Snow Globe Cookies. An Edible Winter Wonderland.

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These are quite possibly my new favorite cookies to date. Food made to look like real life items make me happy. Enough to make an excited snorting noise. Or a squeal, if that is your thing.

My parents purchased a snow globe for me from the San Francisco Music Box Company when we lived in California. I would sit in bed, shaking it and winding it up, imagining myself in this special little world. I created fantastical scenarios in my head that included everything from the likes of a unicorn family to a medieval life in the country. In lieu of the recent tragedy, I can’t help but think of how lucky I was to be so safe and happy.

If you make these snow globes, share them with someone special. Change the colors or design if you like. My design is simply a guideline but you can make these however you please. They are meant to represent you and what is most special to you.

Snow Globe Cookies

You will need a cut-out cookie and royal icing recipe. I suggest using the recipe I posted for Star Wars cookies, here.

The ONLY difference I made was for the royal icing. I used about 1 cup of sifted confectioner’s sugar for every egg white to make it thick.\

You can obviously use a store cookie dough and meringue powder (just follow the directions on the package), if you like. It will not taste as good, however, this is a good shortcut if you need it.

–snowflake sprinkles

–isomalt crystals, or isomalt sticks

In order to create the “glass” look you can use a clear lollipop recipe which is just boiling down sugar, water and cornstarch and pouring. I decided on using isomalt, which is sort of a sugar substitute. It is a bajilllioooooon times easier to work with, and doesn’t turn yellow like boiled sugar does. It can also be melted again after hardening unlike sugar. The crystals required water to be added and then boiled. I suggest using the sticks because they are ready to simply melt and pour. Easy!

Tools

As mentioned in the Star Wars cookie and icing recipe you need,

–condiment squeeze bottles

–piping bags

–couplers for the piping bags

–piping tips (I used size 1 and 2, because mine had a lot of details. If you are going to for for something more simple then just buy one size at your craft or baking supply store)

-food coloring (I use super red Americolor, there are other brands available in art or baking supply stores, or even Sur La Table)

-toothpicks (helpful but not required)

–mixer

–baking sheet

–parchment paper

–rolling pin

ALSO:

–snow globe cookie cutter (or here if the other is sold out), and a smaller circle cookie cutter
to cut out a window (OR a triangleand two circle cookie cutters)

Make your cookie dough according to this recipe.

Place a piece of wax or parchment paper the size of your baking sheet onto a counter.

Rub a little flour onto a rolling pin and roll out your dough on the parchment paper.

Use a snow globe cookie cutter, and a smaller circle cookie cutter to create snow globes.

If you want to use more practical shapes, you can combine a triangle cookie cutter and  two circle cookie cutters.

Refrigerate until totally firm.

Tip: If the cookie dough is super soft and not holding shapes, you can refrigerate first then cut out shapes.

Bake at 315-325 degrees or until firm but not browning.

Set up a pot and melt/boil isomalt according to instructions.

Holding the handle of the pot, pour the syrup into each snow globe window.

After trial and error, they work when the cookies are face up. As it hardens, make your royal icing.

Separate egg whites from yolks. Keep the whites.

Place egg whites in your mixing bowl. For every egg white you use, add 1/16 of a teaspoon of cream of tartar (along with the spices in your grocery store). Just fill up the 1/8 teaspoon halfway.

Turn your mixer on medium-low to incorporate the tartar.

Keep mixing. Scrape the side down if necessary.

Stop when frothy.

Now time to add the confectioner’s sugar. It has to be sifted, or else your icing will be a clumpy hot mess.

You can use a sifter, but I prefer a sieve, also referred to as a strainer.

I find sifters a chore to use and clean.

Pouring some (not all at once unless it is a LARGE sieve) of the sugar in, shake it side to side.

I actually just use my fingers to push the sugar through. I am able to prevent mess, and it sifts much more quickly.

Keep pushing it through.

Turn mixer on low and mix the sugar in. Scrape down sides. Turn mixer on medium-high and “whip” for 5-8 minutes. It will look almost like a whipped frosting.

Separate and add in colors.

Pour your filling (you should add a few drops of water to thin it out a touch) into the condiment bottles, and anything you want to outline into piping bags.

TO FILL PIPING BAGS WITH ICING

Place a few spoonfuls of icing onto a large piece of plastic wrap.

Fold one corner of the plastic wrap over to meet the opposite corner.

Roll it up like a burrito. Or something that needs to be rolled up. I don’t know.

Hold each end and twirl it until it winds up tightly. Like a towel. But don’t whip anyone’s tush with this. Black splotch on tush not good.

You need a piping bag, coupler (comes with a ring), and piping tip. A round tip of average size works. Just large enough to outline.

You can find these in arts and craft stores, or baking supply stores. I have even seen it at a party supply store.

Place a coupler in. Pull your plastic wrap through.

Cut the twisted end of the plastic wrap protruding from the piping bag. Place the piping tip on, and screw the ring to secure.

Use a rubber band to secure the other end. Nice trick, no? Keeps the bags clean and easy to transfer in new colors. My mom taught me this.

To decorate the cookies:

I drew out a couple of designs, then piped out the designs onto the “glass” with the drawing underneath as guidance.

If you would like to use those designs, feel free to print this out:

Yeah, I don’t really do print-outs. Just drew this with a pen in less than a minute so love it or leave it.

Also, you can either pipe out little dots for snowflakes or glue snowflake sprinkles onto the “glass” with icing.

You can leave it as is, or for an extra wow factor, top with another cookie to make it enclosed.

Take a new cookie, pipe a circle around each outlining edge. Pipe around the base outline. Fill it in with the condiment bottle and use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles. Pipe out any design you like on top of the white. I chose hearts and squiggles. Easy.

Note: If you are piping a dark, vivid color onto white make certain that frosting is thicker than the white or else it will blur.

Once dry, attach top cookie to bottom with a thin piping of icing.

This is where you oooh and ahhhh. Or just squeal and snort, if you’re anything like me.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Atheism,  Holidays, Scientology, Mayan end of the world day, Harry Potter enthusiasts, whatever. Doesn’t matter what you believe or practice, just have a nice Holiday whatever it may be.

****If you are considering posting up photos or ideas from this or any other posts I am truly happy that you are excited and find my recipes interesting enough to share with others. Please see copyright standards in the footer (bottom) AND follow them!!!! In other words, ONE photo WITH link back, and do NOT publish instructions!

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