A Bigger View Article: The Art of the Cookie

Sissy and her guest Eleni Gianopulos, the creative mind behind Eleni's New York, meet up to show A Big Life some fun and interesting ways to turn your cookies into gourmet masterpieces.
You will want to start with a sturdy cookie; one that won't crack or crumble while you are decorating it. Eleni suggests using a sugar cookie. Watch Sissy make Grandma Mertel's Sugar Cookies in our bonus video. Here's the recipe:

GRANDMA MERTEL'S SUGAR COOKIES
To: 1 cup butter (1/2 lb)
Add:
3 Cups Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
Beat these ingredients together.
Add 3 eggs
Beat the mixture again.

Add 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract .
Beat your mixture a final time.
Put the dough in the refrigerator overnight.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into desired shapes.
Bake cookies at 350* for 5-7 minutes
Once you've got your cookies its time to start decorating. Eleni was kind enough to share her recipe for Royal Icing. Regular icing can be chunky and hard to smooth out whereas Royal Icing adds a smooth, elegant look to your cookie.

ELENI'S ROYAL ICING RECIPE

Royal icing is edible and recommended for icing cookies only. Due to the consistency, this recipe is not recommended for icing cupcakes, cakes and other baked goods.

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Wilton Meringue Powder
1 lb. (4 cups) confectioners' sugar
6 Tablespoons warm water*

Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand-held mixer). Recipe makes 3 cups.

NOTE: Keep all utensils completely grease-free for proper icing consistency.

*For stiffer icing, use one tablespoon less water.

Eleni's New York also makes phenomenal cupcakes. Check out our bonus video "Eleni's Cupcakes" right now.

A Big thanks goes out to Eleni Gianopulos of Eleni's in New York for her time and sharing all of her tips on making yummy, unique cookies. For more on Eleni's be check out their website at http://www.elenis.com/

Read more tips on The Art of the Cookie.

It's your turn to get creative and start baking! Got a story or recipe you want to share with A Big Life? Or maybe you've had some kitchen blunders or funny cookie decorating experiences & we want to hear them. Post and share your stories on our new forums!

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