It’s been a bit quiet around here, but I haven’t forgotten about this little space! I’ve been baking like a mad woman for a little cookie project I decided to undertake for the holidays. I’m making cookie gift boxes to give as presents and to hand out as favors at various parties. It’s been a lot of fun trying out new recipes, as well as disastrous. I seriously thought I was cursed by the cookie gods, because everything I baked was either too difficult to work with, ugly, or ruined. Luckily, my frustrations didn’t keep me from trying harder, because I did find a few solutions and good recipes that I think are keepers for the years to come.
Instead of a recipe, I thought I’d post a series of photographs showing my failures and mistakes. This is for those who have become discouraged, exhausted, angry, and frustrated, or are in any other emotional turmoil because of baking. Feel encouraged! Holiday baking is so easy feat!
Langues de chat, more like blobs de chat.
Does anyone else find Dorie Greenspan’s shortbread extremely difficult to handle?! Am I the ONE person in the whole world that just can’t follow Dorie???
When I piped these, they stood up high with a nice pointed tip. I was disappointed by their baked, deflated form. Also, they were neither crisp or soft, something wishy washy in between.
Jam thumbprint trios from Gourmet’s December 2007 issue. They looked like three cookies, mistakenly stuck together by an overcrowded baking sheet.
Oatmeal cookies I baked at two in the morning. Words of advice: don’t bake at two in the morning. Sleepy hands lead to tipped baking sheets.
Shannalee says
YUM. It all looks delicious and I love that you still posted the 2 AM cookies. We’ve all been there!
Trissa says
Any of these cookies I would gladly crumble on top of some ice cream and devour!
hungry dog says
I remember the thumbprints recipe…always considered making that myself but knew it was unlikely they would look as promised in Gourmet!
I feel your baking pain. It would be nice if the effort you put into something always equaled success but that’s not true for any of us. Thanks for posting this,we can all relate!
patricia lee says
Omg this is the cutest post ever! Everything still looks delicious.
babycakes says
awww! i love these trial n error situations. i love all the funky shapes!! sweetness, but i agree with bbanz, it all still looks delish!!! x
Gala says
Lovely failures!! You’re workin’ hard lady!
Spice Sherpa says
This post is adorable. And your top photo is so beautiful. Simple and elegant…even your mistakes! Did I interpret the cat recipe correctly? Cat tongue cookies?! What a name!
Jenny says
these don’t look bad at all! I would gladly try any of them 🙂 I baked chocolate espresso cookies recently and they looked very much like your oatmeal ones (but still tasted yum!)
Jenny says
hopefully I get to try some of your cookies this sun? :]