Parchment Cones

Somewhere along my baking endeavors I was decorating a cake or a cookie with a parchment cone - super easy to make and use, disposable - when it was mentioned to me that this was a great tool that most at-home bakers don't have access too. Well, while in the original conversation it was suggested that I come up with a silicone, resuable version, a feat I haven't quite conquered just yet, I do have a little try-it-at-home write up for now. Here we go!

PARCHMENT CONES

1. Cut a rectangular piece of parchment. Cut diagonally into two triangles.

2. Holding one triangle piece with top of triangle facing you (that diagonal cut you made? that is facing away from you) and the long side of the triangle on your left (L for left, L for long. easy to remember right?)

3. Now with your right hand holding the short side of the triangle, roll it upwards towards the top of the triangle.

4. With your left hand, roll long side of triangle upwards towards the top of the triangle, forming the cone.

5. Pull corners together, tightening cone until tip is closed. 

6. Fold corners into secure cone.

7. Fill with whatever you're decorating with (melted chocolate, colored frosting, etc.). To close off the cone: after filling (not too full or it'll burst! shoot for about 1/2 to 2/3 full) close the opening and fold the entire edge over, then fold again.


I know that nowadays there are many products out there that are suppose to make piping easier but with parchment cones, once you get the hang of making one, it's really not that complicated. Plus I find it easier to control the pressure while decorating AND there's the bonus of not having to clean up the accordian style piping things or the tube piping doohickies. With a cone, when you're done, you just toss! It's great for small amounts (so you don't have to use a whole piping bag) like chocolate when writing on cakes like this birthday cake I made: 

A Valentine Treat.

These cookies make a great Valentine's Day gift - easy, fun to make; simple and oh-so-pretty packaging that my adorable and oh-so-talented sister came up with it!!

RASPBERRY SHORTBREAD SANDWICHES

Yield: Makes 2 dozen sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
1  cup  (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
1/2  cup  granulated sugar
1  teaspoon  vanilla
2 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
1/8  teaspoon  salt
1/2  cup  raspberry jam
About 1/3 cup powdered sugar


PREPARATION
1. In a bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add flour and salt and mix on low speed until dough comes together in a ball. Transfer to a lightly floured surface.
2. Divide dough in half. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each portion to about 1/8 inch thick. With a floured 2- to 3-inch round or star-shaped cutter, cut out cookies. If desired, cut a 1/2-inch circle out of the center of half of the cookies to make a window for the jam filling (see notes). Place cookies 1 inch apart on buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheets. Gather excess dough into a ball, reroll, and cut out remaining cookies.
3. Bake in a 325° regular or 300° convection oven until edges are just beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. If baking more than one sheet at a time in one oven, switch positions halfway through baking. Transfer cookies to racks to cool completely.
4. Spread the flat side of each of half the cookies (those without holes) with about 1/2 tablespoon jam. Top each with a remaining cookie (with a hole), flat side toward filling. Sprinkle tops of cookies evenly with powdered sugar.

Check out these pictures from Sunset Magazine for other cookie decorating ideas:

For the glaze: mix 1 cup powdered sugar and 2 1/2 tsp milk, dip the cut out cookies in glaze upside-down.


And now for the packaging!

Easy 3-step packaging

MATERIALS

Cellophane, craft paper, red ribbon, paper labels.

Step 1: roll up stacks of cookies in cellophane.

Step 2: wrap up with craft paper. Seal one end with tape. Twist the top and tie with red ribbon.

Step 3 (optional): print out or draw a paper label 1.875" high by 5.5" wide and wrap around center of package.

Please leave a comment if you'd like us to send you a free template of the paper labels featured in this post to print out at home!