Hi, I'm Lisa Tutman-Oglesby

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Checkmate

Anyone up for a game a chess?  OK, this may not be the board game that immediately comes to mind when you hear about playing that classic game of strategy. 

However, this particular cookie project has elements of the game you'll not only find familiar-but quite tasty too. 

Blog checkmate cookies3


This is a fun way to dress up those delicious Chessmen cookies by Pepperidge Farm. 

These cookies are typically embossed with images that look like chess pieces but now the images have a much more festive slant in keeping with the spirit of the holiday season. 

       Blog checkmate box

There are five designs in this Chessmen holiday cookie package including a candy cane, holiday wreath, jingle bell, an evergreen tree and a holly leaf or maybe it's a mistletoe.  They're all really cute.

Ahem, go ahead and eat a few cookies before you start-you'll feel better.

Blog checkmate cookie2

These mini tubes of icing are about 6-inches long and they come in a variety of colors.  You can pick them up at any grocery store in the baking aisle.  

They're a perfect finger-fit and that makes it so much easier to decorate the smallest areas of the cookie.

Blog checkmate icing tubes

Gently cover the raised area of the cookie with the desired icing color.  When you begin decorating, use a small amount of icing first and build upon that because a little icing goes a very long way here. 

Blog checkmate green wreath

A toothpick is an ideal tool to help get the icing into the tiniest, hard-to-reach embossed areas.   Carefully smooth the icing using the toothpick to cover the design. 

Change toothpicks for each color to avoid cross-color contamination.

Blog checkmate toothpick2 

A thin icing border frames the cookie and finishes it off beautifully.  It only takes a short time for the icing to set and harden.  After that, the cookies can be stacked on top of each other with no risk of smudging or smearing. 

Of course, I doubt they'll be stacked in any one place for very long.

Blog checkmate stacked

 

Trust me when I say, kids won't be able to resist getting into this act.  They also won't be able to resist snacking on a few cookies (like you), so make sure you have extra Chessmen on hand to cover that inevitability.

My daughter Cameron and her friend Chelsey enjoyed putting their own spin on their cookie decorating.

Blog checkmate girls

While I painted my cookies in holiday colors, both girls took a decidedly un-traditional approach with their color theme.  They steered clear of the typical red and green in favor of every other icing color in the pack. 

Of course, imagination is all part of the tasty fun.  Check out Cameron's edible works of art in the photo below.

Blog checkmate cameron cookies 

I found a wonderful variation of this cookie decorating idea in a recent issue of Women's Day Special Interest Publications.   Are you as hooked on holiday magazines as I am?  There is always such a great selection on newsstands this time of year. 

I love to browse through the pretty recipes.  It's also fun to study the photography and food staging that's so beautifully presented in magazines. 

 

Blog baking mags

Talk about super simple cookie decorating.  It doesn't get any easier than this.  You can finish decorating an entire package of cookies in no time at all.

Blog checkmate above      

After you finish adding colorful, festive touches to these Chessmen cookies-you will surely be considered a winner by everyone who tastes them.  

To the victor in this chess game, share the spoils.  Easy Checkmate.

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Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    We could all use ideas to help make things simpler. Great idea. I remember when my kids were younger them helping make the homemade sugar cookies (my grandma’s recipe) and then decorating. My son always did everything in a hurry. My daughter (the artistic one) took her time placing each and every little decoration. Fun.

  9. Terriaw says

    What a great idea! I love how these turned out. Those frosting tubes are fun to play with so I think I might even get my husband to help with these. it’s fun to see the kids getting in on the creativity too – cute kids!

  11. traci says

    another easy project that i can handle. those are adorable. your girls look like they are enjoying themselves. they did a beautiful job. very cute lisa!!

  13. Barbara Stith says

    These are adorable. I didn’t know the chessmen came in Christmas patterns (perhaps because I have been stuffing them in my mouth too fast to notice. I love those things!)

  16. Jeanne says

    Very cute and fun idea…especially for the kids. I have to admit that I am also addicted to all the beautiful magazines out right now. I went to bed with ten of them the other night. I’m glad my husband didn’t ask how much I had spent;-)

  21. Claudia says

    Lisa – Thank you so much for this excellent idea. I am invited to a Christmas cookie exchange every year and I am not a baker, so these decorated cookies are perfect! Thanks, claudia

  26. Geeta says

    Lisa!!!
    These are SO adorable! And what a no brainer…the idea of using ready embossed cookies is so great- and perfect for children! Love the picture of the girls beavering away. They look so engrossed- please tell them I adore their cookie ‘art’!
    Such a pleasure dropping into see your blog finally:)

  29. Julie says

    Such a fun idea! Love all the color the girls used on their cute cookies…Great photography, as always, Lisa. 🙂

  33. Amy says

    Hello Lisa – thanks so much for your comments on my photography post. If you’re able to put together a list for me I would really appreciate it!

  37. Bonnie says

    Hi Lisa,
    I love this idea. I will be having the grandbabies over to make cookies and this will be one for sure. Thanks for sharing. I can just see that your kids are going to be creative also.
    Bonnie

  38. Toni from NC says

    Love it! I make homemade candies and decorate them with the “toothpick painting technique” as well. Never would have thought to do this! As always, your creativity rocks.

  40. Alraynita says

    Hey Lisa,
    I LOVE this idea…thank you so much for sharing as I now go out to hunt for these cookies
    Happy Holidays
    Al

dark and moody cake

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

I appreciate you taking the time to pop in and take a look around. I hope you enjoyed the browse.

These are indeed, strange times we live in right now. It's no wonder we seek out like-minded artists and artisans to connect with, through this amazing creative blogosphere and similar formats.

We all move within these social media spaces, sharing our work and finding inspiration and genuine friendships in the process, virtual as they may be.

Now, more than ever, I hope we all continue to find ways to embrace our commonality and shared humanity. The world is wide enough for all of us. There is so much room to treat each other with kindness, dignity, respect and understanding. I think, connecting through creativity is one of many paths toward that end.

I appreciate this opportunity that I have to add beauty to the world, in my own special way. In the end, I hope my efforts (and yours), bring us closer together not further apart, through our shared interests, creativity, hearty fellowship and good will.

Stay safe and be well. -Lisa, xoxo

have a lovely day!

I hope you enjoyed your visit. While much of my blogging and attention lately is on food photography and styling, this site is filled with content that represents far more than pretty eats and drinks. My blog reflects my affinity for a vast array of hobbies, projects and inspiration. No doubt, you probably have many of the same creative passions too. Have fun with everything you see around here.

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