basic tools & equipment Before you begin to bake your cookies you will need to ensure that you have all of the right tools for the job to hand. The following is a list of equipment that have been used frequently in the book, although you will find that a wide range of sugarcrafting tools are suitable. Suppliers (in brackets) can be found on p120. * circle cutters (FMM) * paisley, small teardrop, heart, scalloped diamond (LC) * flat floral collection (LC) * stars (LC) * indian scrolls (LC) * patchwork cutters (PC) * handbag cutters (LC) * ball tool (FMM), makes even indentations in paste and softens the edges of petals * dresden tool (FMM), to create marking on paste * cutting wheel (PME), used instead of a knife to avoid dragging the paste * quilting tool (PME), used to add stitching lines to paste making shapes It’s never been simpler to transform an ordinary cookie into a work of art! There are a variety of cutters on the market in every imaginable shape and size, from simple gingerbread men to stylish handbags. If you can’t find the cutter you are searching for, it is easy to create a template to work from – simply follow the advice given here. cookie cutters Whether you want a classic gingerbread man or luscious lips, you will be spoilt for choice by the range of cutters available. For cheap and cheerful cutters that do the job, choose from an array of mass-produced, colourful plastic cutters. Tinplate cutters are also low cost but have to be cared for as they are prone to rust. Handcrafted copper and stainless steel cutters are more of an investment but they are strong, safe and hold their shape after years of repeated use. Stainless steel cutters are even dishwasher friendly! Many cutters have a rounded lip or top edge which makes them easier to hold. However, cutters without this lip are reversible, which means that they are much more versatile for a-symmetrical shapes, such as the Wonky Wonder cookies (p36). templates If you just can’t find a suitable cutter, one option to consider is making and using a template instead. Find an image that appeals to you and resize it using a computer or photocopier. Size is very much a personal choice and dependent on the shape of the image; try different sizes to see which you prefer. Trace the image onto tracing paper and then transfer it onto card. Simply cut around the traced outline of the card to produce your template. To get you started, a range of templates for some of the cookies created in this book can be found on p116–118.
