How On Earth Does She Do This?

Baking By Joanne914 Updated 16 Sep 2010 , 2:00am by calicopurr

Joanne914 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Joanne914 Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 2:49am
post #1 of 37

I just found this AMAZING cookie decorator on Flikr, Cookies by Sugar, and she only uses buttercream to decorate her cookies. I have been looking at pages and pages of her beautiful work and I just can't figure out how she frosts irregular shapes and curves using what looks like (maybe) a basketweave (? 46) tip. I myself use RI to outline and flood. I have never used buttercream to decorate cookies with and for the life of me can't figure out how this is done. It's just a case of "inquiring minds would like to know!" Here is an example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43488478@N06/4501103124/

do yourself a favor and check out her work...it's amazing! And if anyone has any light to shed on this type of decorating technique, I'd love to know!

36 replies
KoryAK Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
KoryAK Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 4:11am
post #2 of 37

How do you know she only uses buttercream? Those leaves REALLY look like fondant to me...

KatieKake Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
KatieKake Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 4:16am
post #3 of 37

If you check her site again on the spring flowers she says frosted with buttercream, accented with fondant.

all4cake Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
all4cake Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 4:22am
post #4 of 37

It does say she uses buttercream and fondant for the leaves. I love the look the basketweave tip gives her cookies. There's actually quite a few on flickr (elsewhere too) that use buttercream...some are so perfectly smooth....maybe it's rolled buttercream (the ones who make their's smooth, that is)

Joanne914 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Joanne914 Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 12:54pm
post #5 of 37

woke up still thinking about this (lol that's how you know you are cookie obsessed) and I watched a video at Karen's cookies where she spread buttercream onto a cookie, then used her spatula to go around the outside of the cookie to take away the excess. I'm wondering if "Cookies by Sugar" uses a decorating triangle or comb to apply the buttercream, then does the same as Karen and takes away the excess around the edges. That might explain the textured tops of her beautiful cookies.

Peeverly Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Peeverly Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 3:28pm
post #6 of 37

That's Kim's work! She is absolutely AMAZING and is soooooo nice!! Why don't you send her an email through Flickr and ask her how she does it. She does use some fondant but her base is buttercream. She isn't really able to stack the cookies but who cares with cookies that look like that!! From what I can see, she uses a basket weave tip and makes large wide stripes of buttercream. Then she uses sanding sugar over that to kind of seal the buttercream in. From there she puts her details on top. But, again, you should just ask her! Super, super nice person! icon_smile.gif

ApplePomme Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
ApplePomme Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 3:46pm
post #7 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joanne914

woke up still thinking about this (lol that's how you know you are cookie obsessed) and I watched a video at Karen's cookies where she spread buttercream onto a cookie, then used her spatula to go around the outside of the cookie to take away the excess. I'm wondering if "Cookies by Sugar" uses a decorating triangle or comb to apply the buttercream, then does the same as Karen and takes away the excess around the edges. That might explain the textured tops of her beautiful cookies.




Care to share that link? icon_biggrin.gif

GeminiRJ Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
GeminiRJ Posted 31 Jul 2010 , 4:24pm
post #8 of 37

I agree with Peeverly! Kim is a fabulous cookie decorator! Whenever she posts her new designs, I'm amazed all over again at what she creates with buttercream.

I know you can heat BC and then flood it onto a cookie like you would RI. I've never tried it, but it's on my list of things to try.

aracely30 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
aracely30 Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 12:22am
post #9 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joanne914

woke up still thinking about this (lol that's how you know you are cookie obsessed) and I watched a video at Karen's cookies where she spread buttercream onto a cookie, then used her spatula to go around the outside of the cookie to take away the excess. I'm wondering if "Cookies by Sugar" uses a decorating triangle or comb to apply the buttercream, then does the same as Karen and takes away the excess around the edges. That might explain the textured tops of her beautiful cookies.





Yes please do share the link!!! I've never use buttercream on cookies! thanks in advance! icon_wink.gif

deMuralist Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
aracely30 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
aracely30 Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 12:40am
post #11 of 37

thank you so much! do yo know were is the video?

awatterson Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
awatterson Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 1:02am
post #12 of 37

They are AMAZING!

Joanne914 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Joanne914 Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 1:34am
post #13 of 37

aracely30 This is the video I watched where Karen, from Karen's cookies, applied a buttercream base to a cookie (then she used a texture mat)
http://www.karenscookies.net/Cookie-Decorating-Video-Using-Cookie-Texture-Mats-with-Buttercream-Icing_ep_132-1.html

Since CC folks know Kim, I'll try and send her a message on Flikr to see if she can "enlighten" all of us non-buttercream folks! Thanks everyone.

makeminepink Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
makeminepink Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 2:34am
post #14 of 37

Thanks for sharing that! What an interesting method! She does beautiful work.

Mom23Angels Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Mom23Angels Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 2:54am
post #15 of 37

I just put buttercream on a batch of cookies for my sister's 60th birthday party (of course I didn't take pics), and I was really happy with how they turned out.

I used a softer version of my normal BC (Indydebi's) and applied to the cookie with a size 12 tip. Then I carefully spread the BC with a small spatula and further smoothed using a Viva paper towel. Then I piped my decorations on top (and used a few fondant accents). They weren't quite as perfect looking as totally fondant-covered cookie, but I think with practice they'll be just as good.

Oh, and they crusted well enough for me to stack with parchment in between the layers.

IMO the BC tastes so much better on a cookie than fondant or royal icing, and rolled buttercream is just too greasy. This post and the links in it give me inspiration to keep perfecting my BC cookies thumbs_up.gif

sundowng Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
sundowng Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 9:12am
post #16 of 37

You can heat the buttercream and make a very nice icing (almost like glaze) for flooding cookies. I have done it and it works well and you would never know to look at it that it is buttercream. I use an all butter buttercream for this, and the taste is just like true buttercream. You do have to keep it warm for it to work well, but I've put it in bottles to use just like you would royal icing.

You can also add a lot of powdered sugar after heating and, if you're careful, roll it and cut it like rolled fondant, and that is insanely good and looks perfect -- without the greasiness of rolled fondant.

I have pictures of both ways, but they're not on the computer yet, so I haven't posted them.

Joanne914 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Joanne914 Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 11:52am
post #17 of 37

sundowng...i will be waiting anxiously to see your cookies. "Warm" buttercream to flood?? Well, I sure do learn something new each day! icon_smile.gif

bethie713 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bethie713 Posted 1 Aug 2010 , 11:16pm
post #18 of 37

Actually Kim is a member of CC. Here is her CC Profile name:

theprincesskim

She is awesome!!! I would love to learn her technique![/list]

7yyrt Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
7yyrt Posted 2 Aug 2010 , 12:39am
post #19 of 37

Please keep in mind that that is her signature look, and she makes her living with it.

She may not want to share her secret, and that would be fine, too. I'm sure we can all understand.

aracely30 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
aracely30 Posted 2 Aug 2010 , 1:07am
post #20 of 37

thank U so much for the video Joanne914, I've never heard of warm bc! I've only made RI cookies, I'm a roockie,but just by seen those beautyful cookies I really want to learn how to do them,I wonder if we could get a similar effect by using Ri with a stift consistency and using the sanding sugar? the little fiesta dress are soooo lovely,I always have some fondant lefts in my fridge I will try to do some ruffles for the cookies, I'll let you all know how it worked! PS sorry for my english it's not my first language! regards from Mexico! icon_smile.gif

aracely30 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
aracely30 Posted 2 Aug 2010 , 1:22am
post #21 of 37

I've just see the video,an it's awesome!!!! i've never ever seen anything like that! se doesn't outline the cookie,less work for us LOL, the texture is so nice and beautyful, but what I was thinking is that it may no be stackable becuase it may move the bc, but I'm sure the taste it must be delicious,thank U for sharing this amazing metod!icon_smile.gif

millicente Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
millicente Posted 2 Aug 2010 , 4:30pm
post #22 of 37

The pear can be done with a basket weave tip then just sanding sugars on the side

bobwonderbuns Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bobwonderbuns Posted 15 Aug 2010 , 8:51pm
post #23 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joanne914

I just found this AMAZING cookie decorator on Flikr, Cookies by Sugar, and she only uses buttercream to decorate her cookies. I have been looking at pages and pages of her beautiful work and I just can't figure out how she frosts irregular shapes and curves using what looks like (maybe) a basketweave (? 46) tip. I myself use RI to outline and flood. I have never used buttercream to decorate cookies with and for the life of me can't figure out how this is done. It's just a case of "inquiring minds would like to know!" Here is an example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43488478@N06/4501103124/

do yourself a favor and check out her work...it's amazing! And if anyone has any light to shed on this type of decorating technique, I'd love to know!




I haven't read this entire post yet, but I do know her, just ask how she did any technique and she's very easy to talk to (unlike some of the others on Flickr unfortunately.) You're right, she does FABULOUS work!! icon_biggrin.gif

kittykat416 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kittykat416 Posted 15 Aug 2010 , 11:29pm
post #24 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundowng

You can heat the buttercream and make a very nice icing (almost like glaze) for flooding cookies. I have done it and it works well and you would never know to look at it that it is buttercream. I use an all butter buttercream for this, and the taste is just like true buttercream. You do have to keep it warm for it to work well, but I've put it in bottles to use just like you would royal icing.




Wow, I'd love to try this! I once tried watering down Karen's Cookies Meringue Buttercream for flooding, but go figure, the icing wound up separating out (I probably should have at least used milk instead of water).

Do you heat the buttercream icing in the microwave, or on the stovetop in a double-boiler setup?

Herekittykitty Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Herekittykitty Posted 15 Aug 2010 , 11:45pm
post #25 of 37

I decorate all my cookies w/ BC In fact I started decorating cakes b/c of taking Wilton classes to get better at cookies. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures b/c it never ocurred to me. I'll have to this holiday season.

kittykat416 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kittykat416 Posted 15 Aug 2010 , 11:58pm
post #26 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Herekittykitty

I decorate all my cookies w/ BC In fact I started decorating cakes b/c of taking Wilton classes to get better at cookies. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures b/c it never ocurred to me. I'll have to this holiday season.




How do you apply the buttercream icing to the cookies? Do you add meringue powder to your buttercream?

sundowng Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
sundowng Posted 16 Aug 2010 , 11:44am
post #27 of 37

I made a bunch of back to school cookies this last weekend using only buttercream (both in a "fondant" form and in a "glaze" form) and took pictures, and I'll try to post them tomorrow. I'm awful at photography, so take that in consideration.

I just make the buttercream in a saucepan. I add milk and butter, bring to a boil and remove from heat, then add flavorings, colors, and powdered sugar until it's the consistency you want. The only difference, for me, between a fondant and glaze is the amount of powdered sugar you use. This way, though, the fondant is not greasy like rolled buttercream. You have to use the icing warm, though, if you want it to flood. After the initial making, I just use the microwave for 10-15 seconds to reheat it when I've let it sit awhile. I made it into fondant first and then when I had used as much of that as I wanted, I plopped the rest back in the saucepan, added a little heat and milk, and stirred it into glaze.

The fondant is a little more tempermental than MMF or any commercial product, but I think the extra effort is worth it in that the taste and texture is more like true buttercream. This way, though, you can get it completely smooth like fondant or glaze, and once they dry, you can package and stack them like cookies done with the others. You do kind of have to play around with proportions a little and experiment as to the best way to work with it since I haven't really written down any recipes with it. However, I haven't found a way to mess it up completely yet -- I just added a little more milk or powdered sugar to get whatever effect I was aiming for.

HTH

kittykat416 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kittykat416 Posted 16 Aug 2010 , 1:41pm
post #28 of 37

Thank you sundowng! I'll have to try that!

Herekittykitty Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Herekittykitty Posted 16 Aug 2010 , 2:09pm
post #29 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by kittykat416


How do you apply the buttercream icing to the cookies? Do you add meringue powder to your buttercream?




My Buttercream recipe is full butter BC with meringue powder. If I am going to have a smooth solid backgroud I ice and edge (run a straight icing spatula around the edge of the cookies to get sharp edges) and then pipe, sprinkle, sugar, place or what ever else the details.

I let them sit out for several hours so the BC has a nice firm crust and then store in an airtight container between sheets of waxed paper. They do get a little squished if I stack too many in a container, but since I don't sell them - hobby baker - no one cares. If you are going to sell, I either wouldn't stack or only two layers.

I also don't make sugar cookies, but butter cookies. Eveyone who has them quickly becomes addicted.

7yyrt Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
7yyrt Posted 16 Aug 2010 , 2:30pm
post #30 of 37

After watching the video posted on the first page;
It looks as though it may just be a matter of her cleaning the edges at a 45 degree angle after piping, rather than being able to cut the piping off cleanly at the edges when doing it.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%