Saturday, October 2, 2010

Daring Baker Challenge: Harry Potter Sugar Cookies

The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

HP Sugar Cookies

Guess who's always been intimidated by sugar cookies? Yeah, that would be me. It just all seemed so tricky - rolling out potentially sticky dough into shapes that may or may not spread out into unrecognizable shapes in the oven, and then trying to decorate them? Well that's just a whole new can of worms. Because who wants to eat an ugly cookie? Not me, thanks.

So there was definitely a lot of pressure on my shoulders (self inflicted, but still), but I rolled up the sleeves of my sweatshirt, put on my apron, and mentally put on my Daring Baker hat.

The host asked us to make cookies that represented September to us. The first thing that popped into my mind? Harry Potter! You may not know this, but the Harry Potter series and I have a very strong relationship. I've definitely lost track of how many times I've read each book.

HP Sugar Cookies 2

But the reason that Harry Potter reminds me of September is because each year, on September 1st, all of the Hogwarts students file onto the hidden Platform 9 3/4's and take the Hogwarts Express to start their term at school.

While I am still avidly waiting for my Acceptance Letter to Hogwarts, September makes me think of all the wonderful things JK Rowling has written about and how someday, yes someday, I'll finally get my letter by owlpost and be off to Hogwarts :)

As far as the edibility of my sugar cookies, they turned out quite well! Granted, they tasted like sugar cookies (not too unique), but eating something so adorable added to their likability quite a bit. Between munching on snitches, lightning bolts, Gryffindor shields, S.P.E.W. Hats, and Platform 9 3/4's signs, the plate of cookies disappeared as quickly as Hermione can answer a question in class.

And there you have it! My nerdiness at its prime, and delicious cookies to boot! Another successful Daring Baker's Challenge :)

Interested in joining Daring Bakers? Check out the recipe for Sugar Cookies and see other people's creations here.

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