MAR
08
Kitchen Tip: Easy, Creative Treat Shapes
This Kitchen Tip is a guest post by Kristan of Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. Welcome, Kristan!
One thing I’ve learned when it comes to serving desserts is that presentation is key. Sloppy treats are unappetizing, and will often go uneaten.
My favorite trick for neat and creatively cut brownies and bars is using a biscuit cutter instead of a knife.
photo by Kristan
Biscuit cutters are tall and sturdy enough to cut even thick brownies, and the handle makes pushing it through a breeze. You can buy biscuit cutters in several different shapes, and a set usually has four or five different sizes to choose from.
Note from Katie: I have had these Flower Biscuit Cutters for a while and love them. Great for all sorts of things: sandwiches for kids, brownies, biscuits, and scones. I also recently purchase heart and snowflake sets. There are all sorts of fun shapes on Amazon and many with nesting sizes.
How to Cut Treats with Biscuit Cutters
1. Line your pan with foil before pouring in your batter. (related: Kitchen Tip: Lining Pans with Parchment)
2. Once your brownies are cooled to room temperature, refrigerate until firm. Cold brownies are easier to cut neatly.
3. Remove brownies from pan by lifting up on the foil. Peel foil down from the sides, laying flat.
4. Using your biscuit cutter, cut brownies as close together as possible to cut down on waste. You may have to gently push the top of the brownie to remove from the biscuit cutter.
Note: I prefer a round cutter, but only because it makes for an unexpected alternative to square brownies.
And that’s all there is to it! Thanks so much for sharing this great tip with us, Kristan!
Another note from Katie: If you’re concerned about the scraps – don’t be! You can use them to make all sorts of other treats from cake balls to individual trifles.
Kristan Roland is a displaced housewife, living, baking, and blogging in rural Arkansas. On Confessions of a Cookbook Queen Kristan shares her love of sugar and sparkle, along with personal anecdotes, which she usually serves with a side of sarcasm.
Though she has no formal training, other than a few craft store cake decorating classes, she is a firm believer that even the most imperfect people are capable of creating fabulous things in the kitchen.
Hello! I'm Katie Goodman, author of GoodLife Eats Etc. where I share what I find in my life. A mix of great recipes, family memories, adventures, good reads, and anything else that I love is what you will discover here.
Great tip! I love having more than one use for tools in the kitchen.
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Kristan is such a smartie!
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Thanks so much for having me over today, katie!!
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Great tip Kristan! I can’t wait to get some and try it on my next batch — or maybe to cut petit fours! See you back at your blog!
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen a brownie go uneaten.. but then again I do live with college students..
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What a fantastic tip!! Love seeing the beautiful Kristan over here!
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I never would have thought of this in a million years. Seriously. This is why I bow down to you and Katie for stuff like this.
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Love this idea. Going to have to try it next time I make brownies. I know the kids would love the surprise of shaped brownies in their lunch.
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Awesome tips! Pretty food always tastes better. And of course if you are preparing these as a gift, if you don’t cut them so close – you get to enjoy the “scraps”.
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Great Tips! Love all your guest posts!
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I cut brownies into mini hearts for my daughter to take to her class at school. Dribbled them with a little white frosting and they LOVED it!!!! Regular brownies are boring.
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Katie replied: — March 8th, 2011 @ 9:26 AM
I did that a couple years ago – thanks for the reminder! And they were a big hit! Chocolate Covered Heart Shaped Brownies for Valentine’s Day
I am so going to order me some of those!! They are fun!! My daughter LOVES taking treats to her dance class, and I bet they are tired of cupcakes, so brownies will be a fun change for the little ballerinas!!
Thanks for the tip!!!!
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oh I love this idea!!!……….and there are no calories in eating all the scraps when I cut the round brownies right? lol
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As always, thanks for the tip.Brownies go so fast at my house…. hope I have time to chill and cut in the cute shapes….lol
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Bet this would work great with the tray of Pillsbury brownies I like to buy from Sam’s Club when I’m asked to bring something for a bake sale. If I cut them in fun shapes, then I don’t have to worry about someone figuring out they weren’t baked at home!
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Lovely idea, Kristan! Great crossover use.
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Thanks for the tip! I would never have thought about it, but it is such a great idea!
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What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
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Very fun, Kristan! I’m always looking for a new twist for a favorite traditional treat!
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What a great idea! It’s true, pretty food tastes better.
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This is such a great idea! I often bake individual brownies in a muffin pan to get uniform round shapes, but I never thought to use a cookie cutter or a biscuit cutter!
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I love the fluted cutter, what an easy way to dress up brownies!
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I don’t even own biscuit cutters, and now I want them to just cut brownies! Thanks for the tip
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Such a smart idea, I’m never using a knife again!
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Thanks for the tips! I have been known to use one of those “rocking” pizza cutters when I need to cut even bars from brownies or bar cookies.
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So cute and so much fun! Imagine all the cute treats you could make with different shapes.
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Two of my favorite bloggers in on place. Awwww. Great tip! I think I need some biscuit cutters for Mother’s Day.
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How cute and so creative!! These brownies looks delicious too!
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Great tips, especially liked the suggestion for the scraps…very creative and resourceful.
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Or you can do what I’d do, and that would be to eat all the scraps before anyone knew they existed.
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