Beginner Guide to Cookie Decorating

In 2008, when I started with cookie decorating I only had sandwich bags and toothpicks. If you want to decorate cookies, start with what you have. Don’t wait till you have resources to get all the tools out there.

Heart cookie decorated with 15 second royal icing consistency.

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COOKIE DECORATING

Cookies and icing both are the backbones of cookie decorating. Without a good cookie recipe, cookies will taste bad; they will spread too much, or something else. And icing? Icing should be more than just an accessory. It should have its flair. Cookies and icing should stand out on their own, and when used together, they should complement each other.

Ultimate Recipes for Royal Icing

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ROLL OUT COOKIE RECIPES FOR DECORATING

There are many cut-out recipes out there. The recipe I use the most is a cross between shortbread and sugar cookies (101 Cut-out sugar cookies).

Rolled out cookie dough with star cutouts.

ROYAL ICING GUIDE

Icing brings cookies to life in a way I would have never imagined. To this day, it still amazes me how icing can transform a cookie into a masterpiece.

If you have never worked with royal icing before, I suggest you start small. Make a small batch recipe. Color it, thin it with water, and decorate cookies. It may surprise you that royal icing takes hours to dry and that, in fact, it dries hard—not rock hard, but not soft like buttercream.

Royal icing in an airtight container.

MORE ICING RECIPES

One size doesn’t fit all, which is true about royal icing. If you prefer buttercream and softer-bite icing to decorate cookies, don’t despair. There are more options; stick around.

  • American Buttercream (image 1) – this is a classic. This buttercream crusts, but not enough for the cookies to be packaged individually.
  • Crusting Buttercream Frosting (images 2-3) – hybrid buttercream for decorated cookies.
  • Glaze Icing (image 4) – This icing contains no eggs and doesn’t dry hard like royal icing. It’s more elastic than traditional royal icing. It can’t be used for cement to build gingerbread houses or piped flowers.
  • Marshmallow Fondant (image 5): This icing is similar to play dough; you need to roll it out. Try my small batch; homemade marshmallow fondant is so tasty.
  • Old-Fashioned Crusting Buttercream (image 6) -made with melted butter.
Various cookies decorating with buttercream and glaze.

ACCENT COOKIE DECORATING MEDIUMS

  • Modeling Chocolate – is excellent for small decorations. My friend Amber of Sweet Ambs made beautiful cookies decorated with modeling chocolate accents.
  • Frosting Sheets (image 1): Premade frosting sheets can be stamped, written on with edible markers, painted, or airbrushed. They can also be cut into decorative shapes using craft punches.
  • Edible Lace (image 2)- This delicate lace can be used to decorate cookies. How do you make SugarVeil Lace?
  • Wafer Paper (images 3-4) – Edible paper that can be used to makes wafer flowers and decorations.
Found different cookies decorated with wafer paper, frosting sheet and lace accents.

COOKIE DECORATING TOOLS

When starting your cookie-decorating journey, you don’t need a whole arsenal of tools. For example, when I started in 2008, I used sandwich bags and toothpicks to decorate cookies. Gradually, over the years, I built my ultimate toolbox.

To start, you need baked cookies, prepared royal icing, piping bags (sandwich bags), and a toothpick.

BASIC TOOLS FOR DECORATING

  • Rolling Guides are needed for evenly rolled cookie dough. You can use cheap 1/4-inch wood rods from the lumber yard.
  • Disposable Piping Bags – you can start with sandwich bags (I love Walmart Brand).
  • Scribe Needle Tool / Boo Boo Stick – you can start with a toothpick.
  • Cookie Cutters or Templates – Make your own cookie-cutter templates
  • Food Colors – use concentrated gel colors. I like to use Americolor Brand, Chefmaster.
  • Spatulas & Bowls – for coloring and mixing.
  • A spray Bottle or a Dropper – for thinning icing.
  • Paint Brushes
  • Edible Markers
  • Piping Tips & Couplers
  • Wax paper, Parchment, Food Wrap
Plastic and metal cookie cutters.