I love finding teacups in the thrift store by my house. Sadly, even though they are cheap I can't really justify buying all the ones I want because I only want to own as much as I can display and use. These vintage teacup inspired cookies are based on all the pretty cups I've had to leave behind.
Cups like this one..
Or this one. Hope that you go to good homes pretty teacups! I'm not too sad though, I have a lot of my own adorable tea stuff.
For instance, these are my cups and elephant teapot and milk jug.
My tea-for-two pot with two teacups underneath ..
.. ..and last but not least my milk and sugar containers with cupcake tea spoons in them.
Nothing goes better with tea than some cookies so I made some teacup templates based on the cups I've seen.
Templates are the easiest thing to make. Just sketch a shape on some thick paper, or a couple of pieces glued together, cut it out, then use a sharp knife to cut the shape out of the dough.
To ensure that your cookies don't spread too much during baking its best to pop the unbaked cookies into the freezer for 20 minutes or so. I was using my mom's sugar cookie recipe (best one ever) and they held their shape really well during baking. The recipe is at the end of the post.
While the cookies were baking I traced the templates on some paper and coloured a few designs on them to pipe out in royal icing.
Iced with royal icing and ready to have with a cup of tea. Tea cup for your cup of tea..
Cute!
And they are perfect for sharing with your favorite guests. Although this particular guest ended up getting a dog treat instead.
My Mom's Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 350F
- Cream the butter and gradually add the sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture until it forms a dough
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 10 minutes or so. This will make the dough stiff enough to roll out
- Flour the surface you are going to roll the cookies out on.. this dough is a tiny bit sticky so I usually work a bit of flour into the dough just before I roll it out.
- Roll out the dough and cut into whatever shapes you wish
- Place the shapes on a lightly greased cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes or even overnight
- Bake for 7-10 minutes until only faintly browned around the edges and golden brown underneath.
- Let cool and then decorate
Oh my what a cute dog!! And those cookies...wow! You really did a great job with those? Why don't you sell them on Etsy?
Posted by: kooky | 05/17/2010 at 08:45 PM
I totally with you with your love for tea cups and still not buying them....
I wish I had more space here to have more! I see so many charming ones lately and have to hold myself (or maybe I should start breaking the old ones...)
Your cookies are awesome!! Not sure I can' do such amazing job with the icing! Super cool!!
Posted by: Galit | 05/17/2010 at 08:55 PM
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm/pretty!
I can't decide if that's cookie porn or vintage china porn.
I hope my comment doesn't startle the google bot (I hear it's sensitive to such words).
Posted by: blueditty | 05/18/2010 at 12:32 AM
Awwww, that last photo is so CUTE.
Posted by: Morrgan | 05/18/2010 at 01:52 AM
I'm with you ... LOVE tea cups. And your's are adorable!
Posted by: Annabelle | 05/18/2010 at 03:04 AM
Those elephants are adorable !!!.....but the dog - such sincerity in those eyes - LOL !!!
Posted by: My Life Under the Bus | 05/18/2010 at 03:40 AM
oh my goodness! I collect vintage tea cups, mostly just pretty ones that I've found from thrift stores and flea markets, and I have a serious love for all things tea cup related.
and now I totally need to make these awesome cookies!
Posted by: Amanda | 05/18/2010 at 07:44 AM
these are almost too precious to eat! i've had to part with some beloved tea cups myself. but i think it makes me appreciate the ones i kept more :) thanks for the recipe too, can't wait to give it a spin.
Posted by: rp | 05/18/2010 at 11:23 AM
Wow! Those cookies are super impressive! Especially for a fellow tea obsessive. I sadly had to give away most of my teacup collection when I moved to Spain... but maybe some cookies will make up for that! :)
Posted by: Andria | 05/18/2010 at 01:21 PM
Your cookies are gorgeous! much too nice to bite into! I love teacups too and am lucky enough to have inherited quite a few from my grandmother. actually, the second one you show with the big roses is in my collection!
thanks for stopping by my blog today! : )
Posted by: lisaroy | 05/18/2010 at 02:38 PM
These are SO cute! great idea!
Posted by: Kara | 05/18/2010 at 02:47 PM
The second picture is of a really lovely teacup. Its vintage but quite contemporary at the same time.
Posted by: Urbanknit | 05/18/2010 at 02:53 PM
Oh my god there is too much CUTE in this post! The cookies look yummy and I want to snuggle with your doggie.
Posted by: Marilyn | 05/18/2010 at 06:52 PM
I love teacups. I have a couple my grandma gave me. I love your cookies, they're so original.
Posted by: Alex Erynn | 05/18/2010 at 07:05 PM
UrbanKnit : I know! That cup is still at the thrift store right now.. a set of them actually for about 9 dollars. They are really tempting...
Posted by: Stephanie | 05/19/2010 at 07:36 AM
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your nice comment on my blog.
I am amazed about your cookie art. This is unbelievable. I love your favorite tree.
You should meet my sister in law. She collects old and beautiful tea cups (and egg cups).
Posted by: My Kitchen in the Rockies | 05/19/2010 at 08:03 AM
Love the teacup cookies! How cute!
Thank you for entering my giveaway! I wanted to let you know that you WON! I wanted to get in touch with you but you forgot to leave your contact info... Please email me or leave your email address on my blog. Congrats!
Posted by: cupcakebomb | 05/19/2010 at 08:38 AM
Very cute! I love vintage teacups.. I have a few mis-matched ones that have candles in them. ;)
Posted by: cabin + cub | 05/19/2010 at 09:08 AM
Things in this post that are beyond adorable:
1) The cookies
2) The first tea cup - would kill to own that!
3) The elephant set
4) Your dog!
Posted by: Megan (Best of Fates) | 05/20/2010 at 07:34 AM
Those are so cute! And so is your puppy :D
Posted by: Beth | 05/20/2010 at 10:55 AM
Oh my - so cute! :) I hopped over from Kara's and was so excited to see that you're from Vancouver, too! I love love your cookies - and that Panda tea set is beyond cuteness! :)
Posted by: Michelle Clement | 05/20/2010 at 11:23 AM
Those cookies are adorable, and they look so good, too! I also love your drawings- they're perfect!
Posted by: Amy | 05/20/2010 at 12:47 PM
Oh, they are beautiful! Way to pretty to eat! And that dog is the cutest, the look of concentration on his face is adorable :)
Posted by: Kristina | 05/24/2010 at 11:16 PM
My goodness! These are the BEST looking cookies I've seen in my life, I'd wanna hang them on my wall or something! :) You are such a talent!
P.S. I'm glad you commented on my blog so I found yours, will be looking forward to your future posts!
Posted by: derya | 05/26/2010 at 09:30 PM
I love this idea, you are so creative.
Posted by: Caryn | 10/05/2011 at 10:10 PM
How many cookies does this recipe make? Thanks!
Posted by: RoxyF | 05/05/2012 at 05:00 PM
Hey Stephanie! Can you post the royal icing recipe you used with these? Absolutely gorgeous as usual. I would love to have just a bit of your artistic flair.
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | 11/25/2012 at 06:46 PM