Monday, March 28, 2011

How To Make: Matryoshka Doll Cookies

Preset your oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream together 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 pound of butter
And 2 large eggs and mix well.
You may still have a few chunks of butter, but don't worry, they will soften before you put them in the oven.
Add 1 TBSP of vanilla and/or another flavor
I added a few drops of lavender and bilberry mix.
It creates a different kind of sweetness, but is very subtle. Don't go crazy or it will be overpowering.
I also added a few swirls of honey
add 2+ cups of flour, a dash of salt and a dash of soda, and 1 TBSP of baking powder. I say 2+ because you may need to add more to get the dough to the right consistency depending on how much flavor or honey you add. Mix well until a ball forms. I fold the dough until all the tiny pieces of butter combine. Chill your dough for 20-30 minutes. I promise you, you'll regret it if you don't chill it. The cookies will not hold their shape when you roll them out and they will crumble. (You want to let them chill so the combined butter hardens just enough to hold shape.)
Roll your dough out in pieces and cut out the doll shapes with a knife.
I think they kind of look like bowling pins.
Bake for 7-9 minutes. Check at 7 minutes. These cookies burn easily. You want your cookies to be fluffy and light, with a slightly darker bottom. That is how you know they are done.
Let them cool completely!
Now to make royal icing.
I don't use a recipe for this.
But here is my process.
Add powdered sugar into a small bowl by the spoonful, depending on how much icing you are going to make.
Add water or soy milk very slowly, so that you have a thick, creamy texture.
Pull the spoon or fork up, and see how fast the icing drips.
It should drip slowly.
If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Once you have the consistency you want, add color.
I use sandwich bags as pastry bags at home because I can seal them and use them later if I want.
Cut a tiny tiny hole in the corner.
Decorate carefully. Royal icing spreads and will drip everywhere, so get ready to get messy and have multi-colored hands!
And let the icing air dry. Don't put it in the fridge, it will get a weird texture to it, and won't look right.
And you're done!
Enjoy!

Let me know if you try this! I would love to see your creations!

xo,
Beca

6 comments:

  1. I LOVE THESE! my friend and i are were reading this post and want to make these now! :)

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  2. Oh my word! I'm obsessed with nesting dolls, so these are perfect. Great job!

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  3. those are so adorable! what a great idea!

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