The Louisiana Cajun Mansion recently held its first-ever Cookie Decorating Class. The event, Easter Cookie Decorating, was organized by Carol Cobb Freeman, a local cookie baker/artist who owns and operates Honey’s Sweet Treats.
It was Carol’s first public class, and she was so excited because it sold out! Over 40 people attended the class, including some children. The cost of the event included refreshments and a lemonade bar. Carol taught the art of turning simple sugar cookies into edible works of art.
Upon arrival, guests were greeted with a warm welcome and provided with all the necessary tools and materials. From piping bags to edible glitter, and plain sugar cookies. Guests even received a window box to store their completed edible artwork to take home to share. They were initially greeted with a warm Cajun welcome and a refreshing glass of sweet tea or homemade lemonade. The tranquil beauty of the Louisiana Cajun Mansion provided the perfect setting for a relaxed and enjoyable afternoon of cookie decorating.
Before diving into the cookie decorating fun, Carol shared insights into the rich culinary heritage of homemade suger cookies and the artistry of decorating.
Ancient Times: Cookies themselves have been around for centuries, with origins traced back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians. However, decorative cookies as we know them today were not common in ancient times.
Medieval Europe: Decorative cookies started to gain popularity in Medieval Europe, particularly in regions like Germany and Switzerland. During this time, cookies were often decorated with intricate designs using molds or stamps, and they were typically reserved for special occasions such as weddings, holidays, and religious festivals.
Renaissance Period: In the Renaissance era, cookie decorating became more elaborate and refined, with the introduction of royal icing, which is made from powdered sugar and egg whites. This allowed for more intricate designs and patterns to be created on cookies.
Colonial America: Cookie decorating techniques were brought to America by European settlers, and they became especially popular during the Christmas season. Gingerbread cookies, in particular, were often decorated with icing and other embellishments.
19th Century: The 19th century saw the industrial revolution, which led to the mass production of cookies and baking equipment. As a result, cookie decorating became more accessible to the general public, and home bakers began experimenting with different techniques and designs.
20th Century: In the 20th century, with the advent of modern baking equipment and ingredients, cookie decorating evolved further. Commercially produced decorative items such as colored sprinkles, edible glitter, and food coloring became widely available, allowing for even more creativity in cookie decorating.
Modern Era: Today, cookie decorating has reached new heights of creativity and innovation. With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, cookie decorators around the world share their intricate designs and techniques, inspiring others to try their hand at this art form. Professional cookie decorators and bakeries also offer classes and workshops to teach aspiring decorators the latest techniques and trends.
In summary, the history of cookie decorating is a testament to the human desire for creativity and self-expression, evolving from simple designs in ancient times to the elaborate creations seen today.
Now on to the Edible Fun
Carol demonstrated a step-by-step demonstration, showcasing various decorating techniques such as flooding, piping, and detailing.
She even showed our lovely guests how to use royal icing to achieve smooth finishes and vibrant colors. What we loved about Carol’s technique was that her tech-savy daughter, Patience, hooked up a projector to the Louisiana Cajun Mansions television where the guests could see in real-time what she was demonstrating. “I loved how we could see from all angles of the room exactly what Carol was doing,” said Katherine who attended the event with her teen-age daughter.
Katherine added that it was great how Carol included everything that was needed for the class. For instance, each person had a set of plain sugar cookies, 6 bags of piping in different colors, and an example of what the finished product should look like. “I mean basically, we just had to roll up our sleeves, and jump right in,” added Katherine. Some of the cookie shapes included bunnies, eggs, flowers, and carrots.
Throughout the class, Carol shared insider tips and tricks that helped the guests master the art of cookie decorating. She also shared the art of achieving the perfect consistency of icing to creating intricate patterns. Nearly all of the guests said they felt super confident when they left.
The Easter Cookie Decorating Class was the first of its kind for Louisiana Cajun Mansion. Of course, it was a success for the event planners at the Mansion as well as Carol. We’re already looking at our calendar for a second one. Details to come. In fact, 2023 was the start of many public events held at Louisiana Cajun Mansion. The venue, which started out as a Bed and Breakfast and slowly, but successfully, turned into a full-time events venue.
As mentioned above, the venue hosts a variety of events including weddings, showers, rehearsal dinners, and much more. In the past,
the venue has hosted such public events at Bourbon Tastings, Sushi Night, Comedy Night, Trivia Night and High Teas. All of the public event tickets are sold on EventBrite. Ticket prices always include refreshments and beverages. For more information on public events, please visit our Event Brite page.
