Right here I’m demonstrating the way to embellish sugar cookies. I’ll stroll you thru 4 easy and approachable strategies which are a terrific place to begin for those who’re new to cookie adorning. Should you’re intimidated or nervous about making royal icing and making an attempt your hand at creating festively embellished cookies, this put up and video tutorial are for you.

Whereas I really like baking problem, in terms of adorning baked items, I wish to maintain issues easy. Very like the Piping Suggestions 101 tutorial I did for five primary (but lovely) methods to pipe frosting onto cupcakes, consider this as your Sugar Cookie Adorning 101 course.

Use These Adorning Methods on Any Minimize-Out Cookies

The cookies you see listed below are my traditional sugar cookies. These cookies, with their irresistible buttery vanilla taste and tender, thick facilities, are an exquisite base for adorning with icing. They maintain their form when baking and have a flat floor that’s excellent for adorning.

These cookie adorning strategies can all be used on different sorts of cut-out cookies, too:

Now Let’s Speak About Royal Icing

I’ve a separate put up all about royal icing with plenty of tips about the way to make it, however I’ve additionally included a printable recipe card under. Royal icing is my most popular sugar cookie icing as a result of it’s simple to work with, dries inside 1–2 hours, and doesn’t harden into cement (it’s on the softer facet!).

I particularly love this explicit royal icing as a result of you need to use it for each outlining and flooding your cookies.

It’s made with meringue powder, which takes the place of the uncooked egg whites present in conventional royal icing recipes. You could find meringue powder in some baking aisles, most craft shops with a baking part, and on-line; one container ought to final you a very long time.

Royal Icing Various: Glaze Icing

Should you’d favor to go along with one thing that’s a bit simpler to make, attempt my simple cookie icing. This opaque glaze-like icing doesn’t set/dry as shortly as royal icing (it takes about 24 hours) and it’s not ultimate for piping sharp element. That being mentioned, typically it’s simply the extra handy possibility!

Tint the Icing and Fill Your Piping Luggage

You’ll be able to maintain the icing white or tint the icing with gel meals coloring. To paint it, divide it into small bowls. Add gel meals coloring to every bowl and blend effectively.

Seize a piping bag for every coloration of icing. Match every with a coupler and piping tip. I sometimes use Wilton piping tip #4 for each outlining and flooding the cookie with icing. This can be a fantastic primary piping tip to have in your assortment. Once I’m utilizing a number of colours with the identical piping tip, I all the time use couplers. This makes it simple to swap piping ideas among the many totally different coloured baggage of icing. Spoon the icing into the piping bag.

• Clips: I exploit these clips to safe the tip of the piping bag, so the icing doesn’t leak out the tip of the bag.

Now let me present you the way to embellish sugar cookies with 4 easy strategies.

1. Flooding Icing: Piping a Single Layer of Icing

Let’s begin with essentially the most primary approach: adorning with a single layer of icing.

First, pipe an overview throughout your cookie. Then fill within the heart of the define—that is referred to as “flooding.” Go forward and add some sprinkles whereas the icing remains to be moist, as pictured on the snowflake- and sweet cane-shaped cookies under.

2. Piping Two Layers of Royal Icing

The following technique is a double layer of icing, which suggests you pipe and flood the cookies and let that layer of icing set, after which return later to pipe some particulars on high. Polka dots, stripes, swirls, or writing will stand out superbly with this technique. You’ll be able to change icing colours and/or piping ideas for a finer element.

Begin by piping and flooding the cookie with a layer of icing, identical to we did earlier than. Let that set for 1–2 hours, after which you may pipe on a second layer of icing particulars as soon as the primary layer has dried. Once more, you may velocity up the drying time by putting the iced cookies within the fridge.

So as to add some swirls on high of the pictured coronary heart cookies, I switched piping ideas from the Wilton #4 to the smaller Wilton #2. A smaller tip will pipe a extra outlined and detailed design.

3. Pipe Icing in Outlined Sections

I really like this look, as a result of if you’re solely utilizing one coloration, it provides the icing some dimension. And for those who’re utilizing a number of colours, this technique retains the colours from bleeding collectively.

Begin with one coloration, and pipe each different part or space of your cookie, then let it set earlier than you pipe the remaining sections/areas. For the pumpkin cookies, I define and flood the middle, after which the 2 sides, leaving area between every part. Let the icing dry for at the very least half-hour.

As soon as the icing is semi-set, you may go forward and fill the remaining sections with icing.

This “outlined sections” technique takes a bit extra time, however for those who’re adorning loads of cookies, it’s possible you’ll discover that by the point you end piping the primary sections on all of the cookies, the icing may have set sufficient to begin piping on the remaining sections.

4. Piping in Sections + Sprinkle Dip

This method provides the cookie that very same sectioned look as above, however you don’t have to attend half-hour for the primary part to set.

Begin by piping on the part you need to cowl with sprinkles or glowing sugar. Dip the cookie into the sprinkles, in order that they fully coat the icing. Then pipe in your remaining sections. Once more, you may change colours right here for those who’d like, and also you don’t have to fret concerning the colours bleeding collectively as a result of the primary coloration was lined in sprinkles.

For the flower cookies under, I used a mix of each strategies #3 and #4: I piped the circle within the heart first, after which dipped it in sprinkles. Then I piped on each different petal, and let these set earlier than going again and piping on the remaining petals.

Ensure to observe the video tutorial under to see me show all of those strategies. I hope this put up and video helps you overcome any fears you might have about cookie adorning, as a result of even easy strategies could make for lovely cookies. Simply take your time and have enjoyable with it!

Now you’re able to host a Cookie Adorning Day! 😉

Print

4 Simple Methods to Beautify Sugar Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 2 opinions

• 
  Writer: Sally
• 
  
  Prep Time: 5 minutes
• 
  
  Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
• 
  
  Complete Time: 5 minutes
• 
  
  Yield: 3 cups for two dozen cookies
• 
  
  Class: Dessert
• 
  
  Delicacies: American

---

Description

Right here is my traditional simple royal icing made with meringue powder, plus varied methods to make use of it for adorning cookies. You should utilize this conventional royal icing for each flooding and outlining your cookies. Ensure to observe the video tutorial under to see me show the adorning strategies.

---

---

Directions

1. Have your sugar cookies baked and cooled. You’ll be able to use this recipe, or your favourite recipe for sugar cookies. This icing is sufficient to ice 2 dozen cookies.
2. Make the Icing: Pour sifted confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and 9 Tablespoons of water into a big bowl. Utilizing a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat icing substances collectively on excessive velocity for 1.5–2 minutes. When lifting the whisk up off the icing, the icing ought to drizzle down and easy out inside 5–10 seconds. If it’s too thick, beat in additional water 1 Tablespoon at a time. I normally want 10 Tablespoons, however on notably dry days, I exploit as much as 12–14 Tablespoons. Remember the fact that the longer you beat the royal icing, the thicker it turns into. In case your royal icing is simply too skinny, simply maintain beating it to introduce extra air, OR you may add extra sifted confectioners’ sugar. See this video for those who want a visible.
3. Coloration the Icing: Should you’d wish to tint the icing, divide it into separate bowls for every coloration, or tint all the batch one coloration. A little bit gel meals coloring goes a great distance, so use a toothpick to dot the gel into the icing. Stir it in, after which add extra to deepen the colour if desired. Remember the fact that the extra you stir, the thicker the icing turns into. If wanted, stir in a number of drops of water to take care of the goal consistency.
4. Fill the Pastry Bag: Match a pastry bag with a small spherical piping tip (and use a coupler for those who plan to change icing colours and/or piping ideas), corresponding to Wilton piping tip #4. Fill the bag with icing, ensuring to depart a number of inches of area on the high of the bag. Twist to seal or use a clip.
5. Beautify Your Cookies:
   1. Simple Flooding: Utilizing a small spherical piping tip corresponding to Wilton piping tip #4, pipe an overview of icing throughout your cookie. Then fill within the heart of the define with extra icing. If desired, you may add some sprinkles whereas the icing remains to be moist.
   2. Two Layers of Icing: Begin by piping and flooding the cookie with a layer of icing, simply as described above. Let that set for 1–2 hours, after which pipe on a second layer of icing particulars as soon as the primary layer has dried, corresponding to swirls, handwriting, dots, and different designs. A smaller piping tip, corresponding to Wilton piping tip #2, is right for intricate designs/particulars. Let the icing set once more earlier than you stack and retailer the cookies.
   3. Piping Outlined Sections: This look provides the icing ornament some dimension. Additionally, for those who’re utilizing a number of colours, this technique retains the colours from bleeding collectively. Begin with one coloration, and utilizing Wilton piping tip #4, pipe each different part or space of your cookie, then let it set earlier than you pipe the remaining sections/areas. For the pictured pumpkin and tree cookies, I define and flood the middle, after which the 2 sides, leaving area between every part. Let the icing dry for at the very least half-hour, till the icing has begun to set. As soon as the icing is semi-set, you may go forward and fill the remaining sections with icing.
   4. Piping Outlined Sections + Sprinkles: This method provides the cookie that very same sectioned look as #3, however you don’t have to attend half-hour for the primary part to set. Utilizing Wilton piping tip #4, begin by piping on the part you need to cowl with sprinkles or glowing sugar. Dip the cookie into the sprinkles, in order that they fully coat the icing. Then pipe in your remaining sections.
6. Let the Icing Set: When utilized to cookies in a skinny layer, royal icing fully dries in about 2 hours at room temperature. If icing consistency is simply too skinny and runny, it’s going to take longer to dry. If the icing is utilized very thick on cookies, it’s going to additionally take longer to dry. Should you’re layering royal icing onto cookies for particular designs and wish it to set shortly, place cookies within the fridge to assist velocity it up.

Notes

1. Make Forward Directions: You’ll be able to put together this royal icing 2–3 days forward of time. I like to recommend transferring it to a smaller bowl or container and tightly sealing for as much as 3 days within the fridge. If you’re prepared to make use of it, let it come to room temperature, then combine it with a whisk a number of occasions, as it could have separated. If it thickened, whisk in a number of drops of water.
2. Freezing Directions: Any leftover royal icing might be frozen for as much as 2 months. Place leftover royal icing into zip-top freezer baggage. When you’ve got greater than 1 coloration, every coloration ought to be in its personal bag. Earlier than sealing, squeeze as a lot air out of the bag as potential. Freeze on a flat shelf floor in your freezer. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and convey to room temperature earlier than utilizing once more.
3. Freezing Embellished Cookies: Embellished sugar cookies freeze effectively for as much as 3 months. Watch for the icing to set fully earlier than layering between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container. Thaw within the fridge or at room temperature. 
4. Hold Royal Icing Moist: If you’re not working immediately with the royal icing (for instance, you’re adorning cookies however you continue to have some icing left within the bowl that you just intend to make use of subsequent), place a moist paper towel immediately on the floor of the royal icing. This prevents it from hardening.
5. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer) | Meringue Powder | Gel Meals Coloring | Disposable or Reusable Piping Luggage | Bag Clips or Ties | Couplers | Wilton Piping Tip #4 | Wilton Piping Tip #2
6. Optionally available Flavors: Be at liberty so as to add 1/2 teaspoon of your favourite flavored extract, corresponding to lemon, orange, maple, peppermint, and so on. while you add the water. Style after the icing comes collectively, then beat in additional if desired. It’s also possible to use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.