Are you celebrating Pi Day today? It is a day for mathematicians to get excited since March 14th is 3/14. It’s also fair game for anyone who likes pies…or cookies in this case! The Greek letter, Pi, is used to represent the ratio of a circle’s circumference (measurement around the circle) to its diameter (measurement across the circle)– and it is always 3.14. Want to learn more– check out www.piday.org. This year of 2015 is especially noteworthy since the next digits of Pi are also noted in today’s date: 3.1415 so 3/14/15. If you really want to get particular you can send up a cheer at 9:26 and 53 seconds since the first ten digits of Pi are 3.141592653 . My son’s math class had a Pi celebration with pies this week and I sent in these cookies to add to the fun. I also sent a few to my friend who recently earned tenure in her position as a math professor. (Yeah, so very happy for you!) Math brains appreciate quirky occasions like Pi Day and everyone appreciates cookies so this is a win-win situation!

So…it’s not likely that you have a Pi cookie cutter in your collection. I don’t either, although I may by this time next year. Check out this cutter from Copper Gifts.  Make a template to creat your own Pi shape. Start with a square or rectangle cookie cutter. This helps you have consistency in shape and size, as well as a straight edge on top. Use cardstock or cardboard to cut a shape of Pi that fits within your cookie cutter square. Then when you roll out your dough, cut it into squares first with the cookie cutter and use a sharp knife to cut away the small bit of extra dough around your Pi shape. Remember that these are simply cookies and will be eaten in three or four quick bites– do not be hard on yourself as you try to create the world’s most perfect Pi shape. Just cookies! Leave them plain or ice them with royal icing. I tried for a blue to match the school’s colors but I came up with a baby blue rather than royal blue. Did the kids mind? Nope!

If you need a standard cut-out cookie recipe I often turn to Bridget Edward’s recipe found on her site Bake at 350. She has excellent step by step directions and if you prefer a cookbook in your kitchen rather than a website, her cookie cookbooks are a necessity for any cookie baker.