Question:

Hoiw can I make my own cookie bouqet for my good friend's birthday?

Cookie Dough for Your Own Cookie Bouquet

Making your own homemade cookie bouquet is much easier that you might think.

The first thing you need to do is create a template for your cookies, this is done by using a firm paper plate upon which you will draw out the shapes or forms in which you want to make your cookies.

Once you have drawn images you'll need to cut out the forms. Put these off to the side, as you won't need them again until after you have made your cookie dough.

Making the cookie dough is an easy process. For the cookie dough, you will want to begin by blending ½ stick or 2 ounces softened butter, making sure that there are no lumps in the butter, add 2/3 cups vegetable shortening, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar and mix until it is light and fluffy. Add 2 large eggs, one at a time followed by 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Make sure that the mixture is thoroughly blended.

Add 3 ½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1-teaspoon salt to the mixture and blend all the ingredients together. Divide into three small portions and create a different color in each portion. Allow the dough to sit, covered, in the refrigerator for about two hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and roll out on a floured bread cloth or baking surface. It is best if the dough is approximately ½ inch thick. Work with a small portion of dough at a time and keep the others in the refrigerator while you work. Using the paper plate templates that you made earlier, trace the shapes onto the dough and cut out. Carefully lift each shape and place it onto a cookie-baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Insert a Popsicle stick into each shape; remember that the stick is not a suitable handle for the cookies until they are completely cooled.

Bake for 12 –14 minutes, allowing cookies to cool before attempting to relocate them to a cooling rack. Do not use the Popsicle sticks to lift the cookies up until they are fully cooled.

Use different colored icings and frosting to create the colorful images that you want to fill your cookie bouquet.