halloween cookies

i was reading another blog the other day and saw these halloween cookies.  i figured i could make them and have a little fun with the girls while i was at it.  so, off to michaels we trekked to buy halloween cookie cutters and fondant frosting (the really smooth stuff usually used on wedding cakes).  of course all they had were bats, ghosts, and pumpkins.  oh joy, ghosts!!!  just what i want my girls to know and associate with halloween.  i ended up giving in and buying the ghost and pumpkin.  i baked the cookies (a delicious almond vanilla sugar cookie recipe found here)  well, not quite as easy as they appear to perfect the frosting.  i mean, i watched about three tutorials on how to make them look perfect...ya know, the kind you buy at the professional cookie store.  the first batch turned out GREAT, but the fondant doesn't taste as good as i had hoped.  so, back to university of cookie to find another option to great frosting.  i discovered royal icing.  it is the kind that hardens but tastes GREAT.  back to michaels we went tonight to buy the royal icing.  i followed the instructions from the vlog (video blog) and tried it.  guess what....it really worked.  however, make sure the tip you use on the piping is bigger than a 2.  a size 2 barely held the frosting in.  anyway, they taste great and that is what counts.  my hubby and girls did NOT care that the frosting was running off the cookie.  

oh, and p.s. fondant tastes better a few days later...oh great! 

here's a picture straight outta the oven!

and.....frosted!