A Sweet Favor – Cookies!

Cookies can come in every shape, size, color, and type imaginable. Today's gourmet cookies are wonderful treats all by themselves, without too many frills needed!

You can dress them up with pretty wrappings and your guests will marvel at the thought and time you took to make such a lovely bundle. Only you have to know how easy it was!

Whether you bake your own cookies or buy them will depend on you. Is your life already running at a hectic pace and having one more thing to do is just out of the question? Then don't feel bad about turning to a pro to bake your cookie favors for you. However, if you're up for it, there are so many cookie recipes out there for you to try.

You can bake bar cookies like brownies or Rice Krispy treats. Or, you can do a chocolate chunk or peanut butter cookie. A favorite for good reason is the rolled sugar cookie.

The reason why these are such a great choice is because they are easy to make and offer lots of decorating options.

Here is a recipe for simple sugar cookies for kids from Allrecipes.com that you can try.

Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonsful of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Now that you've got the idea of the ingredients you'll need, you'll want to decide on a shape for your cookies. Baby shower favors such as rubber duck cookies are a great idea, you can frost them in yellow icing. Bridal shower favors can be a rose or a gown or wedding ring shapes. Kitchen stores sell all kinds of quality cookie cutters that go with party themes. You can spell out a person's name, such as the name of the birthday girl or the bride and groom. You can even personalize cookies with the person's age or anniversary. All cut out in wonderful sugar cookie dough.

Decorations and wrapping will really add to the presentation. Use sprinkles, candy, colored icings, and edible decorations like babies or bows. You can find all you need and more at a large craft store in the candy-making aisle. You'll find edible fondant decorations that you can stick right on your homemade cookies to make them look professional. Wrap them in colored cellophane with a pretty satin bow. Four custom cookie favors stacked together should be enough. Or use pretty decorative bags from the craft store. You can also tie them up in a pretty dish towel that the guest can take home and use later.

The world of cookies has changed so much over recent years. You can now find cookies at bakeries and online that look like works of art. Bakers are able to do just about anything you ask in sugar and icing. Online sources for favors will offer cookie options. Sometimes they come on sticks so you can offer them as birthday cookie bouquets. Others come in shapes of wedding gowns with pearly icing or tuxedos. They'll even print your guest of honor's face on a cookie in edible frosting.

Cookies make excellent favors because they are a delicious treat. If they are also a feast for the eyes, so much the better.