A Pet Themed Bake Sale Idea

A Great Approach

The text message from my friend,Donna, read "Hi ole friend of mine!!! I was thinking about how talented you are in the kitchen and I was wondering if you would support the Protect Every Pet bake sale. Let me know if you have time since this is short notice.” How could I turn down an appeal like that?

Pet Themed Cookie Idea

Making rolled sugar cookies and cutting them into assorted shapes make me happy and since I like to be happy, I own a cookie cutter collection. My newest addition to this collection is a 2.5-inch cookie cutter shaped like a bone. I bought this cookie cutter because the shape reminds me of the dog biscuits that I feed to my furry, four-legged children. I decided that I wanted to make sugar cookies shaped like dog treats and frosted with white icing. I whipped up a batch of my favorite sugar cookie dough and began to bake trays of yummy cookies.

 

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Equipment: two large mixing bowls, measuring cup for dry ingredients, measuring spoons, electric mixer, flour sifter, wooden spoon, rolling pin, waxed paper, spatula, baking sheet(s), cooling rack(s).

Makes about 3 dozen 2.5” – 3” cookies  

Note: Do not substitute margarine for the butter. It makes a big difference in how your cookies taste!

1/2 cup salted butter, softened              1 cup sugar                               1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract                      3 cups flour, sifted                   

1 teaspoon baking powder                    1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large missing bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until well blended. In a separate bowl, stir together sifted flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture, in small amounts, and beat until dough is mixed well, but not forming a ball. Now you will use your hands and start kneading the dough in the bowl until it comes together and forms a smooth ball. Be patient. Divide the dough into 2-3 portions and shape each portion into a flat circle. Cover and chill for 20-30 minutes before rolling out.

Preheat oven to 325°F (softer cookies) - 350°F (harder cookies). Roll one portion of dough out on waxed paper to ¼ inch thickness. If dough tries to stick to your rolling pin or hands, put a very small amount of flour (dusting of flour) on the rolling pin. Cut your cookies and space evenly them evenly on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 – 12 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 1-2 minutes before removing to cooling rack. Cool cookies completely before frosting.

Notes:

·         Do not use dark baking sheets; they will over brown the bottoms of your cookies.

·         Make sure your baking sheets are cool before you put another batch of cut cookies on them to bake. Hot cookie sheets will affect the baking time.  

Frosting Recipe

The frosting will be smooth and shiny when dry; it will be completely dry in about 30 minutes.

Equipment: medium bowl, dry ingredient measuring cup, measuring spoons, sifter, cooling rack(s), and waxed paper.

Note: Before starting, place cooling racks on top of waxed paper.

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted               ½ teaspoon clear, or brown vanilla         3 Tablespoons milk

In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, a little at a time. Stir until all ingredients are mixed well. Apply icing to cookies with a small spatula, spoon, or butter knife. Place icing in center of your cooking and spread to the edge of the cookie. Place the cookie on a cooling rack. (This can be messy, so a damp cloth will be useful.) Allow frosted cookies to dry for at least 30 minutes before packaging.

 

Pretty Packaging

 As I placed the freshly baked cookies on the cooling rack, my thoughts went to packaging. Hmmmm... How could I pack the cookies attractively so that they would sell better? Mentally I sorted through 5 or 6 ideas that I had seen online recently, but the final idea was to wrap the iced cookies into individual packages of 4 with plastic wrap.  After packaging the cookies, I cut 18" lengths of black, curling ribbon, tied pairs of ribbon around each package, and curled the ends of ribbon.  I was completely happy with the product of my baking, frosting, and packaging!

 

Protect Every Pet

Protect Every Pet (PEP) is a 501c3 non-profit corporation that was formed to provide affordable spaying and neutering services for companion cats and dogs. PEP is also working on funding to provide TNR (trap neuter/release) services for feral cat populations in their area of rural Missouri.  http://www.protecteverypet.org