There’s probably no sweet treat more versatile than the cookie; from chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal, to snicker doodles, ginger snaps, macarons—the list is as endless as any kid’s imagination! You can also enjoy them in a variety of ways. You can dunk them in milk, sandwich a healthy scoop of ice cream between two pieces, or use them as cake toppers. They can even serve as the main ingredient in your milkshakes!
Perhaps the best part is that it’s relatively easy to bake cookies. All you really need is some patience, creativity, and practice.
But if you’re looking for something that’s a bit more challenging, up your game with some cookie decorating. And this article has some handy tips for your cookie-decorating journey.
#1 Stock up on the Right Supplies
Depending on what kind of decorating you’re going to be doing, it’s always good to be prepared. Get started with some cookie cutters, piping bags, a decorating tip set, and some food coloring. This serves as a foundation for your cookie decorating kit. Once you’ve mastered using these, you can level up to a more advanced set of tools.
Cookie cutters will get your cookies into shape before they’re baked. Piping bags will hold your icing and allow for better control, and a decorating tip set will allow you to experiment with different piping techniques. Food coloring will add that extra flair to your icing.
#2 Good Royal Icing
Royal icing is considered the king of all cookie icing because of how it sets to a hard consistency. You won’t have to worry about smearing your work of art! It’s made of water, egg white, confectioner’s sugar, cream of tartar, and flavoring (depending on your preference). We love this Royal Icing recipe from AllRecipes.com.
The first thing you need to consider is your egg whites. In a previous article, we showed you how to separate an egg. Cream of Tartar is necessary because it stabilizes your icing, making it quicker to dry. You also need to make sure that you sift your confectioner’s sugar before adding it in to avoid lumps.
#3 Choosing Your Icing Consistency
There are three kinds of Royal Icing consistency: detail icing, outline icing, and flooding icing.
Detail icing is made by beating it until stiff peaks form. You’ll be able to create little details with your unique icing tips, such as stars, twirls, and the like.
For outline icing, you’ll need to add a little water to detail icing until it achieves a texture similar to toothpaste. This is what you use for writing and creating outlines.
Here are some Icing recipes you can try
For flooding icing, you’ll need to add more water and mix it in using a spatula.. Doing so gets you a consistency that will set in a smooth, glossy finish. Don’t use a mixer because it will add air bubbles, which you don’t want.
We hope this article helps you learn to decorate your cookies like a pro. The great thing about cookie decorating is seeing your cookie through from creation to beautification. Remember that a cookie that looks as good as it tastes is a sensation in any gathering; whether it’s for dessert, a giveaway, or even a snack enjoyed at recess. Enjoy!
Tell us your cookie decorating tips in the comments!
