Eat Christmas Cookies: I'm dreaming of a white...

For Susan of Food Blogga the start of the Christmas season is the Charlie Brown Christmas special and making and sharing cookies. So much so, that she has invited all of us to bake along with her.

For me, it begins to feel a lot like Christmas when I catch an old re-run of White Christmas (and if it isn't being offered by the networks I have a videotape stashed away). I've seen the film so many times that Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen feel like friends

("Gain some weight, Vera," I mutter every year).

Something about the movie just kick-starts holiday activities for me and I soon find myself baking. In addition to experiments with mince filling and tiny mince pies, we've been making various cakes and puddings and over the last weekend Sophie and I had a day-long session of rolling out and decorating sugar and gingerbread cookies shaped like snowflakes and stars as we attempted to create our own white christmas. It wasn't snowing that day, but the drifts of royal icing definitely added to the mood.

I freely admit that my interest in snowflake-shaped cookies is a direct result of these amazingly decorated cookies over at Kuidaore. I also freely admit that ours are a far cry from hers and would like to add that it is HELL to move the fragile snowflakes with their complicated extensions to a cookie sheet for baking.

But we had fun. I can't quite recall the chain of events that led to Jack finding us both collapsed on the kitchen floor, laughing so hard we couldn't make any sound, but I'm pretty sure it was had to do with carefully lifting up a completed snowflake and then watching in horror as it broke in half.

Our gingerbread cookie recipe came from Elise of Simply Recipes. For decorating, we used a simple mix of confectioner's sugar with a little lemon juice for the blocks of color and then classic royal icing for piping. 

Comments

[Susan from Food Blogga]

Hi Ann,
After Charlie Brown, it's White Christmas. My husband and I have watched it every year for about the last 10 years and consider Bing and Rosemary close friends. These are simply beautiful cookies. They may have been hell to move, but they look like heaven now. Thanks for submitting them to Eat Christmas Cookies. Cheers, Susan

[dhanggit]

wow, im totally impressed with these cookies!! they look perfect and delicious :-)all i need now is my cup of tea in front of my favorite movie :-)

[Pieds Des Anges (Kyla)]

I can never watch my way through White Christmas but my favorite part is when Bing and Danny do the Vera-Ellen and Rosemary number in drag with the feather fans. "Sisters, Sisters...." Especially the last five seconds of the number. So funny.

Pretty cookies! I can't believe how gorgeous those ones over at Kuiador (sp?) are. I can never ice like that.

[Maryann]

I'm finding it harder and harder to find the little silver balls for decorating.
Your cookies are so pretty. That's a great photo!
Merry Christmas!

[french tart]

those cookies look fantastic! good job!

christmas season doesn't start in our house until we've watched "A Christmas Story" and the cartoon version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". the minute i hear the music, i'm suddenly transported back to magical childhood Christmas memories.

[Chris]

These look wonderful! I don't have a very steady hand for such beautiful lines. Thanks for visiting!

[Michelle]

These look beautiful!

[Manggy]

For some reason in the Philippines it's The Sound of Music, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas (except for the line "Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelases"?).
I'm sure it would have been a lot less fun, but you could cut them on the sheet and spare the heartache :) Don't be modest, those snowflakes look great!

[Pasticerra]

Still loving these snow flakes. I don't think you have anything to be downplay about your snowflakes. I did enjoy the link to Kuidaore. Finally found the chip pan, thank you very much. What an amazing shop. but the food and posts here are what draws me here and your kind comments as well. Sammy is very fun and makes me want to have a go too.

[Ann]

Susan, How nice to know we have friends in common! And thanks for the compliment-- I have a new appreciation for the skill involved in detailed piping.

dhanggit, they were certainly delicious. :-)

Kyla, it probably won't surprise you to know that my sister and I used to dress up and do the "Sisters" number for every family talent show EVER.

Maryann, you can't even buy the silver dragees in California anymore. Apparently they can be toxic if you eat enough of them...

frenchtart, thanks! We always watched The Grinch, too. Mainly because my Dad had a real soft spot for it... :-)

Chris, thank you! My hand isn't very steady either when you compare my results against Kuidoare!

Michelle, thanks. They were a lot of fun to make.

Manggy, how odd! Um... but cutting them out on the baking sheet would have been so messy!

Pasticerra, so glad you found the chip pan. And so glad to have found your blog and to have you drop in on mine. We aren't exactly next door to each other, but you feel like a neighbor all the same.

[sugarlaws]

White Christmas has been part of my family's holiday traditions since I was a baby. We would always play it while my sister and I were decorating the tree! We watched it again last year, and I very much agree (though I never noticed as a kid) that Vera Ellen needs to gain about 20 pounds! A little frightening, but still a great movie.

Cookies look wonderful! The decorations are gorgeous.

[Ann]

sugarlaws, thanks! I don't know why I love that movie so much, but I just do. :-)

[myfrenchkitchen]

I love your cookies!! Now I bow before you,I am a cook rather than a baker and when I see creations like these, I can just sigh...Are you really going to devour them?
ronell
PS: My entry for your pies just needs to be done...will send it to you soon.
R
x

[Jennifer]

These are stunning! I have a design blog, and this is my first time to your site. Your posts are great, and I love the photos.

[Ann]

Ronell, thank you for the kind comment, but your lemon cookies give you away... they are beautiful.

Jennifer, glad you stopped by. I'm off to have a look at your blog...

[Paula from Only Cookware]

I love watching White Christmas. I also love It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart. Great classics!

[Michelle]

Best of luck in the finals, Ann! :)

[Susan from Food Blogga]

Hey Ann! Just wanted you to know I included your delicious cookie in my latest article at Foodie View. Happy Holidays!

[dolcigine]

I love your cookies ... soooo cute :-)!! Happy holidays :-)!!

[Catherine]

Very impressive! Those cookies looks delicious... Awesome!