When icing your cookies on a stick do you let the royal icing coat the sides of the cookies or do you do them only on top? I did mine only on top and my sister said they should have been iced on the sides also. She is not a baker either, so what do you do?

All cookies I have seen sold have the royal icing on top only. I looked at your valnetine cookies (beautiful BTW), and they are exactly how I see iced cookies sold. Icing on the side I would think would create side pooling.

I think your cookies are spectacular!

Maybe your sister has eaten one of those dipped cookies. I saw some one time.

But most of the cookies are just like yours. You should be very proud.

Ok, Thank you. I thought only the top should be decorated. I am definitely not dipping!!

I don't see anything wrong with you icing ? she is not a baker, so why are you worried ? I'm sure she does not know any better.. you're the one that knows, and we all say you're doing it correctly...there so many styles of icing a cookie... Just like icing a cake.
Toba Garrett does the same thing ! and so does Gourmet Cookies Bouquet..

i don't think they need to be iced on the side. i would like to note this though. My DH prefers when i ice the cookies to the tippy edge. Everytime I go in too far he askes why...says it looks less "finished". Maybe you could try that and see if you like that...It is harder to make sure they don't drip though. If it does just make sure you what til it dries and very gently saw it off with a small knife.

However, I think you cookies are very pretty and your writing is great. So I like them regardless!

I think your cookies look great!! They have a very finished,professional
look. Sometimes the ones we love make us doubt ourselves the most.
JOB WELL DONE!

there are cookies that do have the sides covered .. I made some x-mas tree cookies that I covered with poured royal icing which covered the sides and it worked well for that purpose ... personally for decorated cookies I wouldn't cover the sides

I only do the top. Most people who use a poured icing include the sides.

I do mine on the top also. Your sister sounds alot like my sister. Not a baker but knowns everything.

I think they look great the way they are!!