C is for Christmas Cookies!!! I'm kicking off the week with recipes and tips for Christmas cookie decorating! Maybe you're new here. Maybe you've been inspired by decorated cookies you've seen on Pinterest but are feeling a little intimidated. Maybe you're an old pro looking for a new recipe to try. I'm here for ya!
Buckle in, babies. I'm going to hit you with a lot of cookie decorating info!
My first and most important tip: Cookies are not meant to be perfect; they're meant to be EATEN.
Do not, I repeat, do NOT stress about what you as the baker might view as imperfections. Here's the reaction every recipient of your cookies will have, "Oh! These are the CUTEST cookies!" I promise. This is my guarantee. Do not be intimidated by cookies you see that are made by people (and I love them and they're dear friends) who make cookies for a living, decorate 100s of cookies a week, and might achieve their results with the help of a projector.
Ok? Ok.
You're going to need a great cut-out cookie recipe.
Here are a few that are perfect for Christmas:
- perfect every time cut-out cookies (vanilla-almond cookies)
- vanilla bean cut-out cookies
- buttermint cut-out cookies
- butter pecan cut-out cookies
- and of course, gingerbread cookies
For decorating, you'll want a foolproof royal icing recipe.
Here's my Royal Icing recipe. Be sure to read through all of the tips included in this post. It's a loooooong one, but I took royal icing questions from blog readers and answered them all in the post.
Tools for decorating cookies.
You could spend a pretty penny on cookie decorating supplies. Here are the basics you'll want:
- disposable icing bags: I like these rather than "tipless" bags, which are thinner and more likely to burst, especially for newbie decorators. Do not under any circumstances (unless it's midnight and your cookies are be delivered at 8am) use ziptop bags. Don't do it. I'll be watching. (That sounds creepy.)
- couplers and tips: use these to control the size of your piping for outlining and detail work. To start, I recommend #1, 1.5, 2, and 3. These are all "plain tips." If you're following a specific tutorial, look for what is used. This PME brand tip is my absolute favorite.
- gel paste food coloring: these are much easier to find these days. I used to drive an hour to the cake decorating store in town back in the day. I recommend Americolor or Chefmaster brand. Find them both on Amazon or in your favorite bakery supply store.
- squeeze bottles: you'll use these to flood your cookies with thinned icing. So much easier than using piping bags. These are easy to pick up at craft stores or online. I love the Sweet Sugarbelle line with their removable tips. And, no, you cannot reuse hair color bottles...that's a serious question I've gotten in the past. Just...no.
- food coloring pens: just the ticket for easy decorating and for adding details onto dried icing.
- toothpicks: you'll use these to guide icing to edges and pop large air bubbles.
- oscillating fan: this isn't a must, but helpful if you have one. Royal icing looks so shiny when wet, and it's a little disappointing when it dries matte. That's how royal icing works, but using a fan during the first part of the drying process helps it keep a little shine.
Game plan for decorating cookies.
Time wise? Well, that depends on how many colors you're mixing and how detailed your design is. Plan for several hours. Not just a couple, SEVERAL. You might have some inactive time in your decorating as well when you have to wait for one section to dry before continuing on.
My preferred way is to bake my cookies the day before I want to decorate. That way, on decorating day, I start with a fresh mind and a clean kitchen!
If you're making a lot, say for gifts for neighbors and friends, you can freeze the cookies at any step along the way. (OK, don't freeze them when the icing is wet.) I share allllll of the details on freezing cookies here.
Decorated Christmas cookie ideas for beginners.
Just starting out? Yay! You're going to have so much fun! Here are a few ideas to start (click the links to go to the tutorials):
Marbled Christmas Ornament Cookies...talk about a big bang for your buck! These are easy peasy and oh-so-glamorous!
Christmas Tree Cookie Pops...anything on a stick gets extra "cute points," am I right?
Painted Christmas Tree Cookies...Oh! I love these! You'll only use white icing and then "paint" on the branches.
How to decorate Christmas cookies with kids.
No, it doesn't necessarily involve wine (for you).
1. You'll want to prep EVERYTHING head of time.
2. Sprinkles, sprinkles, sprinkles.
3. Try to let go of your inner control freak. (This is a toughie for me.)
5. Go super simple and use food coloring pens - details here.
How to decorate gingerbread cookies.
I have strong feelings about gingerbread cookies. The icing shouldn't take away from that ginger taste or gingerbread texture! Therefore, I decorate almost ALL of my gingerbread cookies using only outlines in white icing.
I'll occasionally add a pop of red or a brush of gold luster dust, but usually any pop of color comes from sprinkles, sanding sugar, or add-ons. It's the way to go!
Find all of my Christmas decorated cookies by clicking to "Christmas cookies" from the navigation bar up top, or just click here. You'll find tutorials like these.
If you make cookies with the help of this post, using these recipes or ideas, please post and tag me on Instagram. I WANT TO SEE!!! Instagram: @bridget350
Happy baking, guys!