doily cookies

After seeing this ceramic “lace” plate craft on Ohdeedoh I was completely intrigued!

But my craftiness doesn’t lean towards clay—it unleashes itself in the sugar arts. So there I was, instantly and fully consumed with the idea of playing around with this idea using cookie dough. Out came the doilies (stashed abundantly in my house) the flour and the mixer …

And the final results were so very sweet! The largest cookie with the scalloped edges (top) wasn’t photographed in its baked state. There just wasn’t time—it made us far too snack-happy! Edible crafts are a definite bonus, wouldn’t you say?

If you’re pumped to try this, here are some tips:

  • A doily with a good amount of open space in the pattern is your best bet. And you want it to have some depth, so that it stamps the dough well. But play around with what you’ve got. Dough is forgiving. Just scrap it and roll again if your print doesn’t work!
  • Really chill your dough. At least two hours. Or over night if you can, so the gluten relaxes.
  • Work only with the amount you need, and keep the rest in the fridge.
  • Roll dough on parchment paper (or a non-stick baking mat). Press the doily into the dough, then carefully peel away. Cut around your pattern and remove any excess dough. Then simply transfer your dough—on the paper—to your baking sheet. No messing around with trying to get your doughy creation off your work surface!
  • Work quickly when pressing doily into dough. Just a few gentle rolls should do. I was uncertain whether the doily would resist the dough, or get filled with it. As it turns out, this dough has just the right ratio of butter:sugar:flour, and it didn’t tend to stick to the doily. Hurrah!

Have fun with it, and let me know how your little beauties turn out!

bliss

UPDATE: You can now check out Doily Cookies, Part Two for new tips, photos and a revised recipe!


photos by: Bliss {in images}

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83 thoughts on “doily cookies

  1. Pingback: Spending the Day with Donna Hay…. | Family Photos Food & Craft

  2. Wow, you really got some reaction to this. Did you know you can get a crust enhancer to keep the dough from drawing back/ King Arthur Flour online carries it. Nice blog.

    • Hi there! I’ve never used a dough enhancer, although I know that it’s used in bread/pizza making. I haven’t heard of it being used in cookie dough. Have you used it yourself at home? How do you find the results?

      • The one I use is for pizza and pie dough at King Arthur Flour. They also have one for cakes, I have it, but have not made a cake as hubby is on a diet. King Arthur has a nice chat online and if they can’t answer a question, they get a baker on it.
        Best of luck.
        Nona

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  4. Jacqueline, I was directed here by JunkArta on facebook – always a great site for an upcycled piece of wonder. Every January I spend the holiday gap making home-made valentines with paper doilies. These would be a marvelous addition to go with them! Might even try these for Christmas. We are supposed to go low-key this year, what could be better than home-baked sweets? We do have a dollar store that usually has them in stock, if they are not sold out because everyone else is doing this too. Thanks for your creativity. (I am a member of the Paper doily cult- it’s ridiculous)

    • Oh, I’m so thrilled that you discovered this post. I think you and your mad, doily ways are simply brilliant! I have a little Christmas idea brewing as well. Have fun with yours! And thank you for stopping bye and leaving your lovely comment.

  5. The doillies will work well with a Springerle Cookie dough–Flavored or Gingerbread. Highlight with Dusting Powder or mix a little lemon flavoring or Vodka to the powder to make a sugar paint and decorate. I love this lacey effect. My next baking project with the teens !!! Thanks so much.

  6. Like you I loved the doily clay dishes, however, since they are not food safe, or dishwasher safe, that makes them less interesting. I was wondering about cookies using this method and just googled doily cookies.
    I found several blogs linking back to yours, a blogger from Britain who just used favorite cookie recipe and Martha Stewart who goes to way too much trouble to cut out pieces with aspic cutters.
    I was happy to see that a good sugar cookie dough would do the trick. Now I just need some cooler weather

  7. When I was younger we would starch the doilys by using a sugar water bath and let them dry. My Granny mentioned they would be great for cookies and we got to make them now thanks to you I will add this to my share and do with the Grand kids list. They’d be great tree ornaments ! Thanks for the memories and the reminder. Oh ya and the recipe.

    • Hi Georgianna, thanks for popping by. I think the more crumbly texture of shortbread might make it more difficult to work with, especially if you’re using rice flour and confectioner’s (icing) sugar. The sugar cookie dough that I worked with had a more forgiving texture, and I believe stands up better to imprinting once it has been chilled.

  8. Thank you so much for the Doily Cookie recipe and the great idea. I got your site from my Red Heart site on FB. I can’t wait to try them. I think I shall be selling them at our Old Home Day along with my other baked goodies and crocheted items. Thank you again for sharing.

    • Thanks for letting me know about the FB site, DonnaLee. I’ll have to check it out! That’s great that you’re going to give this a try. I hope you’re happy with the results. Here’s to a great sale!

  9. Like…….wow!!!!!! Every day I am amazed by what you can find on the internet. I need cooler weather so I can justify baking cookies! But hey…..wouldn’t these be a wonderful “thank-you-for-coming-to-my-birthday-party” treats in November? Oh. and the Christmas boutique–and Valentine’s day and ………..oh be still my little heart!

    • I’m not a fan of hot weather baking at home myself! Fortunately, the convection oven I bake with at work is in an air-conditioned setting! I don’t mind banging off 100 muffins when I don’t have to break a sweat … well, not that kind of sweat anyway. I think doily cookies would make gorgeous Xmas gifts!

      PS Were you perhaps referred here by a Facebook? Yesterday, someone on FB linked to my doily cookies post. The number of views on this post is rocketing fast. Close to 2,000 views have come from that link alone! I’m hoping to find out where they’re originating from on Facebook.

      • Hi Jacqueline, Thank you for a great idea and the recipe to try it on!!
        I was directed to your site, idea and recipe from Facebook. It was linked thru this site:

        https://www.facebook.com/AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns

        I have made many a doily from worsted weight cotton, but not from thread weight. Hopefully, the heavier weight ones will make a perfect imprint. I bake and decorate in pastry, cake and cookies when I have the time and will try this. When I have done lace patterns in fondant, I did it all by hand. This will make it easier.

        Beth Watkins

        • Hi Beth,
          I’m unbelievably impressed by your talents with fondant and am certain that your edible creations have been spectacular (never mind your doilies!) Thanks so much for providing me with the Facebook link. I’ve certainly been curious to know where the recent views have been coming from! All the best to you, and happy creating.

      • Jacqueline: I got your link from Red Heart Yarns FB site. This is an extremely clever idea. I’m a cook at a children’s hospital, and this will be a great treat for the kids.

      • Yes, this was on Facebook, the link was:

        https://www.facebook.com/redheartyarns?ref=ts

        from Red Heart Yarn which was a repost from Miss Bee Haven.

        https://www.facebook.com/redheartyarns?ref=ts#!/pages/Miss-Bees-Haven/121133541278872

        I really enjoy your posts and will look for more when I have more time—-and I need to start looking for my doilies so that I can be ready to “cut and roll”—-makes me think of the German springerles with the fancy rolling pin and cookie molds.

        I hope you don’t mind that I copied you—but its just an amazing and beautiful idea!

        Susi snowflake

        • Hi Susan,
          I’m thrilled that this post has reached so many people and that they feel inspired to create their own doily cookies! Thank you for your kind words. I hop your “cutting and rolling” is full of happy surprises and a few good nibbles when you have a chance to get your hands into the dough! X

  10. Beautiful! Does the dough wash out of the doilies okay? Some of mine took hours to make but would love to see them in cookie form!
    Thanks!

    • I found that the dough washed out just fine. But you might not want to sacrifice your bestest ones! My doily-lovelies have come from thrift stores, and haven’t cost much at all. But, like hankies, I tend to be a little more protective of my favourite ones!

  11. Jacqueline,

    I apologize for calling you Laura. Oh My Gosh I’m just a crazy old woman trying to remember everyones names. I still love your idea and would love to make cookies now. When I get around to baking them I will be for sure to mention your correct name in my blog post. :)

    Tamara

    • No worries!! This made me laugh … I arrived home not long ago from the catering kitchen where I spent the morning cranking out pounds of cookie dough. I feel like that “crazy old (vanilla and chocolate-smelling) woman” too! I’m working with a new chef who comes into the kitchen twice a week. He’s lovely … even though he keeps calling me “Jocelyn” Haha!!

    • I think you could certainly give it a try. I’m not sure whether a paper doily would have enough depth to really imprint the dough, but it would be fun to experiment. We can both give it a go!

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  15. Clever lady- How pretty! I’ll probably never do this but it’s wonderful to know that it’s possible! :) Yeah, I would think that the dough would totally squish into the doily.

    Ps, I’m holly and I came here by way of Free Pretty Things For You! ♥

    • Hey, Holly! Thanks for popping over here! Yeah, the doily-dough-squish factor is likely going to change with the doily that’s used. But cold dough and just the right doily are the perfect combo!

  16. What a marvelous idea! I too have piles of doilies at my house. :-) Just seeing them in a mound of prettiness makes me happy. :-) I love that you did this! I remember seeing an article on plates done with doilies and I was smitten back then. Cookies are even better. :-)

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