i m looking for the best icing that will mimic cookies by design. i even called them to see if they use royal or buttercream. they said its neither that it doesnt have much of a taste that its more of a sugary icing..i ve tried royal but didnt like its rock hard texture but i need one that i wont have to worry about my design falling apart. i ve read everyones opinions on toba's vs antionias and royal but a sugary icing on top of those i really am confused. which one would fit my needs??? thanks in advance gizzmo

I like to use a layer of fondant. I cut the fondant with the same cutter and they fit nicely. I then use royal icing to do the detail work.

I made cookies using the No Fail Sugar Cookies and Royal Icing for Decorated Cookies recipes (the one from antonia74) and I thougt they tasted a lot like cookies from Cookies by Design. Hope theis helps.

I use Antonia74's icing on no-fail cookies all the time, and it doesn't get rock hard. It's a modified royal icing, thinned down, and tastes great! (In fact, don't tell anybody, but I just got finished eating a "practice" cookie from a batch I made yesterday! ).

You can find her recipes and techniques in the tutorial titled "How to bake and decorate cookies" on this website.

hth!
Laura.

Maybe try a rolled-buttercream or Alice's Cookie Icing. Cookies By Design doesn't taste a bit like royal icing (or Antonia's) it stays very soft.

kos