Monday, October 26, 2015

raven sugar cookies . . . a Halloween treat



I wanted to create a unique sugar cookie for the Halloween season, and had the idea to make a flock of black ravens.

There's something about these little black birds that remind me of harvest, pumpkins, and Halloween.




So I went on the hunt for a raven cookie cutter, and found one online.

I used my trusty sugar cookie recipe (below), a simple glaze, and a whole bottle of black sanding sugar to make this haunting flock of birds.




I nestled them among a few bare branches and freckled pumpkins for a finishing touch.

                 Be sure and pair them with pumpkin ice cream or shakes for a little festive fun!





raven sugar cookies
.     .     .     .     .     .
Ingredients
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
12 Tablespoons (1 ½  sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 egg, room temperature
 powder sugar (instead of flour) for rolling out dough
black sanding sugar, for decorating
.     .     .     .     .     .

Preparation
To make the cookies, in a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt . . . set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and egg. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in three additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Mix until just combined.

Form the dough into a flattened ball, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or as long as overnight.

Preheat an oven to 350°F.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. 

On a lightly floured powder sugar surface, roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart, and bake until just golden around the edges, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. Transfer the pans to wire racks and let cool for 5 minutes, then remove the cookies from the pans and let cool completely.

Makes 10 to 20 cookies, depending on cutter size.



Sugar Cookie GLAZE
2 ¼  cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1 Tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

Combine ingredients and mix until smooth
Using a small paint brush (or the tip of your finger), spread on top of cookies
Sprinkle sanding sugar on top of GLAZE when it's wet

The secret to a 'clean' sugar edge is not letting the glaze drip down the sides of the cookie.
A thick glaze is also key.
After the glaze has been mixed, add 1 Tablespoon of confectioners' sugar at a time, 
until you get the desired consistency.
Have fun!






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Thank you for stopping by!
I love reading your comments and appreciate them so much!





36 comments:

  1. These are so clever, Suzanne! I bet they're a hit with your kids!

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  2. I just love these, Suzanne -- so cute! They're probably awesome with pumpkin ice cream! :)

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  3. Your cookies are always too pretty to eat!

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  4. I love these! A little sparkly...a little spooky...they look so great. I don't think I could eat them either (like she said ^).

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  5. Dear Suzanne, this is so fantastic! I love this idea!! Great!
    Have a happy time
    Elisabeth

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  6. These cookies are so clever and perfect for Halloween!

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  7. These are so great! I would love to use these for a literary themed party. Quoth the Raven!

    ~Meaghan

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  8. Suzanne...you are the queen of sugar cookies. I so need you to give me lessons! I'm pretty sure that all your cookies are a good as they look too. You decorate them all so creatively. Your friends and family must be thrilled to enjoy your pretty creations.

    Thanks for sharing them with us at Project Inspire{d}! Pinning!!!

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  9. These are amazing - can wait to give these a try!! So happy to find and follow your blog!

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  10. thank you for sharing this yumminess at the hop xoxoxo

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  11. I thought they were decor pieces, when I first saw the picture! They look amazing :)
    I would love if you share your cookies with my fall themed party Big Autumn Bash:
    http://milaslittlethings.com/2014/10/big-autumn-bash-the-link-party.html

    xx
    Mila
    milaslittlethings.com
    milawayable@gmail.com

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  12. What a cute cookie cutter...these are my favorite cookies (maybe next to chocolate chip). :-)
    Karen

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  13. These are super cool! My kids would love them!

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  14. I really want to make these now! What site did you buy them from?

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  15. They are too pretty to eat! love these.

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  16. These are so cute! Definitely have to try them - will be the perfect hostess gift for the Halloween party I'm invited to...

    All the best,
    Steffi
    www.tulipandlily.blogspot.com

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  17. I love the striking look these cookies bring. What a fun, original idea for Halloween! Pinning!

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  18. These are awesome! I ordered the crow just now- they were out of the raven cutter.

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  19. I love these raven cookies with the sparkly sprinkles. They remind me of Game of Thrones, and Edgar Alan Poe, and Halloween. #InLove

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  20. Inspired. Mine would NOT look like this however.

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  21. I was on the hunt for a raven cookie cutter last week and couldn't find one in town. Thanks for sharing your source and this cookies look like they took tons of time, they're fantastic!

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  22. Oh my gosh, these are fabulous! Love them! I think I might need to order a cookie cutter. You displayed them so fun! Thanks for sharing them with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  23. Where in the heck did you find a raven cookie cutter? These are cool!!

    Thanks so much for linking up to Teach Me Tuesday @ 3GLOL last week. We love seeing what you link up every week! Hope to see you again this week. Party goes live at 8pm CST Monday.

    Have a great week!

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  24. Thank you so much for linking up with Big Autumn Bash ! :)
    xx
    Mila
    milaslittlethings.com
    milawayable@gmail.com

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  25. I love your creativity! These look to pretty to eat. Thanks for sharing at Foodie Fridays. Hope to see you again this week.
    Blessings,
    Shari

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  26. What a fun treat for Halloween! I love the black, glittery sugar coating. Thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!

    Alison
    Nancherrow

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  27. Hi Suzanne, hopping by to let you know that I will be featuring you at SYC this week.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  28. Your cookies look awesomely delicious! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  29. These are such a cute treat for Halloween! I wanted to thank you for linking them up with us at Foodie Fridays and also let you know that they will be featured tonight at A Dish of Daily Life! I'm pinning them of course, but I'll be stumbling and sharing too! Have a great day!

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  30. I love these cookies Suzanne!! I am pretty sure that I bought that cookie cutter last year, and then completely forgot about it. I need to go find it, these cookie are adorable. :)

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  31. Anonymous7:41 AM

    Those look brilliant Suzanne, I love the uniqueness of these for Halloween. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! Laura@Baking in Pyjamas

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  32. I cannot get over how adorable these are! I'm an absolute fool for ravens. I'll have to try these next year!

    Found you through the Fall into the Holidays link-up!

    Beth at www.littleworldcalledwonderland.blogspot.com

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  33. I love sugar cookies and miss them. These are simply fantastic! I think you should open a bakery or maybe a in home catering business. You are so talented.

    Carole @ Garden Up Green

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  34. Those are simply adorable -- and the black sanding sugar will make the little mouths black -- very Halloween! I have a fantastic Dracula cookie cutter that I'll have to drag out some year. He is gruesomely wonderful. Your sugar cookie dough is great!! You can do so much with it -- a reliable recipe you can fall back on is so valuable. Are you going to take photos of your kiddos in their Halloween costumes?? I'd love to see it. Sending big hugs!!

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