Call a shrink, I have dessert commitment issues. This weekend I was going to bake some yummy fall flavored treats...and today I was going to post all about buttercream neither of which I did. I laid everything out on the counter and even opened the can of pumpkin...but then these cookies popped in my head and I had to make them. I'm not a bit disappointed because these came out perfect! As for the buttercream blog, I'll get to it. I know basics are a necessity but these swirled cookies are so much more fun......and the pumpkin treats will come sooner or later I'll need something to do in November when were patiently waiting for the appropriate time to start baking Christmas goodies. Secretly, I've already got Christmas on the brain...no I'm not crazy, I'm a blogger :).
...opps back to these cookies. I stumbled upon some seussical swirly cookies awhile back on pinterest. I thought they were just about the cutest thing and would look super cute with different holiday colors. So I pinned them to make when the time come. But as I followed the link the instructions were not super helpful, lacking pictures, and it came from a cookie mix pouch...which I've never used before.
For these cookies I finally gave Sugarbelle's rolled cookie recipe a try. I'm not sure this is what she meant by rolled cookies but they worked pretty well ;). I needed a cookie that spread just a bit and these did the trick. Even though this recipe is generally used to be iced and decorated, they stand alone just fine. Honestly, I couldn't believe just how well the colors came out! They are vibrant and just plain fun.
Normally, I would recommend you keep anything with more then two feet away from your treats...but in this case these spiders made the perfect little garnish. Just cheap spider rings that can be found about anywhere this time of year (and in the perfect colors too). But they are a perfect pair whether your packaging these up to give or sitting them out on a platter.
And serving them up with some Halloween edition blackberry kool-aid is a pretty cool touch.
Alright time to break it down barney style and show you just how I did it, so you can too. You can use your favorite sugar cookie recipe, even a store bought if you'd like. I really liked Sugarbelle's which you can find here. It was really easy and rolled so well for this. With this recipe I was was about to make 2 dozen cookies. This method is a little more time consuming but hey think about all the time you'll save decorating. (and all the cool points you'll rack up)
Here's what your going to need:
Sugar cookie dough
Orange, black, green, and purple gel food coloring
Sprinkles
Parchment paper
Wax Paper
Lollipop sticks (optional if you'd like to turn them into cookie pops)
Step 1: Roll your cookie dough into a ball and then roll into a log.
Step 2: Cut into 4 equal parts.
Step 3: Roll each piece into a ball and create a dent with your thumb, put some food coloring in each. If your wondering about the dent this will help keep the coloring on the dough and not on your hands. As you work the dough press the uncolored dough inside and push, roll, and gently work the dough as it colors from the inside out. Once you get good enough you won't have a single spot of color on you. Trust me here, oh the places I have gone with colored hands (like the photo studio!)
Ahhh....pretty dough, clean hands.
Step 3: Begin to roll each color into grape size balls. Somewhere between nickel size, and quarter size. Take the time and make sure they are fairly similar in size. Not only will this give you a good mix of color it's going to keep your cookies about the same size.
Step 4: Next take one of each color and very gently roll it together. It will kind of look like a beach ball.
Step 5: After all that rolling I found my dough was getting soft and warm, not good for coiling. So stick them in the freezer for a minute of two. They will chill just a bit and become nice to work with again. About half way through rolling the balls you may notice they are getting very soft again, just pop them back in the freezer for a moment and you'll be back rolling.
While your waiting set up your work station. You'll need a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to bake on. Some wax paper to work on and sprinkles and a knife near by. Also, go ahead and preheat the oven to 350.
Step 6: To make the coil start out by gently rolling the ball between your palms and then place on the wax paper. Gently and evenly roll out the dough into a rope about 8 inches long. I do so by first starting to roll it out naturally with my hands facing front and then I turn one hand lengthwise to smooth out the bumps. (make sense?) See how the colors are all kind of straight below? Once your done give each end a gentle roll in the opposite direction to "twist" the rope reveling more colors. Particular I know but you want all the colors to come out.
Step 7: Start out by rolling in one end. If one end is thicker use that one.
Step 8: Now coil up the rest of the dough. I found it was easier to gently pick up the dough and allow it to drop around the center into a coil. Rolling the dough flat on the paper by moving the center around resulted in bumpy cookies. If your end is kind of funky or pinched due to rolling, simply cut off the very end to smooth it out.
Step 9: Now gently pick up the cookie by lifting the wax paper and flipping it onto your hand. Roll the sides into the bowl of sprinkles.
Step 10: Place on parchment lines baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-9 minutes.
Want to make them into cookie pops? No problem! Just roll a few balls of left over cookie dough and squish flat. I used the little bits I cut off the coils. Lay on parchment covered baking sheet and gently press stick in.
Now just lay your cookie coil over the stick and press ever so slightly to make it stick. Bake about 1 minute longer for a firmer cookie.
Let them cool on a cookie rack, be prepared you may want to just sit and stare at them cause they look just that cool. :)
I baked these during nap, but made the mistake of photographing while the kids were awake. They went crazy about these fun cookies and waited by the window watching me work. Can't tell you how many times one of them poked their head out to let me know there was bugs on my cookies, thanks girls :). You can imagine their devastation when I told them I was actually going to freeze them and enjoy them when Halloween got a little closer. Their cute faces were better then my determination, I caved and they each got half a cookie.
Another fun spooky treat made, maybe tomorrow I'll get to that buttercream? ;)
Happy baking!
