Happy New Year Cookie Banner Cookies!

Welcome to 2017!
(In a couple more days anyways!)

My oldest sister always comes down from Virginia at the end of December for our big family Christmas celebration. So right after we have our Christmas, it will be time for the big countdown!

I'm feeling so blessed to begin yet another new year...woohoo!

I can feel it!
It's gonna be a BANNER YEAR!

So let's get this party started!

 Make a batch of your favorite cut-out cookie dough or you can click here for the recipe I used. 

Also, I'm sharing links for the rectangle cutter I used (4 1/2 inch by 3 inch), as well as the number cutters. 

Roll out dough and cut out rectangle shapes. 

You will also need a 2 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch heart cutter. If you don't have these, you could just use the zero number cutter. Orrrr, cut some hearts freehand!

 Before baking cookies on your parchment lined pan, use a knife to cut banner bottoms shapes for the cookies as shown above.

Haha..banner bottoms! Sorry, I must be 7! 😜

In addition to the cutters, you will need yellow and red fondant, and gold luster dust.

Also not pictured, gold sugar sprinkles, red petal dust and vanilla extract.

 Roll out red fondant and cut heart shapes. I didn't get a photo of the tiny hearts!

If you want a little extra sparkle on your heart (and hey, who doesn't?), use a dry food safe brush to apply red petal dust!

Roll out yellow fondant and cut numbers.

  Using yellow fondant as the base will give the numbers a finished, deeper gold color.

Mix a little of the gold luster dust with vanilla extract.

Using a food safe brush, paint the numbers with long even strokes. Let dry.

Give your numbers a second coat of paint.

Look at this lovely, gold number 7!

Melt black candy melts.

 Dip tops into melted candy.

Use an off-set spatula to smooth the top and sides of candy coated cookies. Place the number on top and sprinkle on some gold sugar sprinkles.

So here ya go!
Your sweet banner is ready for the final hours of 2016!

Here's to the most wonderfullest new year filled with 💗 for us all!

Happy 2017, Karen!