Cookies For Dummies

In This Chapter

• Serving your cookies from plates, baskets, and tins
• Using doilies to enhance your cookie presentation
• Deciding what to drink with cookies

The cookies are all baked, and they taste fabulous. They look great too, even on their baking sheets. But you don't want to serve them on the baking sheet. You want to display them proudly. There are many, many ways to be creative when you're serving cookies. Serving your cookies in an attractive way can heighten the enjoyment of the cookie tasting experience. I always love it when someone says, "Oh these cookies taste so wonderful," followed by "and what a nice serving plate." It makes my day!

Using Plates to Serve Your Cookies

Serving cookies on a plate is a great way to go. If the plate or platter is porcelain with nice designs, all the better. As for shape, just about anything goes — round, oval, rectangular, or square. Even odd shapes can be fine. Plates or platters (platters are usually oblong) that have special edges, maybe with small indentations, are even better. Silver and gold plates and platters are exceptionally nice for serving cookies.

Another option is a tiered server that holds two or three plates. This portable server is often used at afternoon teas, with finger sandwiches on the bottom, cookies on the middle tier, and pastries on the top. But these servers are super for serving cookies. You can put a different type of cookie on each tier.

Here are some serving plate tips:

• A standard-size dinner plate is a good size for serving cookies. I especially like colored ones.

• Use a flat plate, as opposed to a sloped plate, so the cookies can be arranged nicely and don't slide down in the center.

• Don't completely cover up the beautiful color and design on a decorative plate with your cookies.

• Antique stores are great places to find beautiful old plates.

• Be creative when matching cookies with the serving plates you use. If the cookies are elaborate in shape and style, they may look better on a plain plate. Conversely, an ornate plate or platter may be better for displaying plainer cookies. It's a matter of personal taste.

• Don't rule out plastic. Some very attractive plastic plates and platters in various sizes, shapes, and colors (even silver) are available at party stores, cookware shops, and large supermarkets.

• Don't put cookies on a plate that has a lid unless you plan to transport them (see Chapter 23, which discusses transportation of cookies). You want the cookies to be seen and to be easily accessible.

Arranging Your Cookies

The arrangement of cookies on a plate or platter is important. A mixed arrangement is nice, but usually it is best to have a little order to your cookies. This way, your guests will know right where to go for just the cookie they want. Circular arrangements are, of course, ideal for round plates. A spiral from the inside out or several circles surrounding each other is a good way to go (see Figure 1). For square or rectangular plates, try creating rows of cookies. You may want to alternate your concentric circles or rows with different types, colors, and textures of cookies to give the presentation some contrast and style. For extra style, as you place cookies on a plate or platter, overlap the cookies so they're slightly tilted.

Figure 1: Arranging cookies in spirals and concentric circles.

Mix and match the shapes of the cookies to the shapes of the plates and platters. Sometimes round cookies look good on round platters. But they can also look good on square or rectangle plates. Be creative and try different shapes of cookies and platters together.

Setting Off Your Cookies with Doilies

Doilies are very thin sheets of paper that have a textured and embossed design, sometimes with small decorative cutouts around the paper's outer edge. Doilies are often used under cakes and individual pastries to accent them. Placing a large doily on the plate or platter under the cookies can enhance their presentation. Doilies come in many different sizes and shapes and colors, although white is the most popular. Gold or silver doilies can add a very striking accent. Use these colors when you want to make a special statement about your cookies and add a touch of elegance. Doilies can be purchased at most cookware shops and cake decorating stores.

Filling Baskets with Cookies

Baskets aren't just for bread. They can be perfect for cookies, especially those that are on the flat side (with a small curve) or are fairly shallow. You may need to be a little creative when arranging cookies in a basket. A large round basket with several different types of cookies can be a welcome addition to any table. The number one rule here is don't let your cookies be hidden by the basket. Placing a doily (see the section "Setting Off Your Cookies with Doilies") under your cookies is a good way to go, but don't let the doily cover up too much of the beauty of the basket.

You can also use Easter grass, shredded filler paper in different colors, and colored or checkered cloth napkins in the basket to elevate your cookies.

Be careful about stacking the cookies too high. Don't stack them more than two layers deep and don't stack them over the rim of the basket. You don't want your cookies to fall out and all your hard work to be ruined.

Putting Your Hand in the Cookie Jar

Don't think of cookie jars as only temporary storage for your cookies. They're also great for serving. Just put the cookies inside (one type of cookie only, please) and leave the top of the jar next to it. Usually the top has some decoration that you wouldn't want your guest to miss.

Glass cookies jars are also a nice way to offer your cookies. Clear, colored, or even textured glass is fine. Glass jars make it easy to see whether you need to refill, and, of course, cookie tasters can easily see what they're going for.

Cookie jars that are big and round are the best choice because you can fit all sizes of cookies in them.

If you're the creative type, try making your own cookie jars. Visit one of the ceramic studios that are sprouting up everywhere and take a class. Make a bunch of interesting cookie jars and then make several batches of cookies to serve in the jars. If you're really feeling ambitious, give your personally made jars with your personally made cookies as gifts. See Chapter 24 for more details on giving cookies as gifts.

If you're going to use a cookie jar to store cookies for longer than a day, choose those that have airtight lids. This type of cookie jar keeps cookies fresh for several days.

Selecting the Perfect Napkins

Any old napkin won't do. For serving cookies, use small cocktail napkins. Napkins that have embossed designs, interesting color, and line art and pictures on them are great.

Using Tins for Serving

Tins are good not only for transporting cookies but also for serving them. Tins are available in beautiful designs and a wide assortment of colors. All sizes and shapes will do, but the shallow round, square, and rectangular ones seem to work best. Arrange the cookies any way that looks nice and inviting. You can sometimes stand the cookies on end with a tilt. Be careful not to crowd the cookies too much. You can also put a doily on the bottom of the tin to dress it up, especially if you're giving a tin of cookies as a gift.

Deciding Where to Serve the Cookies

When you're having guests, you can place cookies throughout the house in any room where you expect guests to gather and mingle. Doing so minimizes the crowds in any one place. Offering cookies around the house in various strategic places allows guests to nibble as they go. Try placing a tray in the family room, one or two in the living room, several in the kitchen, and others in locations that you deem gathering spots for your guests. I like to put a serving plate somewhere near the front door so that guests can treat themselves coming and going.

If you put several serving plates of cookies around the house, don't use big platters. Otherwise, the cookies will take up all the space on your tables, and there won't be room for anything else.

If you have a kitchen or dining room table, a buffet, or a sideboard for your cookie display, you can set out most of your cookies there. You can intermingle your cookie platters with other desserts or foods on the table.

Cookies are a great dessert in and of themselves. But if you must have a non-cookie dessert, serving cookies after the dessert can add a very special finish to a meal.

What to Drink with Cookies

Milk probably tops the list of beverages that go well with cookies — and the colder the better. But coffee and tea are a close second. Milk, coffee, and tea are all good for dipping your cookies, but coffee seems to be the favorite dipping beverage. Just about any type of cookie is good with milk, coffee, or tea.

Here are some cookies that go best with milk:

• Chocolate chip cookies (Chapter 5)

• Most drop cookies (Chapter 5)

• Most chocolate cookies (Chapter 16)

• Giant cookies (Chapter 17)

• Kids' cookies (Chapter 18)

Here are some cookies that go best with coffee and tea:

• Crisp and crunchy cookies

• Cookies with spices

• Cookies with citrus flavors like lemon and orange

• Butter cookies

• Shortbread (Chapter 8)

• Chocolate-dipped cookies

• Sandwich and filled cookies (Chapters 9 and 10)

• Molded cookies (Chapter 13)

• Biscotti (Chapter 12)

• Cookies decorated with powdered sugar

• Slender cookies (Chapter 19)

Hot chocolate is great with cookies and is also popular for dipping. Other warm drinks, like warm cider, can be a real treat with cookies.

Cold, sweet sodas are okay, but if they're too sweet, the sugar rush may be too much. Some fruit juices are not as sweet as a lot of sodas and go very well with cookies. I like orange juice and cookies. Be careful about too much flavor contrast. Because personal tastes can differ widely, experimentation is advised.

Dessert wines, sherries, and ports go exceptionally well with cookies, especially chocolate cookies. Some liquors also go well with cookies. Dipping may be in order here, also. Here are some cookies that go especially well with wines and liquors:

• Chocolate Macaroons (Chapter 5)

• Mocha Hazelnut Snaps (Chapter 6)

• Hazelnut Slices (Chapter 7)

• Classic Scottish Shortbread (Chapter 8)

• Royal Scottish Shortbread (Chapter 8)

• Very Rich Cakelike Brownies (Chapter 8)

• Pofer Cookies (Chapter 9)

• Ischl Tartlets (Chapter 9)

• Hazelnut Chocolate Balls (Chapter 12)

• Hazelnut Crescents (Chapter 12)

• Chocolate Biscotti (Chapter 12)

• Chocolate-Dipped Biscotti (Chapter 12)

• Kourambiedes (Chapter 15)

• Cocoa Brownie Balls (Chapter 15)

• Spritz Cookies (Chapter 15)

• Florentines (Chapter 16)

• Mocha Walnut Coins (Chapter 16)

• Mocha Hazelnut Fingers (Chapter 16)

What to Eat with Cookies

Other cookies, of course, should be eaten with cookies! Ice creams, puddings, and yogurt also go with cookies. I personally like sorbets and fruit bowls with my cookies. They're lighter than a big heavy dessert. And people can limit themselves to just one cookie (or two) if they want.