’t done so, watch my video above to check out my secret/tip on how to keep the cookie dough nice and round instead of having a “flat bottom” while it’s chilling in the fridge.  And you’re very welcomed!  Consider this tip as my Chinese New Year gift to you!  



If you like Matcha, you’re going to love these cookies.  They are packed with the matcha flavor and go nicely with a cup of hot tea.  However, Matcha could be an acquire taste for some people though. 



These matcha cookies are not too sweet, therefore, the white chocolate chips add a nice touch of sweetness to balance out the flavors.  The dried cranberries not only add a nice contrast of color to the cookies, but also a little tartness and texture as well. 



Make a batch to share with your friends and family during this Chinese New Year.  I’m sure they’ll love these gorgeous and fun cookies.  What other family traditions do you celebrate?  Do you have any special Chinese New Year dishes that you would always prepare for your family?  Leave a comment below and let me know.  I can’t wait to hear from you!





Ingredients and Tools used:
Matcha Powder (Click here for more information)
Dried Cranberries (Click here for more information)
White Chocolate Chips (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Rolling Pin (Click here for more information)
 

Christmas Fruit Tart with Meyer Lemon Mousse

 
Will you be hosting a Christmas party this year?  Or, will you be a guest at a friend’s or family member’s house?  Honestly, I enjoy being a guest more than hosting a party at my place.  One reason is that I don’t really have a backyard that is spacious enough to host parties.  The other reason is the tremendous amount effort needed, such as planning, preparation, and cleanup!  As a guest, I’m always happy to bring desserts!  And I’m sure any host would be pleased to see this festive and gorgeous Christmas Fruit Tart with Meyer Lemon Mousse!  But of course, you can still make this pretty fruit tart even if you’re hosting Christmas gatherings at your place.  This tart will make a beautiful centerpiece for sure.
 

 
The crust of this tart is a simple cookie crust. It’s crunchy, buttery, and sturdy enough to hold up the Meyer Lemon Mousse fillings.  The Meyer Lemon Mousse filling is super easy to prepare.  It involves some mascarpone whipped cream and Meyer Lemon Curd.  Click here to check out my homemade Meyer Lemon Curd recipe.  If you want a short cut, it’s okay to use a store bought Lemon Curd as well.  After all, it’s the holiday and it’s alright to give yourself a break if you are in a hurry.  But the good news is that you can make the Meyer Lemon Curd ahead of time and they’ll last quite a long time in the fridge.  
 

 
I used green grapes, pineapple, pomegranate seeds, and persimmon to garnish this tart.  It’s quite self explanatory in terms of how to arrange the fruit to form the Christmas Tree.  You can be creative and use other fruits that you like.  For example, kiwi slices for the tree, yellow peach for the star, and other small fruit as ornaments as well.  These are the fruits that I have on hand so I used them.  The fresh fruit compliment the Meyer Lemon Mousse perfectly.  It’s refreshing yet decadent at the same time.  The mousse filling has a light, fluffy and silky mouth-feel, which contrast wonderfully with the crunch cookie crust.  The pomegranate seeds add a little pop and tartness in this tart.  And its natural color simply brightens up the whole tart.
 

 
It’s such a festive and simple dessert to enjoy!  I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and make it for your holiday celebration.  If you do try the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a message below or email me a picture on how it turned out.  I can’t wait to hear from you!  Stayed tuned for more fun and festive holiday treats next week.  
 
Tools and Ingredients Used:
 
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)
Mascarpone Cheese (Click here for more information)
Rectangular Tart Pan (Click here for more information)
Parchment Paper  (Click here for more information)
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream (Click here for more information)
Pie Weight (Click here for more information)
Pastry Cutter (Click here for more information)
Pastry Bag (Click here for more information)
Wilton Closed Star 2D Pastry Tip (Click here for more information)

 
P.S. Current Giveaway: The Origami Zoo Kit (Open till December 18th, 2016)

 

 
 
 
 

How to Make Christmas Wreath and Christmas Tree Shortbread Cookies

How’s your holiday shopping so far?  I’m just glad that I did most of mine online these days.  I simply do not like the shopping malls' crowded parking lot nor the long lines at the check outs!  Are you the same?  Or do you think that’s part of the fun from holiday shopping?  Fortunately, some of my holiday gifts are going to be homemade edible gifts and DIYs that don’t require a trip to the mall. Gifts such as these adorable Classic Shortbread Cookies.      



As you can see, I decorated them as Christmas Wreaths and Christmas Trees for a more festive look.  I’ll list the cookie cutters and other tools that I used in this recipe, at the bottom of the post for your convenience.  These cookies are quite simple to make and lots of fun to decorate.  My kids had a blast decorating and eating their own creations. 



If you haven’t done so, please check out my video tutorial above.  You’ll see how easy it is to make these adorable cookies.  Best of all, I mostly just used chopped pistachios and dried cranberries for the decorations.  I simply love these natural and festive colors for the holidays!  Not to mention, they add some wonderful flavors and textures to the cookies.



There are only a few simple ingredients for this classic shortbread cookie recipe.  The key to a wonderful shortbread cookie is the butter!  Therefore, please use the best quality of butter that you can get your hands on.  They make a huge difference in the end product.  Also for your reference, you will find the butter that I trust and love... right below this post.



Baking and decorating cookies have became one of our holiday traditions.  We also bake and build gingerbread houses together.  If you haven’t check out my classic gingerbread cookie recipe from last week, simple click here.  You sure don’t want to miss that one!  What are some of your holiday traditions?  Share in the comment session below.  I can’t wait to hear from you. 



I have been baking these Classic Shortbread Cookies all year round and not just for the holidays because they are so delicious.  They are super buttery and a little crunchy, thanks to the pistachio nuts on top.  The pistachio adds a nice and subtle nutty flavor to these cookies.  Definitely a fun treat for holiday and everyday afternoon tea.  I hope you’ll give this recipe a try soon and add it to your holiday baking list.  Stay tuned for more festive holiday treats next week!  






Tools and Ingredients Used:
Scalloped Edges Round Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for more information)
Holiday Mini Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for more information)
Star Shaped Sprinkles(Click here for more information)
Silver Dragees (Click here for more information)
Candy Cane Sprinkles (Click here for more information)
Red Heart Sprinkle for Bowtie (Click here for more information)
Multi Color Dragees as Ornamens (Click here for more information)
Wilton #2 Small Round Piping Tip for Icing (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Meringue Powder (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Pistachios (Click here for more information)
Dried Cranberries (Click here for more information)
Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)

Current Giveaways:
1) Perfect Gift Wrapping Ideas Craft Book and Wrapping Paper (Open till December 4th, 2016)

2) Origami Zoo Kit (Open till December 18th, 2016)

Classic Gingerbread Cookies–Decorated 3 Ways

How was your Thanksgiving celebration yesterday?  Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed time with your family and friends.  As we put the left over roasted turkey into the fridge, it’s also time to take the Christmas tree and ornaments out from the storage!  Okay, maybe not exactly at the same time, but you know what I mean!  We’re moving on to the next holiday, Christmas! It’s definitely one of my favorite holidays of the year!



To put you into the holiday mood, let me share with you these festive and adorable Classic Gingerbread Cookies!   I decorated them in three different ways while using the same cookie dough as the base.  As I was baking these cookies, the house smelled like a little bakery shop!  The pungent and earthy spices in these cookies are amazing.  The deep and rich aroma of the molasses is undeniable in these gingerbread cookies!  The wonderful aromas and flavors of spices simply reminded me of the wonderful time of Christmas! 



I certainly felt that Christmas came early this year!  My Little Girl and I spent a fun afternoon decorating these cookies together!  It’s simply therapeutic to sit back, pipe out icing, and decorate these cuties with sprinkles (okay, maybe a little cookie tasting in between as well)!  It was amazing to see the creativity shown on My Little Girl’s cookies.   



A few months ago, I shared these Home Sweet Home 3D Sugar Cookie with you for Valentine’s Day.  They were just as much fun to make and I used the same cookie cutter for these Mini Gingerbread House Cookies (see picture above).  This time, I used some edible star sprinkles on the roof, silver dragees for the door frame, and peppermint candy canes sprinkles to decorate the walls of the house.  It was so whimsical that I felt like a little fairy sprinkling pixie dust!  I’ll list the tools and ingredients that I used at the bottom of this post for your convenience. 



Of course, we've got to have the classic Gingerbread Man...and his family as well!  How can we not have them!?  I had 2 different sizes of gingerbread man cookie cutters and I’ll list the different bake times on all different cutters in the recipe below for your convenience.



Last but not least, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!  They are definitely my favorites!  And guess what, you don’t need a separate cookie cutter for them!  Take a closer look, they are the little gingerbread man flipped up side down.  Watch the video tutorial above to see how I  made them.  These are just way too cute!  With all these three different decorated cookies, they sure looked like a winter wonderland in my house. 



I hope you enjoy today's recipe and tutorial.  Stayed tuned for more fun recipe and tutorial next week.  If you haven’t entered the Perfect Gift Wrapping Ideas Craft Book giveaway yet, there’s still time to do so.  You sure don’t want to miss it!  Until next time, have a wonderful Friends and Family Friday!       


Tools and Ingredients Used:

3D Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter (Click here for more information)
Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for more information)
Silver Dragees (Click here for more information)
Candy Cane Sprinkles (Click here for more information)
Pink Pearl Sprinkle for Cheeks (Click here for more information)
Red Heart Sprinkle for Bow-tie (Click here for more information)
Red Pearl Dragees For nose (Click here for more information)
Wilton #2 Small Round Piping Tip for Icing (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Ground Cinnamon (Click here for more information)
Organic Ground Ginger (Click here for more information)
Organic Ground Cloves (Click here for more information)
Organic Unsulphured Molasses (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Salted Butter (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Candied Coated Chocolate (Click here for more information)




Classic Gingerbread Cookies:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
4 ounces (1 stick) salted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup dark-brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoons ground cloves
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in spices, the egg, and molasses.

Turn mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture, until just combined. Divide dough in half, shape each one into a disk, and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line baking sheets with Silpats. Lightly dust flour on a clean surface and roll the dough into 1/8-inch thick.

Stamp out gingerbread man or gingerbread house shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer to prepared baking sheets. Bake until crisp and slightly golden on the bottom. I baked the small gingerbread man ones (1 1/2 x 2-inch) for 10 minutes; the gingerbread house pieces for 12 minutes, and the medium/large gingerbread man ones (2 2/4 x 3 ½-inch) for 15 minutes. Let cookies cool on wire racks.

Decorate with royal icing (Recipe Followed) and have fun!
 
Royal Icing Recipe:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons meringue powder
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients together until well incorporated and no lumps. Place in small piping bag with a small round tip to decorate your cookies.