Skip to main content

Groundhog Day Sugar Cookies

Living in Pennsylvania, it's only imperative that I make some Groundhog Day cookies for the coming holiday. If you have followed the blog over the years, you know that we have resident groundhogs on the property which we look forward to seeing every single year.  

These charming creatures are naturally skittish and solitary (Marmota monax), so we leave them alone and observe them from a distance.


The holiday itself comes from Pennsylvania Dutch (in reality it is the Pennsylvania German's observance of Candlemas) lore, which tells us that when the woodchuck comes out of hibernation, if the creature sees its shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter.  If the marmot does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.  

Since people around the country celebrate the holiday in some way or another, even if it's just to tune in to see what Punxsutawney Phil predicts, I thought it would be fun to make some cookies in honor of those adorable rodents.


Use whatever cookie cutter you wish, but for these I used a "tombstone" cookie cutter by Sweet Sugarbelle.  You can also use a snow globe cookie cutter if you have it, or a round, square or scalloped cutter.

Outline and flood the bottom portion of the cookie in green royal icing (this is the grass), and the top portion of the cookie in a light, sky blue; I use piping tips #3.  For the groundhog, using light brown royal icing and a #2 piping tip, pipe the woodchuck standing up on its hind legs.  You can either do this while the icing is wet so that the shape settles into the icing or you can pipe it onto a dry surface.  I prefer to do it on wet icing.  Using a scriber tool, drag the green icing upward, creating blades of grass as shown.  For the  eyes and nose of the groundhog use black royal icing.  


If you want to make the cookies extra cute, add a small candy heart to the groundhog while the icing is wet.  Let this dry completely,.

Adorable!!



Using white royal icing with a stiff consistency and a #2 piping tip, pipe "Happy Groundhog Day" on each cookie to commemorate the holiday.  The cookie is done!


How easy were these cute groundhog cookies?  As you know, I prefer to package my decorated sugar cookies in high-quality, clear cellophane bags.  Generally I use a ribbon to tie each bag, but sometimes I like the natural look of raffia.  I think groundhogs would approve of the use of this natural fiber.

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Labels:

Comments

  1. CBFebruary 28, 2023 at 12:00 PM

    I’m so glad you are posting again. I found your blog last year and it has been joy, especially the sugar cookie recipe and updated technique for rolling dough.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank You for Posting!

Popular posts from this blog

Antique Salt Cellars

There was a time when salt cellars played an important role on the dining table for the host or hostess.  As a result of it being such an expensive commodity several hundred years ago, salt was seen as a luxury and it was the well to do that made salt cellars quite fashionable & a status symbol for the home.  A single salt cellar usually sat at the head of the table and was passed around throughout the meal.  The closer one sat to the salt cellar, the more important one was deemed by the head of the household.  Smaller cellars that were more accessible and with an open top became a part of Victorian table settings.  Fast forward to the 20th century when salt was no longer a luxury and when anti caking agents were added to make salt free-flowing, and one begins to see salt cellars fall out of fashion.  Luckily for the collector and for those of us who like to set a table with Good Things , this can prove to be a boon. Salt cellars for the table come in silver, porcelain, cut glass
50 comments
Read more

Collecting Jadeite

With its origins dating back to the 1930s, jadeite glassware began its mass production through the McKee Glass Co. in Pennsylvania. Their introduction of the Skokie green & Jade kitchenware lines ushered in our fascination with this jade color.  Glassmakers catered jadeite to the American public as an inexpensive alternative to earthenware soon after the Depression, both for the home and for its use in restaurants.  The Jeanette Glass Company and Anchor Hocking introduced their own patterns and styles, which for many collectors, produced some of the most sought after pieces.  Companies marketed this beautiful glass under the monikers of jadite , jadeite , jade glass , jad-ite , jade-ite , so however you want to spell it, let it draw you in for a closer look.  If you want a thorough history of the origins of jadeite, collectors’ pricing, patterns & shapes (don’t forget the reproductions in 2000), I highly suggest picking up the book by Joe Keller & David Ross called, Jadei
48 comments
Read more

How to Paint a Chair

If you have ever felt the need to spruce up a set of chairs or give them a new look, why not try a little bit of paint?  Our tastes in decor and color will probably alter throughout our lives, and at some point, we may find ourselves wanting to change the look of our furniture without having to spend a lot of money.  That's where a few handy tips, some tools from the hardware store, and good-quality paint come in handy.   I know I'm not alone in paying visits to local antique shops, antique fairs and flea markets, and falling in love with pieces of furniture that would be perfect if they were just a different color.  You don't have to walk away from a good purchase simply because it's the wrong color.   My dear friend, Jeffrey, is forever enhancing his home with collectibles from flea markets and tag sales.  However, certain items aren't always up to Jeffrey's tastes when he brings them home.  He is the type of person who won't hesitate to chang
6 comments
Read more