I’m not a particularly jealous wife. Well correction, I used to be a terribly jealous girlfriend but that was because before Mr NQN I used to date a guy that thought he was god’s gift to women. And flirted with them just enough to make my blood boil and send me off into a jealousy infused tizzy (and I later found out that he actually dated one which rendered his pleas for me not to be so “paranoid” invalid).
But not Mr NQN, he has that wonderful Finnish reserve where he just doesn’t flirt with other women. However, a friend of mine from years ago liked to flirt with him incessantly…
“Why don’t you see L** anymore?” he asked me one day.
I was baking and that question seemed to come out of nowhere. I steeled myself for a diplomatic answer, thought better of it and replied
“The last time she almost showed you her boobs and she stroked your leg. So she’s dead to me. Now, have an owl cookie!!” I said.
“Oh cool! These owls are cute” he said picking up the cookie. And with that, I breathed deeply, the conversation about the booby, leg stroking friend now forgotten.
This one looks like the strange uncle owl
I do love making a sugar cookie and whilst my adventures with fondant don’t always work out perfectly (I may have failed play doh as a subject at preschool) these are really amongst the easiest sugar cookies you can do. It just requires two round cutters and a bit of rolling action for the fondant. Plus it has the added bonus of distracting one from possibly unpleasant or unwanted conversations!
So tell me Dear Reader, are you a jealous spouse? And are you more tolerant than I of flirtatious friends?
Owl 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)
To decorate
- Ready to roll fondant in a few different colours-brown, white, yellow at the minimum as you will use these to make the eyes and beak
- one large and one small round cutter
- a straw
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 but take it out ahead of time to let it become more rollable).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Using the large round cutter, cut into rounds and if you intend to hang these up poke a hole with a chopstick. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment paper. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.
3. On a non stick surface or a surface lightly dusted with cornflour roll out the colours that you want to make the body of the owls in. Cut out a circle using the large round cutter and then using the small cutter cut out a semi circle to make the owl shape. With a little water on a paintbrush, adhere the fondant to the cookies.
4. With clean hands (fondant colour seems to transfer easily) make the eyes. Separate equal sizes of fondant and then roll into a ball and flatten. I find this easiest to do as an assembly line-make all of the whites and then pinch tiny amount of brown fondant to make the pupil of the eye. Stick this on with a tiny bit of water or if the fondant is fresh and pliable it may stick on by itself. Stick the eyes onto the owl. Shape small beaks by rolling a tiny bit of yellow fondant into an oval shape with pointy ends and adhere this to the owl too with a little water.
5. You can also make little features for the owls-I added glasses to one using a thin rolled sausage of brown fondant looped around the eyes. You can also shape a hat using a small paring knife or an apron using a ravioli cutter and a toothpick to poke little details on it. A final touch is with a straw tilted at an angle make half moon marks to make the feathers on the bottom half of the owl’s body.
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107 Comments | Add your own
Aaaawww, so cute!
Cheers,
Rosa
OMG, these are SO cute! Totally love them.
Love your post about being a jealous girlfriend…hmmm… i don’t really consider myself to be jealous…but I do get a bit defensive if my boyfriend spends a little bit TOO much time with his friends ahahha
Can’t wait to try this recipe
That looks adorable:)
How cute are these?! You are always so creative and skilful Lorraine
I used to be jealous, but it’s futile. He says “why would I go out for a kebab when I can come home to wagyu”. Plus, green doesnt suit me. I love strange Uncle owl! CUTE. did you paint the tree?
These owls really are cute! A great conversation diverter
I don’t think of myself as the jealous type. I suppose different situations will bring out different sides of me.
Gorgeous idea Lorraine! I haven’t ventured into fondant work as I don’t enjoy eating that much sugar and it would seem a waste but these look very easy to do. As for your question, I think it’s a normal human reaction but it can destroy relationships if dwelled upon so great to have a recipe for distraction at hand!
Too cute for words – and far too cute to eat!
I have a dear friend who loves all things “owl.” Will send this immediately to her. Very cute.
No jealousy in this marriage, but I think you are right to write off a friend who disrespects your relationship!
Hahaha – if only all men were like Mr. NQN, and owl cookies were all it took to distract them – although these are super cute cookies.
Cute! Twit twooo!
They look so cuteeee! no wonder NQN got distracted when you offered him one!
In this life, you have to know who to cut, and a “friend” who strokes your husband’s leg is right at the top of the list! Cute owls!
These are just adorable!
awww these are too adorable!!!
These owls are SO cute!
I used to get a little jealous until I realised, my boyfriend currently lives in the US and flies home just to see me – I must be at least somewhat special ;P
These are so cute Lorraine! Love how you photographed them on the tree – adorable.
OMG they are the cutest.!!!
Super cute!
Oh what a hoot, these are just too cute! Love that they have their own personalities.
Me Jealous, you betcha!! Won’t put up with women that think flirting with married men is a game. If you don’t have your own husband then chase a single man, not somebody else’s husband, just don’t go there Girl! When my husband was a GM at a company, one of the female staff thought it was ok to call him endearments such as ‘Hunny Bunny’ etc. Umm, NO… a big fat NO. I suggested to him to ask her to stop her flirting or I would have paid her a ‘visit’!
That’s interesting that you just use water to make the fondant stick. So many recipes I’ve seen use some kind of syrup. Does water work just as well?
Your owl cookies are adorable! Love the added details: apron, hat and glasses~so cute!
Once again you shown your clever artistic flair, Lorraine! I adore the way you have displayed these in a lovely curly tree – too cute.
So LOVE the owl with the glasses!!!
I am jealous but luckily don’t have a flirty friend in the picture.
So cute! Very retro!
These are the cutest cookies I’ve ever seen… Makes me smile… I have the sweetest husband in the world but he’s quite easily be jealous
These are so cute Lorraine and you’ve presented them so well with the handpainted tree – great job!
Jealousy – I think it’s just human nature to feel a little insecure sometimes. As far as ‘over the top friends’ – who need them?
These are absolutely gorgeous, my little girl would love these.
Good job kicking that friend to the kerb! Some people have no boundaries! I’m not a jealous wife and I’m very fortunate to have such a respectable husband. Before i got married I rid myself of friends somewhat similar to yours, they make everyone uncomfortable because of their jealousy and deep down they truly do not want you to be happy with a good man.
Love the owl cookies, hate the leg stroker..( we know her type..)and completely adore your images.. c
LOL – now lets all forget our worries with a nice owl cookie
theyre such a cute distraction, I can see why it wasnt brought up again haha 
“Oh cool! These owls are cute” – is this referring to the cookies or L**:) Kidding:) I know the feeling. When I was being friendly I was constantly told that I was flirting. And observing your partner flirting does make the blood boil:(
Today is an owl day! A friend bought me a beautiful gift – a ceramic owl candle holder.
I read a magnificent book earlier this year and I highly recommend it: Wesley the Owl. Have a look at the website.
Memo to self: put away boobies
I’m not jealous and neither is my husband. Just as well as we spend several months a year apart.
so very adorable!
I have only really been green eyed maniac while pregnant.
Accused MPS of flirting with everyone. Probably had more to do with my hormones and the fact that I was ENORMOUS than any real flirtation.
From a totally non-cookie eating blogger: these look fun and imaginative! Trust you
! Thank God both my husbands also had more than a tad reserve as far as flirtateousness was concerned, altho’ both were/are very attractive men. But, yes, I too cut a couple of girlfriends who could not keep their ‘paws’ off: not jealous, just practical 
!
I’m with you! I have no tolerance for anyone flirting with my man – I’m lucky in that he has no desire to flirt with other women. I’d like to think it’s because I make him feel sexy and wanted enough – or that he only has eyes for me
Either will do 
With him being incredibly tall fit and good looking though – it doesn’t stop other flirting with him. It does drive me nuts just quietly!
Love the owl cookies!
Cute cookies in your owl family tree!
)and a Dilmah Rare Uva Seasonal Flush Tea? 
Guess I must have missed out in school and as a life definition of jealousy!
Honestly have never felt jealous of hubby, nor hubby of me,
As we love each other unconditionally!
But like cookies, if we were all alike, life would be boring indeed!
Now may I have a owl biscuit (you pick
I’m not the jealous type with my man cause I know he would never ever do anything. I do find it funny how oblivious he is to people flirting with him. I can pick the type straight away and he’s always so surprised!
They look so very adorable! And I’ve been looking for a good sugar cookie recipe for christmas cookies so these will be just great!
You have definitely graduated from playdoh preschool.I have admired your creative designs, especially over the halloween season. It is a skill in simplifying design for cake/sweet art and you have it.
I am a bit of a prude I suppose and would think very harshly of any ‘friend’ cavorting with another’s partner. Tolerance of such overt behaviour is just a green light for the flirting to continue and that would just complicate relationships.
These a beautiful cookies! What a unique design!
Lady, I’m fairly certain that booby-flashing and leg-stroking goes beyond merely flirtacious to consciously and determinedly being a hussy and, to speak politely, a very gross person. If I ever get the chance, I slap slap that woman silly for you
Owl cookies for all! These are truly one of the most gorgeous things you’ve made of late!
how cute! they are so beautiful, made my day looking at these little cute things..such care you take…thankyou xo
LOL what a great intro, short and funny and sweet and OWL COOKIES! I love the way you write
And these cookies are so adorable!
Absolutely adorable! Love the painted tree in the background too ^^ Might steal that idea and use it as placemats for Christmas!
I was a bit of a jealous gf in the first two years of the relationship but now I’m kind of like meh I know there’s nothing to worry about. Don’t think L** was much of a friend :/
Just love the owl cookies,my grandchildren will love these.
Absolutely adorable Lorraine!
Love the “family tree”element to them-uncle owl,etc..
Good riddance to that boob popper!
These are possibly the cutest cookies I’ve ever seen. The one with the apron is too much
A) These are the cutest darned things I have seen in forever. Is it wrong that I want to chomp the head off one of them, though?
B) Jealous?! Sounds like you have the patience of a saint — and good on you for snagging a fellow ladies are always finding flirt-worthy.
C) I like to think I’m not the jealous type, but it’s absolutely not true. I try to keep it in check, but… (It does help to be able to remind myself that I’m 23 years younger than Mr. Nervous, which makes me almost automatically a little hard to beat! Ha.)
Love the Owls, they are so cute! There is nothing better than decorating sugar cookies!
I am definitely not a jealous spouse…although like you I used to be a jealous girlfriend (with an ex) – turns out, I had good reason, he was less than honest with me. I guess I’m inclined to think that if you’re getting jealous a lot you need to have a good look at your relationship!
Really cute! No booby owl? Chomp chomp!!
you should make pig (angry birds) cookies someday.
Love the owls – must try them soon.
Hate the leg stroking type.
I think the owls are sooo cute but I was brought up in an Italian family where owls are bad luck. I had a bit of a giggle thinking about what my father would say if I presented him with a plate of these!
These are so gorgeous! Did you paint that tree yourself? So creative
I don’t blame you for ending that friendship! I’m not the jealous type, but I’d be annoyed by that for sure.
Yummiferous owls – as a Home ec teacher I’ll do them!
When your fella loves you let the opposition try and just smile sweetly. You have your man – they can just dream and he is totally loving to you alone. Mine is and always has been – let the others just be jealous of your love and caring for one another.
they are UBER CUTE OMG… i want to make them now!!!!
cute bikkies – I have never got into the fondant stuff but I always love seeing you use it – that top own looks like it is knitting which made me laugh!
Both those cute owl cookies and your story are a hoot.
These cookies are so cute…
They make me love owls, I am scared of owls in real life… I know I am crazy….
I am not a jealous wife but I was sure a jealous GF… LOL
These are really really cute
!
Ciao
Alessandra
so very cute. (I guesse u heard that a few times now)
Cute things always soften up some dangerous talks. ^.^
one can even add a necklas as deco or a tie and what about owl kids and babies! XD thats soo awesome!
My husband is not the type to flirt around, thank god…
Otherwise he d have a hell of a live cause I wouldnt approve it. same way I dont flirt around with other. why should I too, I am happy in my marriage. Jalousy does come easy to me when its about my honey, but he never gave me any reason to.
Hi Lorraine! How have you been? Sorry for being absent here but I was reading your posts via phone during the holiday. I think I used to be more jealous before my husband. He’s really lay back guy and I learned a lot from him to let go some jealousy feelings. Now with the kids I’m way too busy to even feel jealousy…lol. Your owl cookies are super cute! My son learned about owl in his kindergarten last week and he is still in love with owl. I have to show this to him when he wakes up. He’d love these cookies!
Those cookies are just so cute – almost too cute to eat, in fact!
I can’t talk about being a jealous spouse as I’ve yet to get hitched, but I DO admit to being a brutally jealous girlfriend!
These are possibly the cutest things I’ve ever seen! Absolutely adorable and the perfect husband distraction material
You wouldn’t have the number of that friend you use to have do you?
Those are cool!
They are so cute! I’m with you Lorraine I’m not very tolerant of flirtatious friends, it’s not an issue of jealously I just think it’s inappropriate…
Clever cook Lorraine! Very cute and love the story at the start.
Interesting that he didn’t have anything to say… I think he realized it was safer to just shut up and eat the beautiful cookies. Anything he would have said, even something really sweet, would have probably turned against him in that conversation!! Hehe
You did good Lorraine to rid yourself of such a ratbag – They’re not a friend if they’re doing that. I went out with a fella once who thought, wait for it…. He was related to a well known womaniser from way back, ha, ha, ha. It put a huge dent in the relationship cos’ he really believed he was so great and that every woman noticed him. Good riddance to bad rubbish – What a d#@&head.
I wish I had the talent to make these!
These cookies are too cute to be eaten, Lorraine!
Neither of us is jealous type and good thing because we are both talkers, but if someone was boldly coming on, I’d knock em out. Owl cookies are too cute. I keep meaning take a fondant class just for fun.
The owls are so cute…you did a great job with fondant.
I think I’m not jealous, ok I’m not jealous, and for our first years of relationship this irritated my boyfriend/husband, but he learned that not being jealous doesn’t mean that I don’t love him, it’s just that I’m not. By the other hand, he IS so jealous, but he learned how to control it…thanks God…
Very cute!
So adorable! Love that you put them in a tree. xoxo Mum
Sorry forgot about jealousy when I saw those cookies.. have you seen the giggling owl being petted video.. they are just too adorable.. it would make me forget jealousy in a nano second…. at least for a while!
hehehe, these are so cute!
Too funny, and I don’t blame you one bit — L would be dead to me too, lol! Love the cookies, Lorraine…they are adorable!
Those are so so so so cute! I absolutely adore them!!
Great cookies, you’re very good at the fondant. I love the cute apron. As to being jealous, I think it is possible to know when flirting is only that and when the ‘friend’ wants it to be more. She would definitely be dead to me too! GG
These are very sweet:) You even thought of putting feather detailing!
Somethings just aren’t meant to be shared cookies and husbands being just an example
My husband would(happily) be oblivious to anyone flirting with him, but I would smack them down hard. I may be small, but I’m feisty, and I could take them!
Those owls are wonderful Lorraine! I love them to bits. I’m trying to get ideas for a 6 year olds party and I think these just might be a big hit.
THEY ARE SO CUTE!!! *shouts!!!
What adorable cookies. L is really no friend, who does that?
hoot hoot! these are awfully cute, lorraine. for the record, i’m an extremely jealous girlfriend, but i’m also extremely good at hiding said jealousy…
Lorraine! These are so adorable! I am going to a 3 year olds party on the weekend, I would love to make these to take
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Definitely on the ‘to try’ list!
These are just too cool. Did you paint the tree?
I’m jealous sometimes, but luckily Stephen doesn’t notice other girls
These cookies are too cute! I’m not jealous, but I also don’t have any friends like that (luckily)!!
Yeah she’d be dead to me too, stroking his leg? not cool. Normal people don’t do that, haha. I’m not a jealous person, but I’ve never really been put in that situation so I can’t really say!!
Heidi xo
p.s. owl cookies?? so cute!
Oh I love anything with owls! How cute!
Hmm I happen to be a typical Scorpio with a jealous streak I must admit although not so much these days. Can’t say I’m a fan of predators (male or female) though. Especially when they make a play for married people. Being your friend just makes it worse, good on you for dumping her!
I LOVE YOUR BLOG! =)
These are just far too cute.. I’m going through a bit of a cute owl phase at the moment, so great timing!! As for me, maybe not so much jealous, just intolerant of people who act inappropriately with other people’s partners!
cuckooo!! its so creative and skilful, i like this much .
Oooh these are TOO cute! Love how you’ve styled it, the painted tree is lovely.
These look adorably delicious! I’m totally sharing this one on my blog!
The owls now look like little boobs. Damned brain and it’s associations!
The straw for the feathers is tops, I thought you would have used the toothpick & it would have looked odd.
Oooh! They’re so cute and gorgeous!
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