Get Started with Sugar Cookie Decorating

Decorated sugar cookies are a true labor of love, and the perfect way to unleash your creativity! If you’re ready to dive into the sugar cookie universe, here are our top 5 decorating tips!

Cookie expert Megan is the artist behind @downtowndoughTO and our #BakeYouHappy cookie-teacher-in-chief. We’ve put together an activity book that combines two of Megan‘s cookie sets: summer fiesta cookies and dessert-shaped cookies, including recipes, step-by-step instructions, cookie templates, tips, and comprehensive FAQ sections.

Whether you've got the cookie decorating bug or are just starting your sugar cookie career, Megan has a #BakeYouHappy class for you! We just launched our August Cookie FOUR Pack which features four awesome cookie classes for ONE low price - perfect for decorators of all levels! Each one focuses on a different technique from the basics to lettering and even fun designs! Check it out here.

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Practice, Practice, Practice

We all know practice makes perfect and cookie decorating is no exception. The key behind all those crisp and clean lines you see is a lot of practice, mistakes, and patience. The more you work at it, the better you’ll get and we know you can do it! Pro tip: you can use a sheet of parchment paper rather than cookies to practice your piping on to get a better hang of it (unless you want to have a ton of tester cookies to snack on ;)).

Tipless vs. Piping Tips

Tipless piping bags are new and trendy and here to stay! If you’re comfortable with using piping tips for your cookie decorating, then by all means - carry on! But if you’re looking for an easy way to take control over your cookies, then tipless bags may be your next move! These thin and disposable bags are perfect for cookie decorating because they have a very thin seam and a finished point so you can cut the tip to the size that you want (no more settling for whatever piping tips you have in your stash). Using these bags allows you to achieve super detailed line work and also works perfectly for flooding.

Icing Consistencies

Royal icing consistency is very important when it comes to decorating your cookies! A common issue people have is their lines breaking which could mean that the icing is too thick or if the line doesn’t hold its shape, it may be too thin!

Here’s a guide for icing consistencies:

Detail - toothpaste consistency

Flood - 10-15 second icing

Hybrid - 20-25 second icing

The seconds refer to the amount of time it should take your icing to smooth back out completely if you scrape your spatula through it (so that the peaks created by your spatula are gone).

Take Your Time

Cookie decorating is an art and needs time! Depending on how intricate your sugar cookie design may be, it could take 30 minutes to over an hour for each cookie but taking your time will definitely pay off in the end. Slow it down, take your time, and enjoy the process!

Invest in the Right Tools

If you’re ready to dive into the cookie decorating world, it’s time to load up your tool belt. Investing in the right tools can make a real difference and will be well worth it in the end! Here are some tools you may need:

Penblade - a super sharp knife perfect for hand cutting cookies (such a good way of getting super intricate details).

Booboo Stick - a dual purpose tool perfect for lifting out finer details once you’ve cut your dough, and moving your royal icing around.

Tipless Piping Bags - a total game changer that’ll allow for more control and finer details!

🍪💗 GET YOUR COOKIE ON! 💗🍪

Ready to become the cookie decorator you’ve always dreamed of being? Or perhaps just want to learn a new skill? Learn the foundational skills to decorate sugar cookies in our activity book, The Sweetest Summer Party Cookies Activity Book , from cookie expert Megan @downtowndoughto

Inside this activity book, you’ll find everything you need to know to get started with cookie decorating, including:

Getting your sugar cookie recipe just right
Understanding royal icing consistencies, when to use which and how your environment plays into it
What to look for in your cookie decorating tools
How to trace and flood your cookies
Piping techniques to build dimensions, texture, and layers of details that make your cookies pop!
& So much more!

Click here to check it out!

Practice, Practice, Practice

Tipless vs. Piping Tips

Icing Consistencies

Take Your Time

Invest in the Right Tools

Congratulations!