Friday, November 27, 2009

Science Cookies: Periodic Table



Well the science cookies seem to be a big hit and I really like making them, so I am going to continue to indulge my science geek side. Periodic table cookies?

Chemistry and baking are very much alike, right? They both utilize precise measurements and techniques in the hopes of getting just the right chemical reaction. Sometimes while tinkering around you create something amazing... and sometimes you just get a really nasty smell.

Really the only difference is, in chemistry you never get to lick your spoons.

Bummer.

Anyway on to the silly cookies...


I'm not sure the evening following Thanksgiving dinner was the best time to attempt these. I was pretty tired and I know that tends to make me sloppy, not exactly the ideal mindset for making iced cookies. I admit I plowed through making these. However, despite my 2 hour rush job, I think they turned out pretty darn cute.









Yes, I know I left off the lanthanides and the actinides (and those flakey unun-elements too). I ran out of dough, sorry. When I make these cookies again (only bigger and more awesome!) I'll be sure to include them.




26 comments:

  1. These are so creative! What a great idea. Yeah, I can imagine how tired you were right after Thanksgiving. I also tend to get sloppy when I'm tired. Yours certainly don't look sloppy but I can't wait till you make them again and post the results.

    I bet they were delicious too. Wonderful job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is you when you're tired? Incredible. You should see the ugly, lopsided gingerbread house I am attempting to cull together for my kids. And I'm _not_ tired. AND I took a lot of chemistry. So, no excuses for me (except that C in inorganic, I suppose).

    Questions: Are these shortbread? Or sugar cookies? what kind of icing? Confectioner's plus milk? Or royal icing? Or something else entirely?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rule of Life #124: Doing even remotely well in inorganic or O-chem gives you a pass on any and all gingerbread house failures for life, as that is a far more impressive feat. Same goes for P-chem, which also forgives overcooking fish, broken sauces and fallen soufflés.

    These are sugar cookies (recipe I almost always use is here--only I add a little almond extract to my dough) and I used royal icing for these (confectioner's/meringue powder/water).

    I found a cookie cutter that will let me make nice large clean tiles for the elements yesterday. Hand cutting these with a ruler didn't work as well as I would have liked, so the next version will have a far more polished look for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! These are so SO great. As is the petri dish. I'm currently blowing off my Orgo, Bio, and Physics reading for the night to peruse food blogs and this was exactly what I needed to convince myself I made the right decision :D I really cannot wait to make these for the next party I go to...thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Okay, okay, I was impressed by the petri dish cookies, but this one is just stupendous! I have to mention this on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  6. So cool!

    I am tempted to forward this post to my husband (he'll love it) but I know that he will want me to make him a periodic table of biscuits if he see's yours!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is beautiful! I made a Periodic Table out of mini-cupcakes for National Chemistry Week. It was a nice practical way to accomplish the task and include all elements through 112. But it wasn't nearly as pretty as yours, and probably not as tasty either.

    ReplyDelete
  8. ahh...these are awesome! I really wish I had the baking talent to attempt to make these for my middle school science classes. I'm way too intimidated though. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. These are great!!

    Maybe next time you could include the lanthanide and actinide subgroups aswell... more cookies!

    :P

    ReplyDelete
  10. These are incredible! I want to tell you about my science romantic comedy, LOSING CONTROL, about a female scientist who wants proof that her boyfriend is "the one." The main character makes DNA cupcakes for her thesis committee. I love your cookies. Please email me at vweiss@phdproductions.com to hear more about our movie...

    ReplyDelete
  11. *coughs* AHEM, I do believe you ditched the metalloids group

    And I fully expect atomic numbers and mass in the next table =D

    ReplyDelete
  12. This WAS the coolest thing I'd ever seen... unitl I saw you sushi cupcakes!
    You've got a rare talent.

    sam.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Now you are dedicated, that must have taken forever!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fantastic idea! Must copy it immediately. Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What? No lanthanides or actinides? Where the f-block love?

    ReplyDelete
  16. My husband is an industrial chemist (charading as a program manager at the moment) and occasionally has to take morning tea, I can't wait to make these and your atoms for him! They'll have a ball with them (and because I know little about chemistry will be forgiven for them not being completely accurate - I'm thinking the atomic cookies).

    ReplyDelete
  17. You realise now all I can think about is going making this for my next MSc presentation meeting...
    I must say- love your science cookies.
    I'm always impressed at how many scientists are mean bakers too...:). I can make things that taste good...I'm still working slowly on the prettying it up part. You've given me so many geeky ideas. Thanks!
    And I agree...any half decent mark in O-chem gives you full right to make any kind of gingerbread house you please :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I LOVE these! I am an undergraduate in chemistry and a complete bake freak... Chemistry and baking is really quite alike, though my kitchen often smells nicer than the lab...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Can't wait to try this one .Thanks for share it! One question. You have 1/4 cup slivered almonds listed twice. did you mean that or should it be something else? Buy Viagra

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm glad Make Magazine found your blog! You inspired me to construct a periodic table of cupcakes for my book launch.
    http://jjhoutman.livejournal.com/32927.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. You need a cookie jar that just has the word CAT written on it. It would have a double sided false bottom that would randomly open on cookies that would be shaped like a dead cat or an alive cat. Schrodinger's Cookie Jar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger%27s_cat

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you SO much for this fabulous idea. I'm graduating from college this May with a degree in Biological Sciences and am planning on making these and probably also the gel electrophoresis cookies for my graduation party!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails