You’ll need cookie cutters in animal shapes for this project. A quick google search of ‘animal constellations’ will give you an idea of all the choices available. You should also find visuals of the correlating constellation patterns, and you should use those as a guide for painting the cookies.
1lb.marbled vanilla fondantper blog post directions
Watercorn syrup or honey
Bright white liquid food color
Clear vanilla extract or vodka
Fine tipped art brush
Stiff bristle brush
Instructions
In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar together until just incorporated. Do not over-mix at this stage, or the cookies may spread while baking.
Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix again on low speed, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl intermittently as needed.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa and salt. Add to the butter and egg mixture. Mix on low speed until a dough is formed and there are no longer any streaks of butter in the mixing bowl. The dough will often clump around the paddle attachment while being mixed. This is normal and a good sign that your dough is the right consistency. If your mixture does not come together and is crumbly, add ice cold water 1 tbsp. at a time until the dough clumps. Roll the dough flat between sheets of parchment paper and chill until ready for use, at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Use animal-shaped cookie cutters to stamp shapes from the dough and transfer them to the prepared pans. Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly brown on the edges. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Roll half of the marbled fondant between two sheets of parchment or waxed paper. Use the same cookie cutters to cut shapes from the fondant. Lightly dab water or corn syrup on the cookies using a small art bush and lay the fondant on top of the matching shaped cookie. Repeat the process with the second half of the fondant.
Place a nickel-sized amount of white food color onto a shallow plate. Dip the fine-tipped art brush into the food color and paint constellation patterns onto the cookies; allow to dry 5 minutes. (If you have trouble drawing straight lines, use the edge of a piece of paper as a guide. Be sure to wipe the paper edge clean with a napkin each time before placing it back down on the fondant to avoid smearing.)
Place a dime-sized amount of white food color onto a shallow plate. Add a small drop of clear extract or vodka to the color and mix until slightly thinned. Dip the stiff bristle brush into the color and bend the bristles back with a finger. Hold the brush bristles 6-8 inches away from the cookie surfaces and release the bristles so that paint flecks the surfaces of the cookies. Hold the brush closer to the cookies for spatters that look like star clusters.
Allow the cookies to stand until dry, about 1-2 hours.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Keyword black vanilla fondant, bright white liquid food color, dark cocoa powder