Hello,

I have two questions. First, what do you use to apply the edible image to a cookie? Royal icing, buttercream, something else?

Secondly, how do you apply an edible image of writing on a cookie that is coloured like in the link below?

http://www.beau-coup.com/Pictures/personalized%20cookies/personalized_cake_cookies_200.jpg

Do you have to cut the edible image in the shape of the whole cookie, or is there a way to just print the names and blend it into the cookie?
Thanks!

I would think it would be easiest to have the EI the size of the cookie and apply the whole on with alcohol (vodka or extract) to cover the entire fondant/RI. The image will dissolve into the base icing. Is it possible that they were airbrushed on with a stencil? I did an EI on fondant and the color of the fondant bleed thru and left a muted tone.

I am wondering the same thing. I use royal icing. At what ime do I apply the icing sheet? When it is wet, or completely dry? I usually apply it when it is wet & the picture never totally dries. Also, would the cookie taste better with fondant underneath the picture, as opposed to royal icing?
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I would let the RI dry totally first then add the ei. A friend does cookies like that and uses a stencil. She has a Cricut or whatever cutter and makes her own stencils and then airbrushes the the dry ice cookie. She does not know how to do it in EI.

Welcome to CC both of you! Hope we find an answer!

After the royal icing dries, do I wet it with water to get the image to stick?
I'm going to try it with MMF this weekend and see how it goes.
Thanks for replying!

I would let the RI dry and then brush the RI, or even fondant, with an alcohol of some sort, vodka or extract, and then apply the EI. Once the EI touches anything wet, it is in place and will easily rip if you try to move it. I want to see how they turn out. Send me a pic.

I've placed the ei on wet icing and let it dry. I have to admit, it's never dried flat onto the cookie though. I'm also going to try to do it on dry RI.

splymale, i actually started a topic with that same pic and questions a while back. Many here think that this company uses a special machine that stamps the monogram on the cookies. There was another member who said she uses the cricut to make stencils and airbrushes it on just like jlynw mentioned.

Any of you see the Ace of Cakes "Lost" episode? They did a screen print for the soda/beer cans, maybe you could do the same. Not even sure how to screen print. Talked with the lady that does the cookies FINALLY, she says she never had the EI work on her cookies and found that it was easier to stencil them. For fondant, she uses a changeable rubber stamp from the office supply and edible ink. She has the one with script letters and can change the stamp to whatever the occasion. She had problems with RI as it did not ever dry out completly and the stamp would mar the surface. If the RI did dry 100%, she did not like the taste. The fondant sometimes will look imbossed is it is still too fresh, however she did seem to like it anyway. I am so trying to get her to sign up and help out but she thinks she is too busy. UGHHH.

Would you mind asking her where she gets her stamps?

She got the stamp over at Office Max or Office Depot, she can't remember which. She said is was about $20 and you slide in the letter and spacers to write out the message. The have different styles of writing for some of them and she got the script letters. They are supposed to be for return addresses and business forms. She thinks maybe Wal-Mart might have something or perhaps even Sams but most office supply stores would have them.

Thanks. I'll check them out!!

According to the instructions on the Fancy Flours website, when applying to RI, the icing should be completely dry. Brush a very thin coat of light cornsyrup on the image to "glue" it to the cookie.

I think that way definately ensures a flat surface as opposed to doing it on wet icing that can collect in certain areas causing bumps.

I have tried the corn syrup method and did not like it. Perhaps if you think the corn syrup with water you will have better luck. It just was too gooey for my liking. I liked the vodka best. They went on and dried hard and qucikly so I could bag them. The corn syrup just stayed stickey and did not dry well enough to sack without sticking to the bag. Just my experience.

So you just take straight vodka and brush it on? Does it get all wet enough to tear before you can get it on the cookies?

I brush the RI or fondant on the cookie and the lay the EI on the cookie to to bottom and then smooth it out to get any airbubbles out. If they persist I use a pin and pop them

Thanks everyone for your responses! This place is great!
My sister in law asked me to make cookie favors (heart shaped) for her wedding (150 of them) and she wants their names and dates written on the cookies...definitely too much for my piping bag! I thought getting an edible image printer would be the solution but looks probably not since I don't want to have to cut 150 heart shapes out of the EI sheets.

Which leads me to more questions.... A cricut machine (which I had never heard of before) is too much of an investment for me for this project). Is there somewhere I can have a stencil made for me?

Or if I was to go with the stamp route are edible ink pads available? I've never seen them anywhere, or do you use coloring paste or refill ink for a printer?

You can pretty much get any empty ink pad and fill it with food coloring.
If you want a custom stencil made, you can go to culinarystencils and order it there.
Good luck to you.

thanks luvs, did not know about them for stencils. Some day, I will get a fancy toy to make them. I have seen another type at Michael's that makes them but..., If money were no object we all would have to get a storage unit to hold all our toys in.

Tell me about it.

Question - I am making 4 dozen edible image cookies tomorrow. What is the benefit of using vodka over just plain water? Thanks!

The vodka has a high alcohol content and therefore evaporates faster. The water will sit on the surface and cause it to become sticky and takes forever to dry enough to package. I think it gets a slimey texture as well. IMHO

I made these edible image cookies for a lady at work who was celebrating her dog's 2nd birthday.
I did these for the first time using my new printer and kopykake order. I used the Vodka for applying the pictures. I made 4 dozen. They were a hit! Now I have more orders from others for photo cookies.

soo cute!!

LGC, very cute!
After the RI was completely dry & you applied the EI w/ vodka, how long before you can stack & package the cookies?

splymale - Well, I was in a hurry with these ones. They only had about 4 hours to dry before I had to box them up. I didn't have to individually wrap them. I didn't stack them directly on top of each other - I stacked the edges on the edges - make sense? They were still a little tacky, so they would have been ruined if I stacked them directly on top of each other. But I was just very careful and it worked out! I think they really should have 24 hours to dry before you can feel comfortable bagging and stacking them.

at the bakery I work at (I dont usually do the cookies but i watch ) we let the RI completely dry, the wet the image with clear vanilla extract. the ei is trimmed down as small as it can be....not the size of the cookie. I wish I had a pic of how they turn out but I dont....I can tell you they always look cute.

Thanks for the replies!
So they can be bagged 24 hours after RI dries or after EI is applied?

Question regarding the dog cookies- what type of icing did you use around the edges of the edible images? You did a great job on the cookies!

Thanks! I just used Royal Icing. I'm going to use a different tip next time for the border so it covers more of the edge - maybe a star tip.