{Cookie Decorating} How to make pretty hibiscus cookies

I'm here today to show you how to decorate hibiscus cookies, like the ones I included in my Luau dessert buffet last weekend.  I received lots of sweet comment regarding these cookies, and I'll admit I find them pretty special too.  The decorating process involves several steps, but none of them are too complicated, and I think that many of you will be able to produce some beautiful cookies as well.

Note: I already have a tutorial on making the pineapple cookies (like above) HERE

First off, I don't have a hibiscus cookie cutter... so I took a four leaf clover cookie cutter, and used some pliers to shape it into something resembling a hibiscus!  =)

Now, you'll need to prepare some cookie dough (my recipe is HERE), chill the dough well, bake and then cool. 

Prepare some royal icing (I use THIS recipe).  You'll want to have a bag (or bottle) of icing in a thick consistency and one in a thinned (flood) consistency for each color. 

Prepare your work area (HERE is what mine looks like).

Outline the cookie with a flood consistency icing (this can also be done with the thick consistency icing, but I prefer the seamless look of outlining and flooding in the same icing). You'll have to experiment a bit to make sure your flood consistency icing is not so runny it just falls right off the cookie.

Fill in cookie with the same flood consistency icing.  Use a toothpick to direct the icing into any unfilled areas.

Use a flood consistency icing in a contrasting color to make a starburst shape in the center of the cookie.

Drag a tooth pick from the center of the cookie toward the outside (but not all the way to the edge).

 

Continue around the cookie until the desired design is achieved.

It should look something like this...

Now before this next step you need to let the icing dry for several hours or overnight.  The reason is, in a couple steps we'll be adding some sprinkles to the stamen (the thing that sticks out from the center of the flower).  If your base coat is not dry, the sprinkles will stick all over the cookie, and not just on the stamen where they belong.  If you are really pressed for time (or just impatient) you could just let the cookie dry an hour or so, and then continue with the stamen, but not include sprinkles on the stamen at all.

Note:  The parts that stick out of the center of the hibiscus actually include the stigma and the stamen, but I'll just use the word stamen for simplicity. 

When base icing on the cookie is dry (or mostly dry if you're not adding sprinkles), pipe a line of thick consistency icing (using a #2 tip) to form the stamen (as shown below).

With the same icing, add some thickness to the end of the stamen, and then pipe some small dots around the end (as shown).  I also added some white dots on top of the thicker end of the stamen (optional).

While the line and dots are still wet, hold the cookie over a paper plate (to catch the excess) and sprinkle some yellow non pareils sprinkles on the end of the stamen.

Finish the cookie by outlining in a thick consistency icing.

Once they are completely dry, these can make a gorgeous addition to any luau party. 

Happy Decorating!