Adventures in cookie decorating

Since completing my cake decorating class I actually haven't decorated any cakes! But I have done a couple of batches of cookies. The first ones I did surprised me in how hard it actually is to make cookies!! I'm so used to packet-mix cakes where there are so few steps, so having to go through the process of adding all the separate ingredients at different times was more time consuming than I thought. I also attempted to make the cookies by using a food processor - my second batch was made a lot easier by using an electric beater!

Here is the recipe for Cutter Biscuits:
200g butter - room temperature
1 cup caster sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 cups plain flour
Pinch of salt
Vanilla

1. Cream butter and sugar until just creamy


2. Beat in egg


3. Add vanilla


4. Add flour and mix until just combined


5. Roll out 1/2 the mix between two sheets of baking paper to about 5mm


6. After cutting out the shapes place them in the fridge or freeer until they are cold


7. When they are cold place in the oven and bake at 160C for 10 to 12 minutes until they just change colour


8. Cool well before icing

This was my first decent batch of cookies. They were made especially for easter and were given to my fiance's family. My fiance actually helped me with these and we decorated around half each. We spent an hour together decorating them...it was nice, but kind of strange at the same time!

These cookies I made today so that my fiance could take them with him to his poker night tonight. I made the actual cookies in a bit of a rush last night, so they're not very good. They're slightly uneven and not all the same shape/size, which is kind of dissapointing, but I'm sure the guys will enjoy them! I was also dissapointed by the colours - I was envisaging them being a lot brighter/bolder, but I didn't want to spend too much time adding colours. I think next time I will use flood royal icing - it's a little more shiny than using the fondant icing.