I looooove watching cookie and cake decorating videos, but over the years I've only made fancy cookies twice: Christmas Cookies & Fall Leaf Cookies. I decided that all that video watching had to come to fruition and so I made Halloween Cookies:
I bought an inexpensive set of Halloween cookie cutters and decided to cut a few of several different shapes — in hindsight this made things super complicated. But, at the time, I thought variety was a great idea! While my cookies were baking (I used this Martha Stewart recipe), I decided to plot out my icing plan.
That's a lot of colors of icing and a lot of layering — especially for a super amateur cookie decorator. But, I like a challenge (and the cookies were already in the oven) so I decided to plow ahead.
These are the problems I ran into along the way and how I solved them:
No black food coloring. I only own four colors: red, blue, yellow, green. Well, thank goodness for all those years of mixing paint. I know how to make all kinds of blacks and settled on a blue black for these cookies.
Not enough piping tips. I only own 2 small and 2 medium piping tips and my original plan called for 8 colors of icing (most in 2 consistencies — piping and flooding). I decided to eliminate some colors and then figured out a strategy for which colors had to go into the piping bags first. It mostly worked.
I ran out of confectioner's sugar. I thought 1 lb. would be enough. Silly me. So, I went on a grocery run mid-decorating.
I ran out of piping bags. No problem. The internet told me I could use a Ziploc bag. And so I did.
Not good at piping. Well, nothing to fix that but practice and I can see that I was better on the later cookies. Need to practice starting and stopping more neatly.
Challenges aside, I spent two happy days making these cookies and I love how they turned out!
And the best part about crafting with food…you can eat it!
I had so much fun making these cookies that I'm thinking about buying some more tips and making some more cookies! Any tips from you experienced cookie decorators out there?
Thanks for stopping by!
Oh my goodness–how FUN are these cookies ?? Very ambitious Julie….love them all !!
Oh my goodness–how FUN are these cookies ?? Very ambitious Julie….love them all !!
Oh my goodness–how FUN are these cookies ?? Very ambitious Julie….love them all !!
Oh my goodness–how FUN are these cookies ?? Very ambitious Julie….love them all !!
Oh my goodness–how FUN are these cookies ?? Very ambitious Julie….love them all !!
Oh my goodness–how FUN are these cookies ?? Very ambitious Julie….love them all !!
Oh my goodness–how FUN are these cookies ?? Very ambitious Julie….love them all !!
I have to laugh because I can totally see me having the same issues/complications you had. You are definitely more creative than I with the cookie decorating. I like piping edging after covering the surface but then I start adding colored sugars that sparkle like glitter… just seems to be a thing with me. But it is so fun seeing what you did! Someday I will try it.
I have to laugh because I can totally see me having the same issues/complications you had. You are definitely more creative than I with the cookie decorating. I like piping edging after covering the surface but then I start adding colored sugars that sparkle like glitter… just seems to be a thing with me. But it is so fun seeing what you did! Someday I will try it.
I have to laugh because I can totally see me having the same issues/complications you had. You are definitely more creative than I with the cookie decorating. I like piping edging after covering the surface but then I start adding colored sugars that sparkle like glitter… just seems to be a thing with me. But it is so fun seeing what you did! Someday I will try it.
I have to laugh because I can totally see me having the same issues/complications you had. You are definitely more creative than I with the cookie decorating. I like piping edging after covering the surface but then I start adding colored sugars that sparkle like glitter… just seems to be a thing with me. But it is so fun seeing what you did! Someday I will try it.
I have to laugh because I can totally see me having the same issues/complications you had. You are definitely more creative than I with the cookie decorating. I like piping edging after covering the surface but then I start adding colored sugars that sparkle like glitter… just seems to be a thing with me. But it is so fun seeing what you did! Someday I will try it.
I have to laugh because I can totally see me having the same issues/complications you had. You are definitely more creative than I with the cookie decorating. I like piping edging after covering the surface but then I start adding colored sugars that sparkle like glitter… just seems to be a thing with me. But it is so fun seeing what you did! Someday I will try it.
I have to laugh because I can totally see me having the same issues/complications you had. You are definitely more creative than I with the cookie decorating. I like piping edging after covering the surface but then I start adding colored sugars that sparkle like glitter… just seems to be a thing with me. But it is so fun seeing what you did! Someday I will try it.
You are a better woman than I !!! I can totally see you having the greatest time putting this all together!! I see turkey cookies with family and friends names for thanksgiving dinner place cards!
You are a better woman than I !!! I can totally see you having the greatest time putting this all together!! I see turkey cookies with family and friends names for thanksgiving dinner place cards!
You are a better woman than I !!! I can totally see you having the greatest time putting this all together!! I see turkey cookies with family and friends names for thanksgiving dinner place cards!
You are a better woman than I !!! I can totally see you having the greatest time putting this all together!! I see turkey cookies with family and friends names for thanksgiving dinner place cards!
You are a better woman than I !!! I can totally see you having the greatest time putting this all together!! I see turkey cookies with family and friends names for thanksgiving dinner place cards!
You are a better woman than I !!! I can totally see you having the greatest time putting this all together!! I see turkey cookies with family and friends names for thanksgiving dinner place cards!
You are a better woman than I !!! I can totally see you having the greatest time putting this all together!! I see turkey cookies with family and friends names for thanksgiving dinner place cards!
These are gorgeous cookies! I love baking (cooking not so much) and totally go for projects that require going the extra mile (hello cream puff swans). Prices for decorated cookies seem outrageous, but when you experience for yourself how much work goes into them, the price suddenly seems justified. So glad you documented so we could share in your fun.
These are gorgeous cookies! I love baking (cooking not so much) and totally go for projects that require going the extra mile (hello cream puff swans). Prices for decorated cookies seem outrageous, but when you experience for yourself how much work goes into them, the price suddenly seems justified. So glad you documented so we could share in your fun.
These are gorgeous cookies! I love baking (cooking not so much) and totally go for projects that require going the extra mile (hello cream puff swans). Prices for decorated cookies seem outrageous, but when you experience for yourself how much work goes into them, the price suddenly seems justified. So glad you documented so we could share in your fun.
These are gorgeous cookies! I love baking (cooking not so much) and totally go for projects that require going the extra mile (hello cream puff swans). Prices for decorated cookies seem outrageous, but when you experience for yourself how much work goes into them, the price suddenly seems justified. So glad you documented so we could share in your fun.
These are gorgeous cookies! I love baking (cooking not so much) and totally go for projects that require going the extra mile (hello cream puff swans). Prices for decorated cookies seem outrageous, but when you experience for yourself how much work goes into them, the price suddenly seems justified. So glad you documented so we could share in your fun.
These are gorgeous cookies! I love baking (cooking not so much) and totally go for projects that require going the extra mile (hello cream puff swans). Prices for decorated cookies seem outrageous, but when you experience for yourself how much work goes into them, the price suddenly seems justified. So glad you documented so we could share in your fun.
These are gorgeous cookies! I love baking (cooking not so much) and totally go for projects that require going the extra mile (hello cream puff swans). Prices for decorated cookies seem outrageous, but when you experience for yourself how much work goes into them, the price suddenly seems justified. So glad you documented so we could share in your fun.
They look delicious, Julie. And the nice thing is being able to eat any mistakes! Would it be possible to use your Scan-n-Cut the create stencils for each design and then you could stencil on your contrast instead of having to pipe it. It might not be as much fun but if you have to do a big batch maybe it could save time…..which leaves more time for nibbling!
Donna
They look delicious, Julie. And the nice thing is being able to eat any mistakes! Would it be possible to use your Scan-n-Cut the create stencils for each design and then you could stencil on your contrast instead of having to pipe it. It might not be as much fun but if you have to do a big batch maybe it could save time…..which leaves more time for nibbling!
Donna
They look delicious, Julie. And the nice thing is being able to eat any mistakes! Would it be possible to use your Scan-n-Cut the create stencils for each design and then you could stencil on your contrast instead of having to pipe it. It might not be as much fun but if you have to do a big batch maybe it could save time…..which leaves more time for nibbling!
Donna
They look delicious, Julie. And the nice thing is being able to eat any mistakes! Would it be possible to use your Scan-n-Cut the create stencils for each design and then you could stencil on your contrast instead of having to pipe it. It might not be as much fun but if you have to do a big batch maybe it could save time…..which leaves more time for nibbling!
Donna
They look delicious, Julie. And the nice thing is being able to eat any mistakes! Would it be possible to use your Scan-n-Cut the create stencils for each design and then you could stencil on your contrast instead of having to pipe it. It might not be as much fun but if you have to do a big batch maybe it could save time…..which leaves more time for nibbling!
Donna
They look delicious, Julie. And the nice thing is being able to eat any mistakes! Would it be possible to use your Scan-n-Cut the create stencils for each design and then you could stencil on your contrast instead of having to pipe it. It might not be as much fun but if you have to do a big batch maybe it could save time…..which leaves more time for nibbling!
Donna
They look delicious, Julie. And the nice thing is being able to eat any mistakes! Would it be possible to use your Scan-n-Cut the create stencils for each design and then you could stencil on your contrast instead of having to pipe it. It might not be as much fun but if you have to do a big batch maybe it could save time…..which leaves more time for nibbling!
Donna
If you follow the links for my previous two fancy cookie experiences, they both use the ScanNCut to create cookie stencils! 🙂
If you follow the links for my previous two fancy cookie experiences, they both use the ScanNCut to create cookie stencils! 🙂
If you follow the links for my previous two fancy cookie experiences, they both use the ScanNCut to create cookie stencils! 🙂
If you follow the links for my previous two fancy cookie experiences, they both use the ScanNCut to create cookie stencils! 🙂
If you follow the links for my previous two fancy cookie experiences, they both use the ScanNCut to create cookie stencils! 🙂
If you follow the links for my previous two fancy cookie experiences, they both use the ScanNCut to create cookie stencils! 🙂
If you follow the links for my previous two fancy cookie experiences, they both use the ScanNCut to create cookie stencils! 🙂
These cookies came out great. Too pretty to eat though. I’d never be able to bring myself to bite into one of these. Great job!
These cookies came out great. Too pretty to eat though. I’d never be able to bring myself to bite into one of these. Great job!
These cookies came out great. Too pretty to eat though. I’d never be able to bring myself to bite into one of these. Great job!
These cookies came out great. Too pretty to eat though. I’d never be able to bring myself to bite into one of these. Great job!
These cookies came out great. Too pretty to eat though. I’d never be able to bring myself to bite into one of these. Great job!
These cookies came out great. Too pretty to eat though. I’d never be able to bring myself to bite into one of these. Great job!
These cookies came out great. Too pretty to eat though. I’d never be able to bring myself to bite into one of these. Great job!
I am cracking up. You never gave up. They look amazing. Too cute—good job!
I am cracking up. You never gave up. They look amazing. Too cute—good job!
I am cracking up. You never gave up. They look amazing. Too cute—good job!
I am cracking up. You never gave up. They look amazing. Too cute—good job!
I am cracking up. You never gave up. They look amazing. Too cute—good job!
I am cracking up. You never gave up. They look amazing. Too cute—good job!
I am cracking up. You never gave up. They look amazing. Too cute—good job!