James Bond Cookies

We went to a James Bond themed birthday party last weekend and I was asked to make cookies so here's what I came up with:

Chocolate Cutout Recipe
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa (cocoa powder)
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in egg & vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa & baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut out and bake at 375 degrees for 8-9 minutes.

Royal Icing
3 tablespoons meringue powder
1 pound powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
5-6 tablespoons of water
1 teaspoon almond extract (or any other alcohol or water-based flavoring, NOT oil-based)

Using the beater/paddle mixer attachment, mix together the meringue powder and the powdered sugar, then add the extract and water, a tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

For cookies, use a thin consistency and make sure to use a disposable piping bag. Reusable piping bags will have oil from buttercream icing, which will thin down royal icing as you pipe, which is not fun. Once the icing is dry, you can use food-safe markers to decorate as well. I used them to add a face and spots on the octopus and the lemon peel on the martini glasses. For the decorations, I made them ahead of time. Here is my template. I piped them on wax paper, let them dry, and then put them on the iced cookies before the icing dried.

Enjoy!