Easter Cookies

Over the years, I've learned a lot about myself. I know my own tendencies and struggles. I know how easy it is for me to bite off more than I can chew. For that reason, I stayed away from Pinterest for the longest time. But once I moved from teaching to tutoring and began to have more time at home, I finally allowed myself to leap into the never-ending abyss that is Pinterest. Just as I suspected, I was immediately hooked. So many ideas! So many crafts! And... so many cookies!

I've heard people lament that the amazingly skilled and impossibly perfect Pinterest posts often make the viewer feel inadequate, but I tend to look at the beautiful pictures and see #craftgoals. I may not ever get as good as the people on Pinterest, but I'll never even improve my own skills if I don't try.

I was excited to have the opportunity to make these Easter cookies for my mother-in-law. She gave me very few specifics for what she wanted in terms of cookie shapes and colors, so I was able to be creative and try out some new Pinterest techniques!

I love the look of lacework with icing. There were quite a few Pinterest examples of lace-decorated Easter cookies, so I straight up tried to copy a few. Hey, imitation is the highest form of flattery, right? I'll get to designing my own lace later. Practice comes first.

I think this is my favorite cookie of this batch. It was so tricky to get those pin-prick dots in between the lines without a super-narrow piping tip, but it'll be that much easier when I do finally buy a size 0 or size 00 tip (hopefully soon!)

Another technique I wanted to try was the basket-weave pattern. I've been researching this method for a few weeks now, and what better opportunity to practice it than an Easter basket? For my first attempt, I think it came out pretty good. I also have a pretty good idea as to how I can improve it next time! I'm not so sure about the pink bunny, though... those blank white eyes just kind of stare into your soul... ugh.

And finally, this is the cookie that wins the "Least Satisfied but Still Looks Pretty Good" award. These little flowers were also a new technique, and while I learned quite a lot, I can't quite look past the flaws on this one. I'm eager to try again soon.

(Also, I'm noticing that this pic has my bare fingers touching the cookie, which is not typical for me. My policy is to use food-grade gloves as seen in the pics above when handling cookies.)




This batch also contained some tulips and bunnies, but I restrained myself and stuck with a single type of pattern/decoration on those.

Happy Easter, everyone!

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” Luke 24:5-7

Taylor Treats!

Hello and welcome to Alyson's confectionery adventure blog! On this site, I plan to feature some of the cookies and cupcakes that I've been working on, as well as provide a location for folks to reference my prices and availability. If you're here to inquire into a possible role as taste-tester, I'm afraid the husband has already filled that position.

General info:

• To order, please complete the contact form to the right or email me at alysontaylor8@gmail.com.
• My cookies, cakes, cupcakes, royal icing, and frosting are all homemade from scratch, while embellishments like sprinkles, fondant, or luster dust are store-bought.
• I don't do any gluten-free treats at the moment, but it is on the to-do list!

Cookies:

• Minimum of one dozen, maximum of four dozen
• Up to three shapes/designs per dozen
• $3 per cookie or $30 per dozen
• Add-on: cookies placed in individual clear plastic treat bags with customized ribbon: +$3 per dozen

Cupcakes:

• Minimum of one dozen, maximum of four dozen
• One flavor/design per dozen
• $3 per cupcake or $30 per dozen
• Add-on: edible toppers on cupcakes: +$5 per dozen
• Add-on: cupcake picks: +$5 per dozen

Cakes:

• Basic 4" round cake with two layers with basic frosting coat: $15
• Basic 6" round cake with two layers with basic frosting coat: $20
• Basic 9" round cake with two layers with basic frosting coat: $30
• Basic 9" cheesecake: $30

      Add-ons:

• Round cakes:
• Each additional layer: +$10
• Lv1 decor (sprinkles, drip, chocolate shavings, fresh fruit, basic buttercream embellishments, small fondant embellishments): +$10 per tier
• Lv2 decor (extensive buttercream piping on sides and top, plus any Lv1 decor): +$20 per tier
• Lv3 decor (extensive fondant, plus any Lv 1 or 2 decor): +30 per tier
• Chocolate flowers: +$10
• Cheesecake:
• Chocolate topping: +$5
• Fruit topping: +$10

I hope to continually add additional treats to my repertoire, like cake pops and French macarons. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated - the taste-tester thanks you in advance.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. Proverbs 31:25