Burlap Bunnies and an Easter Blog Hop

March 6, 2012 | 75 Comments »

Or basket weave…or rattan.  Whatever floats your boat.  Regardless, get ready for a hand ache, because these can definitely give you one.

I’ve been kind hung up on making burlap cookies since I met up with my cookie friend Susan who’s obsession with burlap sparked my own .  When I stumbled upon this adorable bunny bunting on Pinterest, I knew it would have to become a cookie.

Word to the wise {learned from experience, as always}  It’s probably not a good idea to sign up for a platter of these.  This is better used as an accent cookie, like I did in my Christmas collection…unless you’re into carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist braces.

To make these cookies you will need:

I thought I would offer a little tip on the icing color, just to make things a bit easier.  For burlap brown I used warm brown, ivory, and a touch of egg yellow, chocolate brown, and black.  But rather than adding a drop of black icing color to my mixture and risk over coloring, it’s safer to add a squirt of black icing to the color.  It really tones down the brown color, but it isn’t so intense that you accidentally end up with black icing.

To begin, use light brown icing to outline the cookie with a #3 tip.  Don’t skip the tail like I did, do the whole thing.  Be sure to add a little dot on the nose so you can attach a a pink pearl.

I normally use a #2 tip for outlining, but since there is a lot happening INSIDE the flood area, I gave this cookie a little higher barrier to prevent overflow.

Give the outline a few minutes to dry then flood the inside with darker brown icing.  Don’t use a whole lot.  Keep in shallow so it doesn’t overflow when you flood in the lines.  When the cookie is flooded, use a #1.5 tip to immediately pipe on horizontal lines.  Wait twenty minutes or so and then pipe vertical lines.

Let the cookie set for another 20-30 minutes, then come back and add the basket weave design using a #2 tip.  Let the cookie dry completely.

When the base has dried, use white piping icing to add a little tail and sprinkle with non-pareils.  Be sure to use thicker icing than I did so it doesn’t run off the side.  Let dry.

Every once in a while, people accuse me of over explaining things, but because I am such a detail-oriented person, it’s my nature.  On that note, I wanted to go through this one more time.   Outline, flood, add horizontal stripes.  Wait twenty minutes, then add vertical stripes.

Let the cookie set for a few minutes, then add the basket weave pattern.  While we’re here I wanted to point out one more thing.  Notice how different cross piping {I totally made up that word} can create different looks.

The first one looks kind of like burlap, and the other more rattan-ish.  There I go making up words again.

For another cool basketweave tutorial, you should also check out THIS ONE from Sweet Ambs.

All that plus a major case of arthritis, and five hours later, you have a bucket o’ burlappy basketweave bunnies.

Icing consistency is the KEY to success when creating burlap/basket weave/rattan cookies.  To thick, and you will get points.  Too thin, and you’ll have a runny mess.  Go for the consistency of warm pudding and take it just a SMIDGE thinner.

It’s totally appropriate that we’re talking bunnies today because I am participating in a blog hop today.  I’m beyond fashionably late, and I apologize, but I am FINALLY HERE!

On the roster are several fun treats from some of my favorite blogging buds.  You should check them out!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Cookies, Easter Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Pattern and Print Cookies, Patterns and Prints, Sweet Sugar Belle, Tutorials
75 Comments »