Make an abstract snowflake cookie

If you’ve ever seen an image of a snowflake under a microscope, you know how amazingly beautiful they are. Individually or in clusters, snowflakes rival any artwork created by humankind.

Growing up, I always heard that no two snowflakes were alike. Given the number of snowflakes that fall during a storm—and the fact that I naturally question everything—I wondered, “How can that be true?” Turns out, there’s an answer:

“The probability that two snow crystals (a single ice crystal) or flakes (a snow crystal or multiple snow crystals stuck together) will be exactly alike in molecular structure and in appearance, is very minute… First, we need to understand that not all water molecules are exactly alike…Furthermore, the unique and complex features of snow crystals are very much affected by unstable atmospheric conditions. Snow crystals are sensitive to temperature and will change in shape and design as they fall from the cloud and are exposed to fluctuating temperatures. To have two snow crystals or flakes with the same history of development is virtually impossible” (www.loc.gov).

I guess that makes sense to me. But more importantly, it hits me that snowflakes are the perfect example of abstract art.

When I was a kid, I have to admit I had no appreciation for abstract art. Looking back, this was mostly because my family would talk it down whenever we’d see it in a museum: “What’s this supposed to be? How can anyone like it?” The idea seemed to be that if they didn’t understand it, it couldn’t be any good.

But later on, artists like Jackson Pollack opened my eyes. Abstract art is anything but random; it has purpose and design. And it can be beautiful.

That’s what makes this month’s project so inspiring for me. In designing your own abstract snowflake cookie, you can actually participate in abstract art in a way that’s fun and has purpose: it’s a perfect way to unite abstract art with food art!

And who doesn’t love the smell of delicious cookies baking at this time of year?

Abstract Snowflake Cookie

Learn how to decorate an abstract snowflake sugar cookie using royal icing flooding and color-pulling techniques.

Kim Simons

Intermediate

Supply List

Sugar cookies in the shape of snowflakesRoyal Icing (Recipe)Gel colors4 piping bags1 tall glassToothpicksScissorsWaterPaper towelsSmall bowls to mix colors into the royal icingSpoons

Instructions

• Split the royal icing into 4 small bowls. Color the icing using gel colors of your choice, and stir with a spoon.
  
• Check for the correct flooding consistency: take some icing on a spatula and drop it back into the bowl. If it sinks after a full count of 10, the icing is thin enough for flooding.
  
• Place a pastry bag over a tall glass and “cuff” the excess over the edge. Fill the bag 1⁄2 to 2⁄3 full.
  
• Squeeze the filled pastry bag to remove air bubbles, then twist and tie off the end.
  
• Repeat this process for all the colors.
  
• Cradle the pastry bag against your palm between your thumb and fingers. Squeeze to control the flow of icing. Start by outlining your cookie, keeping the icing about 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 of an inch from the edge.
  
• Once outlined, use the flood icing and a scribe or toothpick to pull colors together.
  

Products Used

• Artisan Accents : Gel colors (black, blue, turquoise)

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