Believe me, I have been known to decorate cookies amidst a table cluttered with everything from my zillions of piping tips to 10 different colors of disco dust.
And it can turn a fun experience into a somewhat messy/stressful one.
That’s why I’ve developed a few key organizational habits which help keep me happy while decorating.
These are just a few things I’ve learned over time which work for me; they’re by no means groundbreaking or right for everyone, but I hope you find them helpful.
I also have my Top 10 Practical Tips for Decorating here if you’d like to check them out. A Cookie Decorating Tutorial can be found here and my Top 10 Decorating Tips can be found here.
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How to Stay Organized When Decorating Cookies
1a) I don’t have pretty, see-through Tupperware for my royal icing; I keep the icing in re-usable yogurt containers. To save me time in labelling and forever opening the containers to find a color, I put a dollop of the icing on the lid so I can easily see what color I’m looking for.
I keep my icing containers neatly stacked or sitting on a baking sheet on the counter while I’m using them.
1b) Always open your lids over the sink, or, as I do, over the baking sheet just mentioned, as small bits of dried icing usually fall off the container when opening (Even if you don’t have the dollop of icing on top. That bit of icing usually stays put actually!).
It saves lots of clean up for later.
2) Try as I might to avoid it, crumbs and icing messes still happen. Clean as you go. (Tough sometimes when you just want to decorate, but worth it in the long run).
Having lots of damp cloths ready to go really helps. Expect them to get stained from the darker food gel/paste coloring.
3) Prepare piping bags ahead of time. Having them ready with the couplers and some piping tips (I like #2′s), makes everything go a lot smoother.
I’m not a fan of the parchment triangles, but they could be prepared ahead as well. Whatever type you end up using; the canvas, polyurethane or plastic can be washed and re-used.
4) Keep your tips in some sort of easy organizable container. I use a container originally meant for beads.
5) My exception to the ‘clean as you go’ rule: When refilling piping bags or changing tips, place the spoons and tips into a glass of hot, soapy water. The hot water melts off the icing, so when you go to wash your utensils and tips, most of the work is already done for you.
I keep this glass by the sink to minimize mess as well. Not very pretty (especially with dark colors), but it works.
6) Cover your decorating area with a plastic table cloth. Easy to clean!
7) Keep a container of toothpicks near your decorating area. I use them all the time to marble, correct mistakes and help unclog tips.
8) Keep your piping bags upright in a glass (or glasses), with a damp cloth or paper towel at the bottom of it. Alternatively, keep a plastic Tupperware lid with a damp cloth nearby so that you can lay your piping bags and toothpicks on it.
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9) Place your decorated cookies out of the way on a baking sheet to dry. I’ve made the mistake of keeping them on the table I’m decorating at, and have ruined a few cookies that way.
10) These ones are not necessarily about organization, but I find they help keep me happy and calm so that I’m not rushing around making a mess.
Keep a cup of water, juice or whatever you like… maybe wine? 
nearby. If you can, play some of your favorite music while you’re decorating. I love my iTunes on my laptop!
Hope these tips help make your decorating experience an enjoyable one. I’d love to hear some of your tips if you’d like to share in the comment section below!
Happy decorating!*
xo,
Marian
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p.s. Thanks to Samlyn Studios for taking the gingerbread man cookie in a glass photo!
p.s.s. The designs for these Christmas cookies are from these stickers here
p.s.s.s. Found this fun ribbon at Micheal’s craft store.
I just ADORE your cookies, especially the gingerbread boys, and the cottage! Thanks for the great tips!
These are great! My other cleaning tip is to re-use parchment sheets. After I bake and roll cookies, I put the used parchment sheets out to cover my table and countertop during the decorating process. Also use paper bowls for making flooded icing, they fold nicely for pouring into a bottle or parchment bag. Merry Christmas Marian! Thanks for all the help!
Hi Marian,
Love your site!
I was wondering how long you keep coloured royal icing for?
Thanks,
Cecilia
Hi Cecillia, I’ll write a post on it and have it up by the morning!
@ marian:
Awesome. Thank you
@ Cecilia:
Here’s the info. (It applies to untinted and tinted icing):
http://sweetopia.net/2011/01/how-do-you-store-royal-icing-and-how-long-can-you-keep-it/
I LOVE UR COOKIE DESIGNS. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY CAME OUT OF A FAIRY TALE BOOK.
Marian, I love the gingerbread/round cookie with the pink and white backgrounds. Do you have a tutorial that shows how to do that? Do you flood around the gingerbread boy after you’ve let it dry?
@ LILLIAN: Aw, thanks!
@ Georgia: I did the pink or white base first, let that dry, then piped the gingerbread man on top.
I have some videos which might help (in terms of the right icing consistency etc.) on my youtube channel (click on you tube thing top right of blog) and I did use a projector to help me draw him. (kopykake tutorial in tutorial section.)
Hope that helps!
Thanks Marian! See, I would have done it bass-ackwards. I am subscribed to your videos on YouTube.
@ bridget {bake at 350}:
I am truly enjoying your tips and all of the items on your page! Thanks so much!
SEriously organized. It is killing me not being able to see your playlist though. any good tunes? Also what is that gingerbread man floating in. You are a teaser!!
@ Alanna:
Hee hee!
It changes all time time, but right now am bopping (and decorating soon hopefully) to Katy Perry, OneRepublic, David Guetta etc.
The gingerbread man is sitting in coconut milk. =)
Happy decorating!
hi,
it is really wonderful,i wish i were you, have these equipments and talent to make beautiful cookies like these
Thanks
Hi Marian, Thanks so much for the tips! I see you have a kopycake… any idea where to get one in Canada? Thanks!
One tip about the drink :keep it away from the area ur working on so it doesn’t accidentally spill. Learnt that the hard way.
I’m new into this cookie world and I’m loving it. I’ve been learning from my errors and less experience but with yours and some other cookie artists tips, which like you are willing to share, feel confident that I’ll be able to improve with lots of practice, trial and error. Well, every error is a new lesson. Many thanks indeed.
Love the candy cookie. Where could I find that cookie cutter?
Thanks for the wonderful tips. I must say I love your cookies! I have learned so much by following your blog. Thank you so much for sharing. Merry Christmas!
How do you store and organize your cookie cutters? I find I have to go through them all (pull out of the bag/box I’m storing in) to see which ones I want to use. There’s got to be a better way and I bet you’ve figured it out.
Thanks for your good advice, you go on because it shows that you are very professional in what you do and also share it and that is very valuable. A big hug and happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year 2013. (Gracias por tus buenos consejos, te sigo porque se nota que eres muy profesional en lo que haces y además lo compartes y eso es muy valioso. Un gran abrazo y feliz Navidad yun estupendo Año nuevo 2013.)
@ maryam: Thanks!
@ Laura: I haven’t found any sold in Canada yet, sorry. When I find out if someone ever does, I’ll definitely write a pot about it.
Lol, @ miriam, I hear you! Thanks
My pleasure, @ The Cookie Lab – Marta Torres!
Gosh, it’s been so long, @ Lynne, but I think it’s actually a Wilton cookie cutter.
Thanks, @ April!
Hi @ Jen, not perfect, but here’s how I do it now (see pic in this post); http://sweetopia.net/2012/03/50-secrets-of-a-cookie-decorator/
Many thanks, @ Nancy!