EASY Hocus Pocus Cookies
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 0 minutes
- 1 packet of Tim Tams
- Black, white and green or blue icing pens or royal icing (see recipe below)
Step 1 - If you are right handed, it is easier to pipe from left to right (and the opposite if you are left handed). Also practice on a plate to test out your skills if you want. Take one Tim Tam and the black icing and draw a squiggly line near the spine edge of the biscuit. Then draw some curved lines where you will draw the stitches but make sure to leave room for the eye.
Step 2 -The stitches are the fiddliest bit and I find they can be a challenge with icing pens and I prefer to work with royal icing for this reason. Carefully draw stitches over the curved lines. I find it easiest to put pressure and then stop putting pressure on the pen and that will "cut" the icing. Draw the outline around the eye.
Step 3 -Take the white icing pen and draw a dot for the eye. Once this sets, draw in the iris with a little of the blue or green icing.
Royal Icing Recipe
- 200g/7ozs icing or confectioners sugar
- 30g/1oz. egg white (around 1 egg white)
- a few drops of lemon juice
- Food colouring in black and blue
Step 1 - Mix the icing sugar and the egg white together. I do this in a food processor because I'm lazy and hate sifting icing sugar. But it does create lots of tiny little bubbles so it's best if you rest this covered for about 15 minutes before using it to let the bubbles dissipate. First I whizz the icing sugar so that the lumps disappear and then add the egg white. You want to be able to draw a line and have it hold so add more icing sugar if necessary. Place 3 tablespoons of the royal icing in a bowl and tint it black. You will leave the remaining white. Always cover your royal icing as it dries quickly.
Thermomix royal icing: Place the icing sugar in the Thermomix bowl and set to speed 6, 10 seconds. Add the egg white and set to speed 5, 10 seconds. Scrape down the sides and add lemon juice and set to speed 4, 10 seconds. Check that the icing is of pipeable consistency adding more icing sugar (if too liquid) or lemon juice (if too stiff) if needed.