
I seem to have somewhat of a biscuit or cookie obsession at the moment. So much so that I feel the need to declare it and then promptly apologise for it. I’ve always liked the occasional biscuit (and for my lovely American NQN readers, we called cookies biscuits but we call biscuits scones) but lately I’ve been getting into dangerous territory. A bakers version of glue sniffing perhaps - the utterly addictive world of royal icing. I blame Peggy Porschen, the woman that resurrected the iced cookie. That’s not to say I’m any good at decorating iced cookies - far from it in fact, but I do love the whole effect of it.

This obsession has been aided by the 100 piece cookie cutter set I bought a while back. Fishing through it delightedly, I sorted out the ones that I wouldn’t use so much (the bike, motorcycle and various other sporting equipment) to the ones I liked which included a gorgeous little perching bird. As is the problem with cutters that have finer details and similar to what I experienced with the reindeer cookies, the bird’s legs got cut off either at the point of cutting and lifting or after baking. However, this didn’t seem that necessary when I decided how I would style them.
Filling them with royal icing, I initially popped in some silver cachous and then sat back and decided that it just wasn’t right. Until I remembered a royal icing feathering technique I had done for some reindeers over Christmas and realised that birds of course were ideal for this feathering effect.

The bird cage was one of those bizarre requests I occasionally ask of my parents. My father is a painter and when I asked him to draw me a black and white bird cage, he didn’t bat an eyelid and just wanted to know how large I wanted it. When he gave me the drawing I was so delighted I almost wished that the birds weren’t made from a perishable item and I wanted to hang the picture up with the birds and call it art. And when I served these to friends one afternoon I saw them look over the picture, then hesitate and then peer closer and then giggle and take one. Just the reaction I was after!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you have a favourite cookie cutter and why?

“Birds Of A Feather” Cookies
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 85 g/3ozs butter, softened
- 140g/5ozs white caster superfine sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 180g/6ozs all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Food colouring gels or liquids in various colours
- Royal icing mixture (see below)
For Royal Icing
- 1 egg white (30grams/1 oz)
- 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 150grams sifted icing sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Make cookies. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in the flour and cinnamon. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with the bird shaped cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment paper. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.
3. Make Royal Icing by beating egg white with lemon juice until foamy on low speed increasing to medium speed. You want two textures for the Royal Icing, a stiff one to pipe the outline and a runnier one to fill in the outline. Add sifted sugar by the spoonful while beating until desired consistency is reached. You want it a little stiff in order to pipe the outline however, if it is too stiff, add a tiny little bit of warm water. Always cover your Royal Icing with cling wrap as it dries out easily.


4. Spoon some of the royal icing into a piping bag or a strong ziplock bag and pipe a fine outline around the bird cookies. Allow to set a little for 20-30 minutes. Add a little water (not too much and using a small spoon, fill in the edges. Then with a contrasting colour, pipe three or four lines of icing across the still wet icing in the centre. Take a toothpick and drag the lines down to create the feather effect. Place aside to set for several hours (or overnight).

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73 Comments | Add your own
That post is so adorable! Such an interesting way of serving the bird cookies.
You are brilliant
How beautiful!!! My mother would adore this, she is such a bird lover.
Dont have a favorite cookie cutter, because at the moment i only have very basic shapes, but hopefully I’ll add to my collection soon.
So pretty! Love your decorating.
Such pretty cookies !I love that picture with the cookie birds and the bird cage
So pretty! Those cookies are wonderful!
Cheers,
Rosa
That is magical… the birds are glorious and the fact your father did the cage… priceless. My favorite cookie shape I made myself out of cardboard for a St Bernard birthday party… I made 2 dozen and they were wonderful… I just found the cut-out recently, tucked in the Martha Stewart book the recipe came from… reminded me of such a happy day…and my wonderful Saint! Thanks for a great post!
Beautiful!! I don’t mind your cookie/biscuit whatever obsession, I love it!
How cute are these cookies. I have only really used royal icing once and failed miserably. My Gingerbread angels ended up looking like Lady Gaga in one of her horrible outfits. What a cool Birdcage. You came from an artsy family Lorraine.
That’s so clever how you put the cookies on the picture of the cage, this really made me smile!
Lorraine, big squeals from Brisbane. These are just adorable. I love how you put these creative ideas together. The detail is great. I really avoid anything that requires a steady hand. Great work from your father, too! So funny that you posted a ‘bird’ related story today…….snap on this end.
That is so CUTE. I’m out of the cookie phase, I’m in the bread and preserve stage now – but it is cyclic I think!! xxx
Hi,
Love the way you placed the cookies on top of the cage picture. Look so real. Very creative.
ST
Wow they look amazing! And your dad is a talented painter too
I love it. I LOVEEEE it!
that is really adorable lorraine (and so nice of your father to draw the birdcage)
i thought that you drew it at first!
These are utterly gorgeous – you have a real eye for the artistic, Lorraine! I love the detailing on the wings.
Very cute. My fav cookie cutter is a handbag and a high heel!!!
Hi L. Wonderful presentation. My kids will love it! As you know they adore their birds at home. xo M
my daughter is on a bird obsession right now.
Me thinks I know what I’m taking to her school for her birthday treats.
Thank you!
Damn woman you are GOOD!!!
So beautiful Lorraine! The cage is lovely and the legless birds very sweet
I haven’t gone to town on cookie cutters yet. I have a Wedgwood Harlequin box full of cutters but they are mostly children’s ones – the alphabet, animals etc, but I do have a heart one which is always a classic.
no I don’t have a favorite biscuit cutter, but I do have copper xmas ones that I was going to use last xmas and decorate with royal icing, but alas I ran out of time. So it is on the top of the list for this xmas.
I’ve recently found a fantastic Australian company which makes the cutest cookie cutters. They’re at..
biskart.com.au
-My current favourite is the set of 3 little babushka dolls (and I’ve finally found a giraffe cutter with a wide enough neck so that the biscuits don’t break!)
Just wanted to say your Dad must be the sweetest man ever and I expect very proud of you
Wow, definitely one of the most artistic ideas, not to mention utterly charming ones, that I’ve come across for ages. Absolutely LOVE it!
For a moment I thought that cage was real! I love the cookies, so pretty – especially the feather effect. I have yet to try royal icing on cookies, I hear it can be quite tricky. You’ve done it beautifully though.
you are a genius…
Awww, these are impossibly cute! Love your Dad’s drawing too.
Fave cookie cutter – hmmm, a teapot that I bought from the Cake Deco Shop in Melbourne. It makes very large cookies though, so I haven’t used it that much.
I second that comment…you ARE a genius and an innovative one at that!
Love the bird cage. I actually thought it was a wall decal!
The feathering on the cookies looks fab.
Absolutely beautiful. I am in awe! My favourite cookie cutter would be versatile gingerbread man! I can dress him up to suit any occasions ..
I hope I’m not the only sadist out there… but my fave cookie cutter is the Gingerbread men that lose limbs… There’s one with no head, one with half a leg and one missing an arm… kind of creepy I guess – but a lot of fun!
Maybe more for Adults than for kiddies though…
You always have the most unique ideas, Lorraine! These cookies are so adorable perched on this cage…and your dad is a fantastic artist!
Lorraine these are bloody adorable!! And the cage looks absolutely amazing – how beautiful.
Lorraine your biscuits and background lookgreat.
I’ve got my eye on a cookie cutter in the shape of Australia, wanting to make some for Australia Day.
WOW! how talented is your dad as well! these are beautiful. and thanks for explaining so clearly about the royal icing technique – i’d never quite got it before.
I am so into birds right now and those look like they want to fly the coop and be eaten ASAP>
I am a sucker for the classic iced love heart cookie. Can’t wait to see what you do for Valentine’s Day!
I love them, they are so cute. I also love making cookies and decorating them.
Gorgeous cookies Lorraine! I wish I had a 100 piece cookie cutter set to play with =P The cage is amazing, I thought it was a real cage at first!
Those are incredibly cute and I love the cage your father drew for you. The effect with the cookies is so pretty!
I have a teddy bear cookie cutter I can’t ever “bear” to part with. It’s a Holiday mainstay for me.
I don’t have a favourite cookie cutter but I would love the Babushka doll cutters mentioned above by kirgibg.
At first glance I thought the cage was real, Too good!!!
Now we all know why you’re so clever Lorraine, you have your father’s artistic and creative gene
Oh. My. God.
This is so, so beautiful!! You’re one talented woman, you know that!!
All right, I think I need to invest in one of these fancy cookie-cutting sets now…
great concept – great picture – I had to look carefully to see if it was real – your dad is a wonderful artist – I see where you get your skills from
I love it – they’re very, very cute
What a great father-daughter project. You may want to do other things with your Dad some time. I hope your Dad has seen your photos and got to try your cookies. Your best I have seen. I thought the birdcage was real upon first glance. Your Dad did a wonderful job for you and your bird cookies look awesome.
Hi I think you are so talented. I live in South Africa and eagerly await your marvellous creations each day. Well done. Keep up the good work.
Your birdie bickies are gorgeous! It’s great to have an artistic dad to call on.
Lorraine!!! This is BEAUTIFUL!! You really should open your own baking/cooking class. I would love to learn all these talents from you!
What a great idea Lorraine, they look fabulous.
As soon as I saw what you had done you gave me a brilliant idea for my daughter’s kitchen tea. We are having a mad hatters tea party and I can just see white rabbit and cheshire cat and mad hats and alice cookies. Thank you.
Wow! that’s so creative – I love it. Very inspiring!
How gorgeous Lorraine! That birdcage is amazing, and so are the pretty birdies. Talent runs strongly through your genepool
Awesomeness.
I am not much of a baker so only have basic shapes cutter.
Oh, you’re allowed to be obsessed when you’re so good at it. We’ll let you continue on in your cookie craze
Those are just fantastic! I swear when I first looked at the photo, I was amazed that you got the biscuits to stick to the cage. Only on reading it did I realise it was a drawing! I hope you dont have any cats coz I’m sure they’d think those biscuits were real birds. You are just amazing!
Beautiful! I have many cookie cutters, but some of my favorites are ones that brought home from Disney World. I fancy Tinkerbell myself.
i love the way you take photos of your decorated creations. its so creative with the drawing as the backdrop.
real birds drive me crazy–always flying into our picture window, chirping loudly at all hours, and flying straight into my windshield. yes, i prefer this variety very much.
I love these adorable biscuits! (And I’m loving calling them biscuits!)
I’m thrilled to find a new cookie cutter, always. My favorite these days is my gingerbread people collection. They can become anyone. I made dog treats and called them mailmen, and decorated them as pirates for a sailing friend.
This post brought a smile to my face. I love the idea and the execution. Your father must be a very talented artist! Why not post his work on your blog too?
The birds/cookies look delightful! All in all, it is a very charming and poetic creation. Bravo! (P.S I don’t think Nigella would have come up with something as interesting!)
Oh, I love those birds! Gorgeous!
That is so creative!!!! Really cute….Great job!
these are brilliant omg.
love the colours of the birds.
and the cage! heh.
absolutely love em!
Lorraine, this is soooo amazing! The cookies are wonderful! It bird cage actually looks 3D, hehe.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful creation.
Oh so cute! I’m a bird owner so I just love these! Your Dad’s bird cage is lovely
I love that birdcage!! And the time you spent decorating these biscuits. So pretty…but I never quite get to the decorating part. Perhaps they just get eaten too quickly in my house?!
Love this post as i do all of your posts. And the cookies are gorgeous.
I started my obsession with cookie decorating about 3 years ago and like you also after seeing Peggy’s Book. And until this day I am more obsessed than ever! Beware!Cookie Decorating is highly addictive!
So creativity does run in your family! Love the monochrome backdrop for the birdies =)
so gorgeous!!!! you have all the time. and energy! and patience! beautiful n creative!
Love these! I’ve never seen bird cookies like these before. So awesome! The way that you positioned them in the cage is so great!
You are AWESOME! Love how you put the birds on a sketch! I just bought some cookie cutters online and they were too small for the cookies I plan to make!argh..
Hi Artemis-Thankyou so much! Aww you are so sweet
Hi Heavenly Housewife-Hehe me too!
Perhaps a diamond shaped cookie cutter?
Hi sara-Thankyou so much!
Hi yaelian_Thanks! I’m so glad that my father can draw
Hi Rosa-Thankyou!
Hi deana-Hehe yes I am glad he doesn’t get fazed by my strange requests! Aww how cute! They sound magical
Hi steph-Hehe thankyou! I have your permission to keep going? YAY
Hi Katherine-Thanks!
I think I know the outfit you mean!
Thanks so much
Hi Sarah-Aww that’s so sweet! I love that!
Hi Julia-Thankyou so much Julia! I know, something about great minds thinking alike huh!
Hi Liss-I’m firmly entrenched in the cookie phase. I may need cookie rehab
xxx
Hi Sweet-tooth-Thankyou so much ST!
Hi Lisa-Thanks! Yes he can always be relied on for things like that
HI Blond Duck-Why thankyou Duckie!
Hi Betty -Yes he never asks why I need these things
Oh no I have no drawing talent!
Hi Hannah-Thanks so much, you are too sweet!
HI sandra-Ooh I’d love those ones! I must buy one
Hi Big M-Ahh I should have made them a Pipsy one!
Hi Julianna-Hehe what a fantastic mum you are! You’re welcome!
Hi Siti-Aww shucks thankyou!
Hi Amy-Thankyou! Hehe yes they are sadly legless
I like how you store them-very chic!
Hi Jenny-Ahh I got one this year too for a candy cane. Aren’t copper ones gorgeous?
Hi kirgibg-Oh I’ve seen their ones on ebay! Sadly the link doesn’t work
They sound GORGEOUS! Oh my, I so want some now. Did you buy them from biskart?
Hi Natalie-Hehe he’s a man of very few words and I don’t think he quit gets the blogging thing but that’s very sweet of you to say!
Hi Kavey-Thankyou so much Kavey, that’s so sweet of you to say!
Hi Su-yin-Hehe my dad will be ever so pleased to read that!
Thankyou!
Hi taxing woman -Aww thankyou!
Hi Cakelaw-Thanks so much Cakelaw! I’d love to get a teapot one too! Great idea
Hi Howard-Aww you are too kind!
Thankyou!
HI BuBbles-That’s really such a compliment, thankyou!
Hi Ms Cupcake-Thankyou so much! Yes a gingerbread man is a great choice-so versatile!
Hi Joy-Hehe you are so funny!
Hi Faith-Thanks so much!
He is a great one I agree
Hi Katrina-Thankyou! You are so kind
Hi Kellie-Thanks so much!
I looked for one but I couldn’t find a nice one. I did find a wonky looking one but that wasn’t very good
HI brussellsprout-Thankyou so much! It was my pleasure
Hi Carol-Hehe now that’s a compliment!
Yes I’d better get my thinking cap on huh?
Hi Camilla-Thankyou so much! Me too, it’s addictive isn’t it!
Hi Jacq-Thanks so much!
I can’t put down those cutters
My dad will read this and be so chuffed!
Hi Midge-Thankyou so much!
Aww that sounds adorable!
Hi matilda-I want some now too
Aww thanks Matilda!
Hi Myriam-You are so sweet to say that
This one was a steal at $4.99 for 100 pieces!
Hi Johanna-I’m sure he is grinning his head off right now at all the compliments
Hi Anita-Thankyou!
Hi Darlene-Thanks, yes he does help out a lot with the blog as does my mum
Thankyou!
Hi Renz-Thankyou! You are so kind!
I’m so flattered to hear that!
Hi Arwen-Thanks! Yes it helps enormously!
Hi sophia-Thankyou so much Sophia! Hehe now that would be so cool!
Hi Sylvia-Thankyou very much!
Oh how fantastic. I love Alice themed parties!
You’re welcome!
Hi Mowie-Thanks so much Mowie!
Hi shaz-Hehe thankyou! You are too sweet!
Hi penny-Thanks so much! Ahhh that’s cool! Basic shapes are always popular
Hi Conor-Hehe YAY! I’m allowed
*goes wild with ideas
Hi Dharm-Hehe thankyou!
Haha no cats here, only hungry husbands
Thankyou!
Hi Bethie-Thankyou!
Aww how gorgeous would a Tinkerbell one be?
Hi Judy-Thanks so much! That’s such a lovely thing to hear as I try and style things nicely
Hi grace-Hehe really? I don’t see many here! Hehe the edible kind?
Hi MaryPoppinsinHeels-Thankyou! Hehe yes they’re cookies for you aren’t they!
Oh you are so creative! Will we see any of these on your blog?
Hi tasteofbeirut-Thankyou! I love hearing that!
He mainly paints portraits of people although they are quite good. Hehe thankyou so much!
Hi Natasha-Thankyou!
Hi Erica-Thanks so much!
Hi felicia-Hehe thankyou! I wanted to make them colourful like Australian birds tend to be
Hi Art and Appetite-Thankyou very much!
That’s such a lovely thing for you to say!
Hi Steph-Thankyou! He’s great at drawing things!
Hi spice and more-Thankyou!
Hehe that’s a good thing!
Hi Dolly-Thankyou so much!
Isn’t it inspirational?
I agree, it should come with a warning
Hi mlle délicieuse-Hehe thankyou! I never thought we were a particularly creative family funnily enough!
Hi zurin-Thankyou so much!
Hi erin-Thanks so much! I am so glad my dad could draw it
Hi pigpigscorner-Aww thanks Ann!
Oh no! What a shame! I can’t wait to see what you do though!
You are such a genius! You really must have a different kind of brain to come up with unique pretty things like this.I LOOOOVEEEE IT!
Those are just amazing!
what can i say
it is a brilliant idea
and the result is outstanding
you are a truely talented baker
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