Decorating Cookies
Have you ever decorated cookies? I have decorated thousands of cookies, in fact, I lost count a long time ago. Obviously I am a fan, and I would love to share some of the basics with you. Decorating cookies takes time and patience, and it is a great activity for people of all ages to enjoy. To get started, you will need a rolling pin, cookie cutters, and ingredients to make cookies and icing. Check out these user friendly recipes above!
Supplies needed to decorate cookies:
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE COOKIES AND ICING
ROLLING PIN
CUTTERS
BAKING SHEET
SILPAT, PARCHMENT PAPER, or NON-STICK COOKING SPRAY
PIPING BAGS
TOOTHPICKS OR SKEWERS
Don't worry if you're missing some of the supplies I have listed above. Some easy substitutes most people have at home are a glass or metal bottle as a rolling pin, a cup to cut cookies into round shapes, and sandwich bags with rubber bands to use as piping bags.Additional supplies that add an extra level of fun to the project are:
SPRINKLES
SANDING SUGAR
EDIBLE LUSTER DUST
FOOD COLORING GELS
See the pictures above for some of my favorite tools. Cookie decorating can be time consuming, which is a great thing if you have kiddos at home and you are looking for an entertaining project. A plus side to this project is you can easily leave and come back to it between the decorating steps.
Baking the cookies is the first step. Once the cookies have cooled, they can be stored in an airtight container if you don't have time to decorate them. PARENT TIP-cookie baking is a wonderful, hands on way to talk to your littles about math and science (fractions, measuring, liquids vs. solids, the science behind baking). Now that your cookies are baked- let's talk icing.
TEAM ICING over here, who's with me!?!?! Once your icing is made, you will need to fill your piping bags. I place my bags in a cup as a holder, then I fill it with icing. After the bag is filled 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to the top, I pull my bag out of the cup. Then, I twist the top of the piping bag and use a clip or rubber band to keep it closed. Before you start icing, you will take scissors and BARELY snip the pointed tip of the piping bag. I outline aka "pipe" my cookies before I fill in aka "flood" the cookies with icing.
There are plenty of other ways to decorate. The main thing to do is-HAVE FUN with it!! If you want to learn more in depth decorating techniques and details on how I make my recipes, checkout my latest virtual cookie workshop on Instagram IGTV @sallysconfections . Can't wait to see all of your creations!
-XOXO-
Sally