The right way to Embellish Sugar Cookies (4 Methods + Video)

Right here I’m demonstrating the way to enhance sugar cookies. I’ll stroll you thru 4 easy and approachable methods which might be an amazing place to begin should you’re new to cookie adorning. When you’re intimidated or nervous about making royal icing and attempting your hand at creating festively adorned cookies, this put up and video tutorial are for you.

Whereas I really like baking problem, relating to adorning baked items, I prefer to hold issues easy. Very like the Piping Ideas 101 tutorial I did for five fundamental (but stunning) 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 here are my basic 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 good for adorning.

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

Now Let’s Discuss About Royal Icing

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

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’ll 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 Different: Glaze Icing

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

Tint the Icing and Fill Your Piping Baggage

You’ll be able to hold 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 usually use Wilton piping tip #4 for each outlining and flooding the cookie with icing. This can be a great fundamental 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 straightforward to swap piping suggestions among the many completely different coloured baggage of icing. Spoon the icing into the piping bag.

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

Now let me present you the way to enhance sugar cookies with 4 easy methods.

1. Flooding Icing: Piping a Single Layer of Icing

Let’s begin with probably the most fundamental method: adorning with a single layer of icing.

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

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 prime. Polka dots, stripes, swirls, or writing will stand out fantastically with this technique. You’ll be able to change icing colours and/or piping suggestions 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’ll be able to pipe on a second layer of icing particulars as soon as the primary layer has dried. Once more, you’ll be able to velocity up the drying time by inserting the iced cookies within the fridge.

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

3. The right way to Pipe Icing in Outlined Sections

I really like this look, as a result of in case you are solely utilizing one coloration, it provides the icing some dimension. And should you’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 house between every part. Let the icing dry for no less than half-hour.

As soon as the icing is semi-set, you’ll be able to go forward and fill the remaining sections with icing.

This “outlined sections” technique takes a bit extra time, however should you’re adorning a variety 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 could have set sufficient to begin piping on the remaining sections.

4. Piping in Sections + Sprinkle Dip

This system 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 utterly coat the icing. Then pipe in your remaining sections. Once more, you’ll be able to change colours right here should you’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 beneath, I used a mixture of each methods #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.

Be certain to look at the video tutorial beneath to see me exhibit all of those methods. I hope this put up and video helps you overcome any fears you might have about cookie adorning, as a result of even easy methods could make for stunning 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 Embellish Sugar Cookies

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

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

---

Description

Right here is my basic straightforward royal icing made with meringue powder, plus varied methods to make use of it for adorning cookies. You need to use this conventional royal icing for each flooding and outlining your cookies. Be certain to look at the video tutorial beneath to see me exhibit the adorning methods.

---

---

Directions

1. Put together: Watch the video on the way to make royal icing so that you get an thought of what the ultimate consistency ought to be.
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 elements 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 often want 10 Tablespoons, however on significantly dry days, I exploit as much as 12–14 Tablespoons. Take into account that the longer you beat the royal icing, the thicker it turns into. In case your royal icing is just too skinny, simply hold beating it to introduce extra air, OR you’ll be able to add extra sifted confectioners’ sugar.
3. Colour the Icing: When you’d prefer to tint the icing, divide it into separate bowls for every coloration, or tint your complete batch one coloration. A bit of 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. Take into account that the extra you stir, the thicker the icing turns into. If wanted, stir in a couple of drops of water to keep up the goal consistency.
4. Fill the Pastry Bag: Match a pastry bag with a small spherical piping tip (and use a coupler should you plan to modify icing colours and/or piping suggestions), equivalent to Wilton piping tip #4. Fill the bag with icing, ensuring to depart a couple of inches of house on the prime of the bag. Twist to seal or use a clip.
5. Embellish Your Cookies:
   1. Simple Flooding: Utilizing a small spherical piping tip equivalent 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’ll be able to add some sprinkles whereas the icing continues 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, equivalent to swirls, handwriting, dots, and different designs. A smaller piping tip, equivalent 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, should you’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 house between every part. Let the icing dry for no less than half-hour, till the icing has begun to set. As soon as the icing is semi-set, you’ll be able to go forward and fill the remaining sections with icing.
   4. Piping Outlined Sections + Sprinkles: This system 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 utterly coat the icing. Then pipe in your remaining sections.
6. Let the Icing Set: When utilized to cookies in a skinny layer, royal icing utterly dries in about 2 hours at room temperature. If icing consistency is just too skinny and runny, it is going to take longer to dry. If the icing is utilized very thick on cookies, it is going to additionally take longer to dry. When you’re layering royal icing onto cookies for particular designs and want it to set rapidly, 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. Whenever you’re prepared to make use of it, let it come to room temperature, then combine it with a whisk a couple of occasions, as it might have separated. If it thickened, whisk in a couple of drops of water.
2. Freezing Directions: Any leftover royal icing could be frozen for as much as 2 months. Place leftover royal icing into zip-top freezer baggage. If in case you have 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 doable. 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 utterly earlier than layering between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container. Thaw within the fridge or at room temperature. 
4. Maintain Royal Icing Moist: Whenever you’re not working straight 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 straight 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 Baggage | Bag Clips or Ties | Couplers | Wilton Piping Tip #4 | Wilton Piping Tip #2
6. Elective Flavors: Be at liberty so as to add 1/2 teaspoon of your favourite flavored extract, equivalent to lemon, orange, maple, peppermint, and so forth. whenever you add the water. Style after the icing comes collectively, then beat in additional if desired. You may also use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.