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by:
Ricky Alberta
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We've all seen them. Clusters of big, gourmet
cookies, individually wrapped in shiny, colored cellophane, with
bows and ribbons. They come in many styles and with different
treats, toys or gift items attached to or inside a basket or vase of
some sort. They make a terrific and edible gift idea. After all, who
doesn't love cookies? Sadly, they can be very expensive gifts,
especially when considering that cookies don't cost a whole lot to
bake.
Here's how to make your own cookie bouquets at
home without spending a fortune!
What You Will Need:
Chopsticks or Wooden Skewers - Make sure they are
heat-proof. If you're baking smaller cookies, then popsicle sticks
would also work.
Cookies - Find a delicious cookie recipe that
makes larger size cookies, (your favorite or your gift recipients
favorite will do fine)
Container - This needs to be a sturdy container
that is a bit bottom heavy, especially if you plan to include more
than a few big cookies. You can try putting some pebbles in the
bottom to make sure the container won't tip over, if needed. Some
ideas for containers include: a coffee mug, a metal or plastic pail,
a basket, a vase, a planter, cookie jar or glass jar, glass bottle,
a toy or wood box of some sort, teapot, porcelain or pottery serving
ware.
Cellophane - The shiny, colored kind looks best,
but the colored plastic wrap you get at your local supermarket would
work too.
Ribbon - The curly kind works well for this. Any
colors you like.
Decorations - Anything goes! What's appropriate to
the occasion and what does the gift recipient like? Some ideas
include: stuffed animals, small toys, candy, balloons, fake or real
flowers, stickers or whatever you find at the local craft store.
Block of styrofoam or florists foam - You know
that stereo you bought last December? You probably kept the box,
just search your garage for some spare, clean, stryofoam.
Something to cover up the stryofoam or florist's
foam - You can use a big ribbon, some moss, plastic grass, tissue
paper crumpled up or whatever else you have handy.
Instructions:
1. When you place the cookie dough on the cookie
sheet, press the dough down a bit to flatten it so that it doesn't
spread too much while baking and so that the stick can be inserted
properly. Before you bake the cookies, you must insert the chopstick
or wooden skewer into one side of each cookie. Push it in almost the
length of the cookie without going out the other end. This is an
important step, as if your cookie is too big and your stick is not
sturdy enough, the stick won't hold it and the cookie may fall apart
when you pick it up. When baking big cookies, you probably won't be
able to fit more than 3 cookies with their sticks to a cookie sheet.
2. After baking the cookies with their sticks,
cool the cookies thoroughly, then wrap each one with the colored
cellophane. A different color for each cookie would be ok, or all
the same color appropriate to the occasion. Tie each one with some
curly ribbon at the base where the stick comes out of the cookie.
Tie it very tightly so the cookies will stay fresh on the stick. You
can adorn each cookie with additional, larger ribbons or bows at
this point. When using curly ribbon, don't forget to curl it!
3. Now cut your styrofoam or florist's foam to the
size of the top of the container you chose. Then fit the foam in so
it is nice and tight and near the top of the container. Remember,
you can place something heavier in the bottom of the container so
that it does not tip over. Small pebbles work well for this.
Remember that the sticks will poke through the foam and into the
bottom of the container.
4. Here comes the fun part, let's assemble the
cookie bouquet! Take each of your cookies and stick them through the
foam so they go all the way through the foam and further, near to
the bottom of the container. You can assemble the cookies in any
manner you like, but most cookie bouquets have one cookie at the
center that is taller than the other cookies, so keep that in mind.
Decorate with additional ribbons, toys, candy, flowers, gifts etc.
Each item can be attached with additional ribbon to the container or
the sticks of the cookies or even with a glue gun (if appropriate).
5. Give your gift and watch the smiles! Make sure
to give the bouquet as soon as possible after you have assembled it,
you don't want the cookies to go stale!
Tips:
Make sure you bake enough cookies for your
container, if baking small cookies, you may run out if you are
filling a large container. Always bake more than enough. Surely your
extras won't go to waste.
Bake both large and small cookies and use them
both in the bouquet for a nice varied look, like a more traditional
flower bouquet.
More Ideas:
Some cookie bouquets use cutout cookies, these can
be fun to make and decorate. Use your favorite sugar cookie cutout
recipe and cut into shapes appropriate for the occasion. For cutout
cookies to work, you may want to double your sugar cookie recipe as
the cookies need to be nice and thick for the stick to go through
them. For this type of cookie, wooden skewers will work best,
chopsticks may be too thick. Then decorate the cookies with frosting
or icing. The icing should be the kind that hardens a little so that
it won't stick to the wrapping. No need for colored cellophane with
these cookies, use regular plastic wrap or clear cellophane so that
the beauty of your hand decorated cookies shines through.
Remember, your cookie bouquet doesn't need to look
professional, it's the homemade touch that makes it a truly special
gift. |
