Well since I am trying to venture into cake decorating, a couple of my friends want to do cookies. Their b-day is coming up and I would love to give them a gift of cookie utensils. What does a beginner needs to start baking cookies? I mean besides the dough and icing. LOL.

Thanks,
Cecilia

Courage?

How 'bout a silpat or boxes of parchment paper and some wooden dowels for rolling out the dough, (or the rings for the end of their rolling pins from Bed, Bath, and Beyond type stores).

kos

Silpat i've seen at BBB, w/a 20% off - it's a good deal. I would also include a few cookie cutters as well. Recipes!

First, you need one of the best cookie recipes EVER!

Go to the article about decorating cookies and click No Fail Sugar Cookie. It's the BEST!

Learn that recipe inside and out. It took my a while to fully get that recipe down ex. only use large or extra large eggs, don't use salted butter, the right about of flavoring and many other things you'll learn with experience. I would make the recipe for fun, use fun cutter and try an icing. I use royal icing.

Bottles are great to detail with.

Don't be so hard on yourself. I'll look at something that I think is awful and everyone loves it. Go easy on yourself in the beginning, remember that you've just started.

Be creative. Cookies have just as endless possibilities as cakes do.

Have FUN!