Cookie Art

These abstract-art cookies were inspired by Jackson Pollock. My first real-life sighting of a Jackson Pollock painting was at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC two years ago. Though modern abstract-expressionism isn't my favorite type of art, it sure translates well to a cookie. I started by making white 'blank canvases' and then I let the inner-artist (and kid) in me take over. You can get as creative with colors and patterns as you want. They were fun to make and, more importantly, fun to eat! Rating: 3.5 out of 5.




Basic Vanilla Cookie Dough: recipe and idea from MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions:
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and beat until combined.
- Shape dough into 2 disks, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Roll out 1 disk on a lightly floured piece of parchment to a ⅛- to ¼-inch thickness. Repeat with remaining disk. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Cut dough into large rectangles and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Place baking sheet in the oven and bake for 13 - 15 minutes, or until edges of cookies are golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.




Vanilla Cookie Icing: AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- Assorted liquid food coloring, for decorating

Instructions:
- Combine ingredients and whisk to combine. Thin with more milk, as needed.
- Make a "blank canvas" of icing on each cookie, using 1 teaspoon vanilla cookie icing by swirling the icing with the back of a teaspoon. Drizzle other colors of cookie icing on top.