This past year as empty nesters has given us more time to try new things. I’ve always enjoyed decorating cookies, and now I’m excited to improve my skills with royal icing. My friend and I were planning a bridal shower, and this was my chance to decorate cookies with royal icing. My first try at decorating bridal shower cookies with royal icing was pretty successful. Keep reading as I share what I learned and what worked for me.
My sister-in-law’s sugar cookies are really yummy, so I started with her recipe. As a graphic designer with a love for art, I have always wanted to explore decorating with royal icing. I watched a few YouTube videos and read the instruction booklet that came with the cookie cutters I bought. To my surprise, the cookies turned out beautifully; as a result, I’m excited to make more in the future.
This post is about baking cut out bridal shower cookies and decorating with royal icing.
1 | Gather Your Baking Supplies
I dusted off my mixer and then opened the adorable cookie cutters I purchased on Amazon. I was excited to put all my new baking tools to use in making bridal shower cookies. My Amazon purchases include a new anti-slip pastry mat and Wedding Cookie Cutters.
2 | Mix the Dough and Cut Out the bridal shower Cookies
I mixed the cookie dough and placed it in the fridge overnight. After chilling, I rolled out the dough and then used the cookie cutters I had purchased on Amazon. Carefully remove the cut outs from the dough and place on your cookie sheet. Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe.
3 | Bake the bridal shower Cookies and Cool
Baking on a Friday night was perfect for me because I knew it would take time to figure everything out. I put on a movie; meanwhile, I cut out the cookies, baked them, and set them aside to cool. Turned out, Saturday was the perfect day to test my skills decorating with royal icing. Taking my time was important to me.
4 | Gather Icing Supplies and Get Ready to Start Decorating the bridal shower cookies
You will need Meringue powder, powdered sugar, light corn syrup as well as pastry piping bags, tips and couplers.
Satin Ice Meringue Powder – 4oz – Pail
Satin Ice Edible Paint Metallics Kit 5ct – 2.5 fl oz – Box
Satin Ice® White Food Color Gel, 0.61oz.
5 | Mix up the Royal Icing
To begin with, the following is the Royal Icing recipe I used to decorate the bridal shower cookies. I also chose to use lemon extract as it seemed perfect for a bridal shower. Read on to learn about the icing consistency I used to outline the cookies. Then, follow up with the flood icing.
ROYAL ICING RECIPE
2 TBSP Meringue powder
2 Cups of powdered Sugar
1 TBSP of light corn syrup
Food Color (I used white)
Almond, lemon or vanilla extract
Warm water (start with 3-4 TBSPs and add as needed)
iNSTRUCTIONS
1 | Combine the ingredients in your mixer.
2 | Mix on a low speed until all ingredients are blended.
3 | Add white gel food color.
4 | Slowly add water, the consistency should be thick, shiny and stiff. Don’t add too much, because you want the peaks to stand up without flopping over.
5 | Set some icing aside in a bowl to use for outlining.
6 | Use the remaining icing left in the mixer to create the icing to be used for flooding.
7 | Add a little water at a time to turn this into flood icing. Keep mixing until you get the right consistency.
8 | Scoop up a spoonful of icing and let it drip back into the bowl. If it combines with the rest of the icing in seconds, you know you have the right consistency.
OUTLINE CONSISTENCY:
Aim for a consistency of a thick milkshake. The peaks should stay visible and then blend into the rest of the icing within about 30 seconds.
FLOOD CONSISTENCY:
Aim for a consistency like honey. To achieve this consistency, add water gradually until the peaks fold in on themselves and disappear within a few seconds.
6 | Set Up Your Piping Bag
First, take a 12″ piping bag and snip off the end. Then, place the larger part of the coupler piece into the bag. Next, place a #2 tip over the top of the plastic. After that, slip the smaller coupler piece over the tip and screw it into place. This makes it easy to swap out the tips. Finally, the piping bags are now set up to start decorating the bridal shower cookies with royal icing.
7 | Fill Your Piping Bag to Start Decorating the bridal shower cookies
First, fold the middle of the bag over your hand to create a cuff. Then, using a spatula, carefully scoop some royal icing into the bag.Make sure to only fill 1/2 to 2/3 full to avoid overfilling the bag. After the bag is full, unfold the cuff, twist and secure with a rubber icing bag tie. You can also use a rubber band. TIP: You can also place the folded bag over a glass to open the bag up.
8 | First, Outline the Cookies
Begin by piping along the edge of the dress. I used a #2 tip to outline. I practiced on a sheet of parchment paper before trying on my first ever bridal shower cookie. The Royal Icing should be thin enough to flow easily, but stiff enough so it doesn’t run over the edge.
9 | Next, Flood the Outlined Cookie
I used a #3 tip to flood the bridal shower cookie. Start close to the outline and move toward the middle of the cookie. The consistency should be similar to honey, but make sure it’s not too thin. Use enough icing so it looks full, but doesn’t overflow. Use a toothpick to spread and remove any air bubbles. Give a gentle shake and allow to dry for at least 12 hours.
Bridal shower cookies are now ready for the finishing touches.
10 | Finally, Add the Details
Wedding Dress: Allow to dry overnight, then your bridal shower cookies will be ready to add details. Add a few lines to create the appearance of fabric folds. TIP: Do not Rush the drying process.
Diamond Ring: First, outline the gold section of the ring with the thicker icing. Then, flood the area and let it dry overnight. Next, take a small paint brush and use the metallic paint to cover the band of the ring. After the gold is in place, flood the other areas with royal icing. Finally, pipe in the details of the diamond with a #1 tip and let dry overnight.
Hearts: To complement the wedding colors, outline and flood the hearts to introduce a touch of color. Finally, details to this bridal shower cookie were added with a #2 tip.
Wedding Cake: Use a #2 tip to add details to the bridal shower cookie cakes.
11 | Add Some Sparkle to the Cookies
Use some Edible Dust in Pearl to add some sparkle to your cookies. Since this was my first time decorating cookies with royal icing, I could see many imperfections. I found that covering up the flaws in the bridal shower cookies with sparkles improved the overall appearance. I used Tooth Fairy Edible Dust, it sprays on nicely and looks beautiful.
My first try decorating cookies was a success for me. I not only had fun decorating these bridal shower cookies, but they turned way better than I thought they would. I received several compliments and am excited to try decorating with royal icing again. CLICK HERE to see my second attempt using royal icing to decorate Watermelon themed cookies.
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