Wicked Witch of the West Cookies

Who doesn't love the Wizard of Oz?

I have to admit that when I decided I wanted to

make these

Melting Wicked Witch of the West 

cookies,

I thought 

Beaulah would throw a fit.

But.....

she quickly let me know that 

The Wicked Witch of the West

was just that 

WICKED

and she had no problem seeing her

melt all over the place.

I saw these on Pinterest, but there

wasn't any instruction on how to

make the witch's head and hat.  

After making contact, Jennifer

told me that her head was fondant and

the hat was molded chocolate - oh that's

why her hat is so perfect!

I decided to make both out of

"chocolate" clay.

Chocolate clay is just like working with

Play-doh, only delicious and it dries hard.

I found chocolate coating in bright green, black

and purple, the perfect witch colors, at Partyland.

Chocolate Clay Recipe

5 oz. chocolate coating discs

1 1/2 T. white corn syrup

Melt the chocolate discs in a microwave safe

bowl  at 30 second intervals, STIRRING WHETHER

IT LOOKS LIKE IT NEEDS IT OR NOT (to prevent

scorching).  When it is all melted, stir in the corn syrup.

It will quickly go from smooth and glossy to looking

like Play-doh.  Spread out on a piece of plastic

wrap and leave uncovered overnight.

It might look greasy, but that will knead

back in.  Knead it until soft and pliable.

Store in a plastic bag.  

I used my favorite recipe for 

cookies 

when I am floating with royal icing,

starting with  a Betty Crocker Cake Mix.

I usually use Betty Crocker's French Vanilla,

but the store only had Vanilla, which I 

found I liked just as much.

The reason I love these for cookies floated

with royal icing is that they stay soft and are

sweet enough so that you enjoy the royal frosting.

They are also very, very easy.

Tender Sugar Cookies for Royal Icing

1 box Betty Crocker French Vanilla or

Vanilla cake mix

1 large egg

1/2 C. butter softened (really soft)

2 T. flour (makes it stiffer for rolled cookies)

Mix all together in your mixer until the

dough forms into a ball.  You don't need to

refrigerate the dough.  

I like to roll it out on parchment paper

so that I don't have to transfer it to the

cookie sheet and change the shape.

Make a free-form pattern out of cardstock

or the back of a notebook.  Cut out with

a knife.

Bake at 375 for 8 minutes - just until the tops

are dry - don't brown the cookies.

Let cool and then float with royal icing.  In the picture

on the left you will see that you first outline the cookie

using the royal frosting in a squeeze bottle.  Then fill

in the center.  I like to use the back of a spoon to 

gently fill in the center, pushing the icing up to 

the outline or dam.

This is so easy and fun.  If you haven't done it before,

give it a try.

Squeeze the hands on fairly quickly so that they

will melt into the dress.

Make the head and hat out of clay or you

could use fondant.  Set on the body before

the icing dries.

Royal Icing Recipe

(I cut the regular recipe in half as this

made about 12 cookies and I still had 

lots of icing left)

1/2 C. warm water

2 1/2 T. meringue powder or

powdered egg white

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 1/4 lb. powdered sugar

In mixer with paddle attachment, mix the

water and meringue powder on lowest speed

until well blended.  Add the cream of tartar.

Add the powdered sugar and set a kitchen

timer for 10 minutes.  Mix with paddle for 10

minutes. 

This will give you your typical royal icing that is

thick and can be used for solid piping.  We now

want to thin it down significantly.

Add additional water 1 T. at a time.  We added

about 5 more tablespoons. 

It should be thin enough to form a ribbon that

disappears back into the mass of the frosting

by the count of 5.  It has to hold its shape, but

not too much.

Divide into bowls to color.  I used Americolor

neon green and a mix of Duff's (find this 

at Michael's Craft Store) and Wilton for

the black.  It will take a lot of black.

(This black when dry had a little bit of

a sparkle to it.  I have never had that

before, so I don't know if it was the

Duff's or a mixture of the two.)

No, no, no, hands off!

(I knew that HAND would be trouble!)

That HAND just won't stay in his floral

arrangement where he belongs.  

Little witches, I mean, works of art.

Yes, Beaulah, you look so much alike,

especially your smile and your nose!

(Sometimes you have to keep them happy!)

Oops, she heard that.

I will be posting with

Weekend Wrapup

Sweets For A Saturday

Seasonal Sunday

Metamorphosis Monday

Foodie Friday

Wickedly Creative Halloween Party

Monster Mash Party

Creative Halloween Ideas

These Chicks Cooked

Fall In Love Party

Open House Party