I’m definitely a sucker for it.
I’d use it on almost every cookie if I could (but I try to restrain myself), but when I found these sparkly LOVE stickers at Michael’s Craft Store I knew I had to make a sugar version of them.
I ended up making simple royal icing decorations (also known as transfers, runouts or floodwork), instead of cookies, for these Valentine cupcakes.
If you’d like to try making these cupcakes and icing decorations, check out the how-tos below.
*
For the Valentine {Love} Cupcakes, you’ll need:
- You can find a video on how to make the cupcake swirl here.
*
*
For the Royal Icing {Love} Toppers, you’ll need:
- Royal Icing Recipe and Food Gel Colorings
- Piping Tip #2
- Piping Bag
- Coupler
- Parchment Paper or Transparency Sheet
- Shortening
*
How to Make {Love} Sugar Decorations:
I used my KopyKake projector to project the Love stickers so I could trace the image, but if you’ve got drawing talent you won’t need the projector. 
If you’d like to see a KopyKake projector tutorial, click here. These shapes are so simple that you really don’t need the KopyKake though; you could just trace them! I projected them because I was able to change the size and make them bigger that way.
So, let’s begin!
- Cut the transparency (or parchment paper) out just larger than the size of the image you’re piping. Lightly coat transparency, with a small amount of shortening using some paper towel. This helps make the royal icing shape easier to remove when it’s dry.
2. Pipe royal icing outline
3. Flood or fill in your outline
4. Gently shake the transparency left to right to help the icing smooth over.
5. Shake disco dust onto your wet icing
6. Pick transparency up and pour excess disco dust back into container. Some disco dust sticks to the shortening but you can probably do a better job than me if you’re not rushing.
7. Make extras of your shapes as royal icing transfers can break easily, especially if they’re a delicate design. These ones weren’t too breakable as they were a bit larger. (I think I’d make them smaller next time though; they’re a bit too big for the cupcakes now that I see them on top).
8. Let icing dry for at least 24 hours.
9. Gently remove icing decoration by peeling the backing away
10. Place on cupcakes, cakes, cookies etc.
It may look like it took a long time to make the “LOVE letters’ with all the pics, but they’re actually quite quick and easy to make. Once I made and colored the royal icing, creating (doubles of) these took about 10 minutes. Then it was just a matter of letting them dry for 24 hours and making the icing and cupcakes.
Here’s a slideshow of the whole icing decoration process if you’d prefer to see it that way:
*
(Click here if you can’t see the slideshow).
I made the pink ‘letter O’ reverse the original sticker as it was easier to make that way. For a visual how-to view the slideshow below.
*
(Click here if you can’t see the slideshow).
To see another post on how to put disco dust on cookies, click here or to see another post on making royal icing transfers, click here.
If you prefer video, HERE’S one in which I show how to make a royal icing transfer.
If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a line below and come join me on facebook here.
Enjoy making your ‘love letters‘!
xo,
Marian
What a pity you did not watermark your fotos.
This wouldn’t have happened:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=441219535898378&set=a.137278436292491.16846.137277782959223&type=1&theater
(This FB page is popular for not giving credit!)
@ Anonymous: Thanks for letting me know!
Casually, while doing a search I found her video with Royal Icing decorations…..it was love at first sight and since then, I keep all related to this technique….I think I should get the neccesary for try to do something with Royal Icing…I dream to make decorated cupcakes and cookies for my daughter’s party….
I’m sorry I didn’t take the time to read all the comments, so you may already know……Eldas Cookies N More is using these photos on facebook
is the glitter edible?
Simplemente es adorable tu página, me encanta lo impecable de tu trabajo, te voy a seguir de ahora en adelante, gracias por compartir tus técnicas, aunque no hablo ingles puedo ver y aprender de tus vídeos.
Does the butter cream dissolve the royal icing?
Hi @ Monica: I discuss that in this post here; http://sweetopia.net/2011/01/how-do-you-store-royal-icing-and-how-long-can-you-keep-it/
Thanks for your comments everyone!
Thank you so much for this posting; I had no idea this could be done with royal icing and this opened up a whole new for me. I sat down last weekend and piped 70 teddy bears to attach to onesies cookies that I did for my shower but they weren’t the prettiest, and therefore, I did not use them. I tossed it up to a learning experience.
I love your website, as you provide wonderful and valuable information to newbies as wellas to intermediate bakers and for that, I am so grateful.
Well thanks so much, @ Sheryl G.! xo
CK products “fine glitter dust” does appear to be edible, because it says to use it on cupcakes, and it is listed as kosher. Maybe this is a good alternative http://www.ckproducts.com/products/5431/4-5G-FINE-GLITTER-DUST-MET-GLD-78-652G-/313
Here are all of their edible glitters http://www.ckproducts.com/categories/612/Edible-Glitter
It is interesting they make this distinction. It seems obvious to me that the disco dust product is made of plastic and other reflective materials, just like regular craft glitter.
The FDA may not have made a ruling on this issue, but the UK’s Federal Standard Agency has. They are now requiring all non-toxic decorating glitter to be labeled “non-edible” if it is not digested by the body. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2133336/Storm-cupcake-How-innocent-question-glitter-edible-The-Great-British-Bake-Off-sparked-national-fairy-cake-pandemonium.html
I’ll stop bothering your blog now, lol. But I think it is important for this distinction to be made, as many people are being mislead. Edible decorating glitter does exist, but it is not Disco Dust.
Sorry, it’s Food Standard Agency, whoops!
I know I said I would stop bothering your blog… But I had made a comment earlier saying how I think your LOVE cupcakes are so beautiful and creative. I’m dismayed that that comment did not show up, because I am not trying to attack your work. In fact, I think that this is an awesome way to use the Disco Dust, since you can simply remove the letters before eating the cupcake!
Hi @ Heather: Thanks so much for your kindness about the love cupcakes and for all the info you’ve shared and effort in commenting! I do appreciate it and know other readers will too!
Hello! I follow you on facebook … I saw these cupcakes and they are beautiful. I wonder if that use is edible glitter, or just decoration. Thank you very much!
From Argentina!
Hi @ Camila: There seems to be debate going on about it and how it’s labelled in each country, but it seems safe to say that to treat it as decoration which is easily removable is best!
Hello,
I looked at these last year too and finally think I have the confidence to try them out.
I was told though never to put anything made out of royal icing into butter cream as it will effect the RI and “melt”
How have you got away with it? Or have I been misinformed?
HI @ Shaunna: Yes, the grease in the royal icing does affect it, over time. Please see the bottom of this post here where I discuss the issue. xo
http://sweetopia.net/2011/01/how-do-you-store-royal-icing-and-how-long-can-you-keep-it/
Thank you so much for sharing this idea. Going to give these delightful ideas a go.