I am going to do some cookies for my daughters birthday party. I want to decorate them real nice. I have been reading tips and everything on this site for a few weeks now.
Do you have any advice or tips that you can share with me.

I am going to do cutout sugar cookies in the shape of butterflies.
I have baked plenty of cookies so I am not worried about that but I have always just slapped on the frosting and trew on some colored sugar.
I want to make these look Great!

HAVE FUN!

Decorating is sooo much fun. Let's see...Make sure your consistency is right. You can test it by making peaks and watch them fall.

If using color....royal icing (if that's what your using) a little goes a long way.

Use silpat mats for sugar cookies- they come out very evenly cooked- if you don't have them, don't worry about it.

Don't use the same bags that you use for buttercream. They grease that is in buttercream-that stays in the bags- is not good for royal icing.

Check out the article on "how to decorate cookies" and other recipes (No fail sugar, Royal icing for decorated cookies, etc.)

I'll keep thinking and get back to you. Make sure you post your photos, we love to see your work.

Good luck,
Steph

Definitely check out Antonia74's article, "How to Bake and Decorate Cookies." She shares a lot of tips that are very helpful.

Here's the link: http://cakecentral.com/article54-How-To-Bake--Decorate-Cookies.html

Icing consistency is key. Too thick and it won't work easily, too thin and it will be all over the place. The article gives good tips on how to tell if your icing is the right consistency. I find that royal icing (antonia74's recipe) is great to work with. I add some vanilla and almond extracts to give it little better flavor and it actually tastes great on the cookies (and I hated royal icing until I found this recipe and added extracts).

I have checked out the tips area you both are referring too. I even printed it out so I can have it right there with me.
Thanks for the advise.

2rsws -
Here is another great tutorial like Antonia's. There are some terrific photos as well.

http://www.ladycakes.com/color_flow_cookie.htm

Good luck!

kos

I hadn't seen the tutorial on Ladycakes, I guess after Father's Day, I'll have to try the royal icing. My kid's love Alice's, but I guess they will have to SUFFER!! Thanks Kos!!

Also, 2rsws, it really helps to roll your dough out on wax paper and put it in the fridge for a little while before you cut them. They are easier to cut and don't s p r e a d out when they bake.

K8-T

How much flavoring do you add to your icing? I always add some but never alot because I'm afraid of over doing it.

Also, a while back I printed up a chocolate chip rolled cookie dough. I used it this weekend to make cut out graduation caps and it worked great. I also, tried one on a stick for a cookie bouquet and it worked for that too. So you may want to give this receipe a try too. I think it tastes a little better than the no fails.

Thanks for the advise. I never thought to put the rolled dough in the fidge.
I will try that.

kay52178 - Could you post the recipe for chocolate chip rolled cookie dough? I'd love to try it! I looked on this site but didn't find it. Thanks!

Well I did the cutouts this weekend. I used some of the tips given. It did make it a bit easier.
Rolling the dough in the wax paper was a lot less messy. I forgot to put the rolled dough in the fridge though. I think that would have helped too. I kept putting the dough in the fridge between rolls and that helped a little.
All these other steps take longer but the cookies turned out so much better.
I baked at a lower temp too. That helped to not over cook them.

I have the baked cookies in the freezer. I will take them out thursday morning and decorate them thursday night.
I went and bought the disposable frosting bags and a bunch of different tips. My 17 year old is going to help me. It will be a first for both of us.
wish me luck. I will try to remember to post pictures.

Ok Tomorrow is the day I am decorating my cut-outs. I have read that I should make the icing the night before. What do you think?

It's a good idea to make your icing the night before, that allows the air bubbles to float to the top then you don't have to deal with them on your cookies. Good luck! REMEMBER TO POST PICS!!!

I have the icing made. It was royal icing. It seemed pretty easy.
Tomorrow is the hard part.

Ok I am done. I have posted the picture to the cookies gallery. The title is 1st time Cookies.
I am not overjoyed by the result but I think for a first time really decorating cookes it is not too bad. I learned alot of new things.

I finally got the picture uploaded here. I couldn't last night

They turned out really great!!!

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-28035-chocolate.html+chip+cutout

Here is a link to the chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Are you kidding 2rsws?

These look terrific! Great colors, great designs. Very happy looking cookies!
Love 'em!



kos

P.S. Where in Wisconsin are you from, I lived in Bay View (Milwaukee) for a few years.

They came out great!

Don't be so hard on yourself. Your on the right track. With more practice it will become easier. It looks like you had the right consistency and that's the hardest part. Great job!

Can't wait to see more.