Never the less things I used to have time for, I just don’t anymore. So when I do make something, it needs to be quick, easy and of course fun! I volunteered to make the cookies for my daughter’s preschool class, because I haven’t made anything in a bit and I was feeling the desire to get in the kitchen and create.
I’m not sure how other Mom’s out there in the world balance kids, a relationship and all the other things that life blesses us with, but for me I had to let go of some of my passions in order to give my children the attention that not only they need, but which they deserve. What that means for this brief moment in time is letting go of trying to make sufficient time to create elaborate decorated cookies, cupcakes, cakes and cake pops. Because try as I might, I am unable to balance that act of doing time intensive creations and caring for my kids properly.
Let me just add that the little guy is such a PIA , a cute one though and right now and is into EVERYTHING, so until that level of curiosity can be tamed as his independence grows, my stuff needs to be put on a shelf for the meantime figuratively and literally. I may moan about it at times, but overall it’s really fine because I love hanging with my peanuts, they’re awesome. I have also found other things to fill in the tiny cracks of time I find throughout the day, which quells that need to constantly create for now.
But when I do decide to be creative in the kitchen, playing it smart counts for everything. I’ve come to realize and embrace that the abundant plate that life has given me at this point in my life always borders on being full, so there is little to no room for outer distractions or extra time intensive work. Which brings me to these cookies. Quick, easy, fun to make and especially eat, they were a hit among the kids and teachers alike.
When I started making these I had one idea in mind, but since I had dough left over I made a whole bunch of goodies. And they all started with theses bad boys.
Simple round scalloped cookies with colored dough piped on them to look like carrots. They bake together and prep and clean up is super fast….like really super fast.
This is what you will need….
- Chocolate Sugar Cookie Dough
- Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough
- Orange and Green Gel Food Coloring
- Decorating Bags
- Cookie Cutters in whatever shape you like
- Food safe markers (black)
- Large round pink sprinkles
Now for cookies I have to admit I use two recipes that I myself did not create. I exclusively use two sugar cookie roll out recipes from LilaLoa. Her End-All for Chocolate Cookies and Vanilla 2.0 Cookie recipes are hands down the best and since trying them out, never found another reason to even try another recipe. So if you are needing or wanting to try new cookie dough recipe these are it. They bake perfectly every time and seriously don’t spread at all. ( Have I mentioned how much I LOVE theses recipes???)
Anyhooooo, You can begin by coloring some of the vanilla sugar cookie dough with the food coloring.
A little of this goes a very looooong way so make an appropriate amount for your baking needs. Start by adding a little water to the cookie dough and mixing it up, so that it becomes very soft and will be easy to pipe out of a decorating bag onto the cookie. But do not add so much water that it becomes liquid like, you just want it to have semi soft peaks. When you get it to the desired consistency add in a few drops of food color to achieve the color you want. Then repeat this process for the second color. Bag the mixture into a decorating bag and just place it to the side for a minute. I the meantime roll out an cut your cookie shapes.
When all your dough is rolled and paced on a baking sheet you can start adding the carrots. I practiced a bit on a piece of wax paper first to see how I wanted to make them.
I started with the actual carrot first. Just a bunch of zig zaggy lines.
And then I added the greenery on top. Just a bunch of vertical wavy lines worked perfectly.
And then I baked those dad boys up!
Remember when I told you not to add too much water???? Well in these guys case I sort of overdid it 🙁 But you can get better lines like I did on these carrot cookies I made last year , but only if you keep the consistency a bit tighter. These were for a bunch of three and four year old, so I’m pretty positive they didn’t care about the loss of detail on my cookies as much as I did.
Either way I had so much fun making them (and my kids did too!) that I made a whole bunch of miniature versions as well! I just used a whole bunch of scalloped mini cutters I had, I believe Wilton makes them.
And then because these were so fast and easy, my mind started wandering and I figured I better add in some bunnies to the mix, so those carrots would not go to waste!!! Makes sense right????
For the bunny noses I just used large pearl Sprinkles these were also a Wilton product. I added them before I baked them ad they held there shape perfectly. I drew on the eyes and the whiskers using a food safe pen, the brand I use is Food Doodler, but Wilton also makes them.
Just wait until the cookie has cooled before drawing any details or else it will be too soft the draw upon. And then you have an army of sorts of mini bunnies and carrots!
The larger cookies I shipped of to the students of preschool and the minis were packaged up and sent as gifts for the teachers, who never fail to ask me if by chance I baked anything for the party 🙂 You just can’t buy great tasting cute cookies made with fresh ingredients, things like this have to be created from the love of baking!
I do hope you enjoyed this post, feel free to pin away so others can see how easy these are!!
I love minis and I’m especially smitten with the bunnies! 🙂
P.S. I have a hard time with time management and I don’t even have any little kids (or big kids for that matter) under my roof anymore, so I completely understand how you need to make adjustments to ensure more time for your children..childhood goes by so very fast! Besides, I happen to love “simple” and these cookies are adorable! Best wishes to you and your family:)
Glad to know I am not the only one…thank you 🙂
Thank you Sue.