Cookie decorators take plain cookies, and transform them into unique works of art, using a variety of edible ingredients. You might worry that cookie decorating will be too hard to learn. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning cookie decorating and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills.
What is Cookie Decorating?
Cookie decorating is a type of art that involves adding color, texture, and unique designs to cookies. Cookie decorators use a variety of special techniques. For example, flooding is a common technique, and involves flooding the cookie with runny icing to create a base color. Using a piping bag to create designs is another common way to decorate. Cookie decorators also hand-paint with brushes and add sprinkles and other types of decorations. Some even use a specialized airbrush to create designs.
Benefits of Learning Cookie Decorating
If you know how to decorate cookies, you can make them to celebrate many different types of special occasions like birthdays, graduations, and holidays. A hand-made cookie can be a great gift because it is so unique, and takes a lot of time and effort to make.
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While many people decorate cookies to celebrate special occasions, some do it simply because it is a lot of fun. Decorating involves experimenting with different colors, designs, and techniques, and can be an enjoyable way to express yourself creatively. It can also be fun to do as a group such as with friends or family members.
Is Cookie Decorating Easy to Learn?
Cookie decorating is something that most people can learn to do, however, this type of art is not as simple as you might think. There are some specialized techniques involved such as making the proper consistency of royal icing, and drying your cookies so they don’t crack. It can be a good idea to start out with a cookie decorating class to learn the basics. A class can save you a lot of wasted time and frustration. Mastering cookie decorating also takes a certain amount of practice. You’ll be creating a lot of fine details, and that might not come naturally right away, but with practice, you’ll get more comfortable with what you’re doing. In order to decorate cookies, you also need to get creative. Again, this is something that you can develop with time, practice, and some tips from an expert decorator.
What You Need to Know Before Learning Cookie Decorating
If you’re planning to learn cookie decorating, there are a few things you might want to think about before you start. Being prepared can make your learning process easier and more enjoyable.
One important thing to do is to allow yourself lots of time. Every stage of the cooking-decorating process takes a while, and if you rush, your designs probably won’t turn out as well as you want them to. For instance, you need to allow plenty of time for your base icing to dry before you start working on top of it. Depending on where you live, and what time of the year it is, this could be anywhere from a few hours, to more than a day. You also don’t want to rush through the decorating process. It can take longer than you think to create all the fine details that go into a decorated cookie.
Another thing to know when you’re starting out is to be careful with your online research. There is a huge amount of cookie decorating information online, and when you start out, you’ll probably find yourself doing a lot of Google searches to find answers to all of the questions that will pop up. Just remember that anyone can post anything online, and not everything you read there is going to be good advice. Cookie maker Ericka warns, “[w]ith this recent explosion of cookiers, has come with A LOT of advice on how to do things. Just search the amount of cookie decorating Facebook groups and you’ll find all the advice in the world!” She goes on to explain that some of this advice is wrong, and that this incorrect information can spread quickly online. She says, “[w]hile everyone has the best intentions to help others, sometimes it becomes a giant version of telephone. Remember that game? One person whispers something to another and they keep going down the line and by the time you get to the 8th person, the message is completely different. THAT is what I commonly see online and it’s doing us a bit of a disservice. Again, everyone has the best intentions but there’s just a lot of bad information out there.”
What You Need to Learn Cookie Decorating
One of the great things about cookie decorating is that you can use a lot of fancy supplies if you want to, but you don’t have to. There are lots of cookie-decorating tools and supplies out there, like paints, edible markers, and even airbrushes. However, your decorating supplies can also be as simple as a toothpick, and sandwich bag with the corner cut off for piping.
Cookies and Icing
At minimum, you’ll need cookies and icing if you want to learn cookie decorating. There are hundreds of different cookie recipes online, but it’s generally best to look for a recipe that says “roll-out cookies, ” or “cut-out cookies, ” since these types of cookies are designed to hold their shape and have a flat surface, which makes them good for decorating. You can cut out your cookies with cookie cutters, or you could use a paper template and a knife. If you don’t want to bake your cookies from scratch, you could try pre-made dough.
Most cookie decorators use royal icing to decorate their cookies. This is made out of meringue powder, powdered sugar, and water. Experienced decorators advise that mastering royal icing is actually one of the hardest parts of learning cookie decorating. If you don’t make your royal icing correctly, you’ll have a lot of trouble when it comes to decorating your cookies. If the icing is too thick, it won’t spread properly, and if it's too thin, it will flow off the side of the cookie. However, as a beginning decorator, it can be difficult to know what the perfect consistency is. You’ll get a better feel for this with practice, however, it can also be very helpful to take a class, where an experienced cookie decorator can show you exactly what royal icing should look and feel like.
Decorations and Decorating Tools
When it comes to decorating tools, you’ll find a wide variety of different options. You’ll probably need some kind of pastry bag to decorate with. Pastry bags often come with a variety of different tips. If you don’t want to buy a pastry bag, you can simply use a sandwich bag with the corner cut off.
Other common cookie-decorating tools include bushes, paints, edible markers, scribe tools, luster dusts, fondant, stencils, and sprinkles. Some people also use airbrushes. However, if you’re just starting out, you can keep it as simple as a toothpick, and buy more decorating supplies over time. If you take a cookie decorating class, decorating supplies are often included.
A Dehydrator or a Small Fan
A dehydrator or a small fan is not necessary, but can be helpful in the cookie decorating process. After you put down your base layer or royal icing, you need to let it dry completely before you can work on top of it, and that can take a long time–more than a day in some places. A dehydrator or fan can speed up the process. A dehydrator works by moving air across the top of the cookies, which removes moisture, and helps them dry. If you don’t want to buy a dehydrator, you could also use a small table fan to blow air around the cookies, and help them dry more quickly.
Key Takeaways
- Cookie decorating is the art of transforming plain cookies into unique works of art.
- Learning this skill will allow you to make unique gifts, and can also give you a fun, creative outlet.
- Most people can learn cookie decorating, however, there are some specialized techniques involved.
- If you’re new to cookie decorating, don’t forget to allow yourself lots of time to work.
- When you research cookie decorating techniques online, be aware that not all online information is accurate.
- In order to learn cookie decorating, you’ll need cookies and icing.
- You’ll also need decorations and tools if you want to decorate cookies.
- A fan or a dehydrator is helpful, but not required, for a cookie decorator.
- Contact CourseHorse to find out about options for in-person and online cookie decorating classes, including private group sessions.