Secrets of a Cookie Decorator – What the recipe books don’t tell you!
I’m here to share them with you, in no particular order, because that would take way more time for me to do than is worthwhile when I could be cookie decorating instead! Here are some secrets you may or may not know about cookie decorating, cookie decorators, and me… I’d love to hear your sweet little secrets too if you’d like to share them. Join me in the comment section below.
Quick side note – these cookie cookies above, are from a plate I bought at the Hallmark store. More on them in another post soon.
1. My cookies didn’t look as pretty when I began.
2. Practice does help. That being said, knowing the right decorating tips will get you on the road to creating pretty cookies, quickly. (Practice helps with photography too – still learning lots about that!).
3. Figuring out icing consistency made the biggest difference in improving my cookie decorating.
4. I have almost all cookie decorating books I can get my hands on. Who says you need to share the bookshelf with your husband?
5. The cookie books are beautiful, but I learned through trial and error. For some reason it just didn’t click when I read, “Your pastry-bag tip shouldn’t touch the cookie surface but rather should hover just above it…” (pg. 104 of Cookie Craft – an awesome book btw. I’m just a hands-on learner! Translation – I’m a little slow). With practice, one day I just did it, and had an ‘ah-ha’ moment. I learn well with video or photos. There weren’t very many videos or step by step photos on decorating cookies when I first learned how to.
6. My hand did want to use a piping bag like a pen when I first began. After all, that’s what my hand knew. It can be re-trained. 😉
7. It does get easier easy.
8. I see the world in cookies. I don’t come up with pretty designs all on my own. I copy many designs with permission and/or attribution to the artists. The world is my inspiration…. Fabric, stickers, scrapbooking paper, ads, nature, holidays, paint palettes, books, art… it all has cookie potential!
9. The Kopykake projector. {I can’t really draw, unless doodles qualify as drawing}. I use a kopykake projector.
10. Alternatives to the kopykake projector. {If you can’t draw, and can’t buy a projector}.
11. Bigger cookies are easier to decorate in terms of detail.
12. I had no real interest in baking until 2003, at age, ahem, never mind, until 2003.
13. Don’t be afraid to “fail”. Sometimes I make cookie designs I don’t really like… and I don’t post them. Like the postcard cookie below – I wasn’t thrilled with my piping there, so I didn’t even end up taking photos of it, hence the screen shot of the video they briefly appear in. Experiment, have fun with it, and if you don’t end up liking a cookie, that’s okay!
13. I’ve stopped talking about cookie decorating with my off-line friends, family, and colleagues. I know the eyes-glazing-over-look now, and just save the cookie talk for you. (Thank you! Mwah!)
14. Truly, my hands are shaky. I don’t even drink coffee. (But generally eat large amounts of chocolate). Resting my arms/wrists on the table when I decorate helps.
15. I once had to ask a friend to change her request for 100 motorcycle cookies to another theme, when I realized I wouldn’t be able to make a nice looking cookie (didn’t have the projector then).
16. When someone gives me a gift, I’m looking at the design of the wrapping paper and wondering how I can make it into a cookie.
17. One of my first cookie decorating heros was Nancy’s Fancy Cookies & Cakes. Her cookies were real works of art. She no longer has a web page. If she ever comes back, and she doesn’t mind of course, I will direct you to her right away. With her permission it would not be considered stalking (I think…LOL).
18. I love love love decorating with all my heart. New cookie designs make me excited and happy to get out of bed in the morning. (Most days).
19. Decorating cookies can be a zen experience in that you focus on nothing else than what you’re doing, so stress and worries fall away, and pretty cookies are the result.
20. Giving away the cookies is so much fun. People (who don’t decorate cookies), think they’re amazing.
21. Cookie decorating makes you feel good.
22. Sometimes, cookie decorating can be frustrating… Spots form on cookies due to humidity, colours bleed, you feel time pressured…
23. But, that can be fixed…. Here’s what to do about humidity , bleeding, and a schedule to help you out.
24. I make mistakes… and I cover them up. One example – The icing ran over on one yellow owl below, so I covered the area later with leaves.
25. I am forever stocking up on icing sugar, butter, meringue powder, and cream of tartar.
26. Meringue powder is expensive – you can’t get around it; except…
27. Michael’s has an awesome 40% off one regular item coupon. That’s how I buy my meringue powder.
28. I don’t like cleaning piping tips. I need a ‘house elf’.
29. I don’t like preparing piping bags. Again, a ‘house elf’ would be helpful.
30. Sometimes, my husband cleans the piping tips. =) He does not want to be considered a ‘house elf’!
31. If I ever do watch TV, you might find me making piping bags at the same time.
32. I have 75 couplers, so that I can make lots of piping bags ready ahead of time.
33. I have a zillion piping tips between the sizes #00-#10 (Okay maybe not a zillion – 57).
34. Cookie cutter addiction is possible – I have over 400 cookie cutters and won’t take the time to count exactly how many. (Really though, over 400).
35. I know Martha Stewart has tons more (cookie cutters) – I would really like to see her collection.
36. I would also like to see how hers are organized. Mine are half decent, but I know hers would be amazing. She must have a ‘house elf’, or two, or three… Here are some of mine… (Cutters, not house elves):
37. Every where I go, if there are cookie cutters, and I don’t have the shape, I usually buy it.
38. Turns out, the main shapes I use are geometric cookie cutters.
39. Here are my bins of geometric cutters. (Ahem). I was blessed to inherit many classic cutters from my father, who retired as a chef and professor of George Brown College after having taught there for 28 years. (Funny enough, he isn’t a pastry chef).
40. Favorite decorating medium – royal icing. Fondant is fun too, but I prefer the taste of R.I. on cookies.
41. I don’t like squeeze bottles (but that’s just me). I find them harder to fill than piping bags.
42. I can’t make a parchment paper triangle piping bag. Have developed a certain fear of them. 😉
43. Elastic bands and hair ties work in pinch, to tie the ends of your piping bags off, but I prefer the Wilton icing bag ties.
44. I listen to my iTunes while decorating.
45. Sometimes I watch listen to YouTube videos while I’m decorating.
46. My husband puts up with my cookie stuff in the kitchen quite often all the time. He is so supportive. (Mwah!).
47. I would like a bigger house so that I could have a ‘cookie decorating’ room.
48. My husband would like a bigger house so that I could have a ‘cookie decorating’ room.
49. Ribbons make a decorated cookie package look even prettier. My favorite ribbon is American Crafts. Or, ribbon at a store called Mokuba, in Toronto. Michael’s has pretty ribbon too.
50. I’m addicted to sugar tools. I have so many tools, I have lists of projects to do with them which would take years to make.
51. My husband came home one day, and I was hammering nails into our storage room wall, so that I could see my tools and get them easily when I need them. (My husband is an easy-going man). I am a very visual person. I need to see things to be inspired to create. Ahem. We were going to renovate that room some day anyways. 😉
52. I have a million ideas, and not enough time to make them all.
53. Besides online spots like Amazon, Ebay, and various other fabulous sites like CopperGifts and Fancy Flours, some my favorite places to shop in Toronto are the Bonnie Gordon College, Golda’s Kitchen and McCall’s Baker’s Warehouse. There are more super places – deserves it’s own blog post I think.
54. The only thing which has taken my attention away from decorating cookies is an addictive little site you may have heard of, called Pinterest.
55. I have dreamt of cookie designs.
56. I daydream about cookie designs.
57. I have found my bliss… Who knew it would take the form of royal icing! (Thank you John Snediker for the quote!)
58. I am a cookie nerd, and happy to be one.
59. My blog means the world to me. So do you. Thank you for visiting me here.
xo,
Marian
p.s.
Emily says
I’ve been following your blog for a long while, and love your cookies! I decided on a whim to follow you on Pinterest, even though those cookies will tempt me, and found out something else awesome about you! You’re an owl girl just like me! That makes you 100x cooler in my book!
Maria says
hi Marian,
I’ve been following your blog since you started… you are amazing and surprise me with every new post!
I’m not a baker, but I love reading everything you do….
ML
Jennifer says
This was a great read, I loved it! 🙂
Vanessa says
Love that you truly love what you do and that you enjoy sharing your pretty “cookie nerd” self with us as much as we all love reading/watching/listening to you! Every new post puts a smile on my face and inspires me to try again. I hope one day I will be able to join in the open discussion and flow of ideas, sharing my own cookie ideas and tips… one day!
Vanessa says
Oh and I loved #51. I can relate.
Taysha Riggs says
I love this!! I read each one and smiled 🙂 I’ve always admired ‘fancy’ cookies and am an avid baker but it wasn’t until I discovered what the hard icing was (I grew in a buttercream-only home) that I realized… ‘oh dang I could do this’ and thus it began. If my husband minds he has yet to say, maybe its because he gets to eat my mistakes and look cool when he brings extras to work but oh-how-zen it is when I lock on a design/technique and make it my own.
THANKS your blog is inspiring each and everyday 🙂
Carmen Cazares says
Hi Marian! I’m your fan from mexico!! I really enjoy your blog!! Learn a lot from you!! Thanks a lot!!
sebby says
I really love your blog, I’m pretty new to cookie and cake decorating but like it a lot! I have one tip I figured out. I use the bag clips from IKEA to close and reopen my piping bags quickly.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70083252/
Angie says
I understand all fifty-nine.
Cookie-ngly Yours,
Chef Angie
Jan says
Hi Marian
Thank you. Your site is lovely. Your work is so inspiring. Just a big thank you for sharing.
Pastry says
Thank you for share with us, all your tips….. I love your site !!!
Pastry
Esther Dares says
Oh Marion, I love you! :)-(don’t get creeped out) 🙂
I read your whole post, and I have to say that I have been doing bookwork all evening and all I really wanted to do was get away from the computer. Then I saw your email and awww, it was lovely. You inspire me. I think your husband is a lucky man. You are amazing. Esther
Sue says
That’s so wonderful that you inherited your dad’s geometric cutters~priceless! Love this post:)
Jenny says
You have a fan in Hong Kong! Even though I haven’t made the attempt to make and decorate sugar cookies (yet), you have at least inspired me to try it (soon)!
Robyn Woodroffe says
How fabulous for you to share your wisdom, and encouragement. I’m glad I’m not the only one who cant reist buying cookie cutters…..
Cindy Mae says
I LOOOVE this post. I have cake pans, cookie cutter, and tips galore. My “non cake/cookie” friends don’t understand. I’m glad you do. 😉
ps- I adore your cookie designs. Thank you for taking the time to make videos and this blog.
God Bless,
Cindy Mae from Texas
niner // sweet treats says
@MARIAN
Haha yes it does take an easy-going person, but also a person who loves you 100% – he supports you to the fullest, just like my Diego – he even helps me sometimes when there are too many orders – thats love.
My Cake Pops are going well, thank you. I think it is time though to try out more things. I will definitely make more cookies too in the future – inspired by you of course, you know the deal. :)))
LOVE!!
xoxo
niner
Rachel says
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Linda says
I love these tips! Keep them coming! Wish I could get half that organized!
Veronica says
Thank you for all these Tips! I love it! You do an amazing job!… 🙂
Karina says
Have recently decided to “follow my bliss” once my kids got old enough to go to school and I actually had time to BREATHE! :). Been baking forever, but just started my own business with baked goods and decorated cakes & cookies. THANK U for such a lovely, priceless, visually helpful and inspiring site. It really gives me courage to try new lovely projects and bring sweet happiness to the world around me! Please never stop sharing!!!!
marian says
Hi @ Georgia, @ Jen Mc: Thanks for visiting!
@ Bertie’s Bakery: I don’t know what it is, it’s like a mental block or something… at least I feel better too, now that you’ve shared that with me. 🙂
Thanks @ Kris Colucci! Isn’t it the best!? Just gave the Lorax cookies to the neighbours on the weekend – such a kick, for them and me.
@ Jodie W.: Nice, good to have that available space! Wouldn’t it be fun to share pictures of everyone’s decorating spaces (if people were willing LOL).
@ kat: Ahhh, I love it!!! “…I want an entire separate cookie out-building…a cookie monastery of sorts…filled with cookie monks who love nothing better than mixing royal icing colors and cleaning tips and utensils.” How completely awesome – love your imagination! I hadn’t thought of that, and it will def. stick in my mind. – A cookie monastery! Best dream ever. 😉
Hi @ susie: It’s a fun hobby to work on, isn’t it. Give away the mistakes, eat the mistakes, make others happy, make yourself happy… And there are so many themes to try out – I don’t know if I’ll ever get tired of it!
Hello @ Isa in Spain! Thanks for visiting!
@ John Snediker: You’re welcome – your quote was awesome! And I laughed at your comments; first, about telling your friends about cookie decorating and then, “… When I roam the isles of a cake/cookie decorating store or Michael’s people think I am lost, waiting for my wife or casing the place.” Hahahaha! I love it! I think could have your own tv show – what a unique story!
marian says
I feel exactly the same way, @ Linda Lawhead – if you mess up one cookie, it’s just one cookie. Cakes seem a little more daunting, but eventually once I write all the posts I can about cookie techniques etc., I’ll start delving into cakes more.
@ Anne: Great find (cookie tools)! Exactly my thoughts – I never knew cookie decorating would turn out to be a big part of my life. Haha… goes to show you just never know where life will lead us…
@ Joanie K.: Oh a house elf would have been great for the gingerbread houses too! 😉
@ yvette: I know how you feel, all you can do is try though, right? Give yourself some time. xo
@ Nancy G: It takes up more room than one would think, innocent little cookie decorating, hey? 😉 That is, until you get tons of cutters, food gel colors etc. etc. Oh well, makes us happy!
paddleattachment says
Marian – I love this post and I so get it!!! I dream in cookies, I’m cookie obsessed, I’ve found my bliss and I’m so happy there are other (extremely talented) cookie nerds just a “click” away…. Kristina
marian says
Thank you, @ AnnMarie, for dropping by!
@ OhJulieta: I know, wouldn’t it be great!
@ Kristen: Congratulations on your business taking off! I’ll be over to visit your site soon, too. =)
Hello @ Kate from England! Glad to see you here and happy you’re enjoying cookie decorating. Drop by any time, and definitely don’t feel shy about sharing your sweets on my facebook page; would love to see them!
@ Rockstar Wife: First off, love your blog name… makes me smile every time I see it. Also love that you two are following your dreams, and love the content of your suitcase! Now THAT is cookie decorating dedication!
@ Yael: Thanks so much! You made me feel good too. 🙂
@ Manal: 🙂 I feel sorry for the non-cookie decorating people who ask me cookie related questions; once in a while, I forget to stop talking about it. LOL.
Hi @ Michelle: Welcome! Have fun decorating!
@ amy: Hello possible best friend. I can forgive the bottle thing on your part! 😉
Neat, you did the wall thing too! I have to say, the jar idea is perfect… I’ve only done that with disco dust, and have that on a shelf, but if I ever re-do my sugar tool storage, that’s what I’ll do, so that I can still see them. (thank you!).
As for cookie snacking… it happens… can’t help it, buuuut, I do want to ‘watch my figure’ as they say, so try to eat healthy food on a regular basis… and often, during the day… every two-three hours, so that my cravings for sweets don’t get too huge. Other than that, I’m trrrrying to get out and work out more. It’s a work in progress. You?
Hey @ Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet: NIce to see you around!
@ Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more: Just talked to Dad and he said she went by two names, Alma or Helen Makelwrath, and she recently retired as well! A Scottish lady, he said. That’s so great that you went there… did you study to become a pastry chef then, or a chef in general?
Hi @ Lindsey labrie: Hi there, in Holland! Glad to be of some help to you.
marian says
@ paddleattachment: I love your shamrock cookies! Thanks for visiting me fellow cookie nerd. 😉
Georganne (LilaLoa) says
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post!!! And I have to say… I am a geometric cookie lover. And your husbands sound positively as sweet as you!
Gayle says
Found this this morning on Pinterest. Thanks for sharing!! I’m struggling though finishing some too tiny Batman cookies this morning. You’ve helped keep me going!
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Hi @ Georganne (LilaLoa): I’m so glad you like it! You’re the one responsible for those amazing, ‘scrolled’ (I don’t know what to call them), and ‘tag-like’ cutters from CopperGifts, and I think they’re *brilliant*! Thank you so much for those!
Go, @ Gayle! You can do it! Would love to see pictures on my facebook page, if you’d like to post them!
Tammi says
Loved the post! This is my first time visiting your blog (found a link to this post on Pinterest) and I really like it! I’m a cake & cupcakes girl, but would love to get into doing some cookies too, so any information & tips are great! Just as an FYI for shopping, if you have JoAnn’s Fabrics up in Toronto, they will take Michael’s & Hobby Lobby coupons as well! So, you can get a bunch of coupons together & shop there all at once instead of only buying one thing at a time at Michael’s. Makes my shopping trips way more fun! LOL
Amanda {Bluebird Cakes} says
Lovely! The list is almost like therapy. Takes a decorator to know a decorator. I had a smile or an outright giggle at each point because I truly have “been there” myself. If you ever have a support group, count me in!
marian says
Thanks, @ Tammi! Great tips about the coupons and shopping; I haven’t heard of that store yet (JoAnn’s Fabrics), but will ask around for sure! Otherwise, I’m coming down to the U.S. for a fun shopping spree! (Eventually, LOL).
@ Amanda {Bluebird Cakes}: Yay, let’s begin a group together! I’ll begin… “Hi, I’m Marian, and I’m addicted to cookie decorating…”
Leigh says
Marian, I love your website. I love the knowledge that you share, the tutorials, the pictures, the tips. This post was awesome and quite funny!
Jacquee (@ I Sugar Coat It!) says
Great post, Marian!! I frequent Mokuba as well – they have some exquisite ribbons and I always spend way too much…
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says
I’m sure i’ll come back to these tips many times! Thank you! 🙂
Carola says
LOL!! you mademelaugh with the hose elves!!!
Iloved your post!
Hugs from CHile!!!
marian says
To everyone who has left me a comment here – thank you SO much for your encouraging and kind comments – I really, *really* appreciate it! xo
Lisabeth says
Hi Marian,
I was great reading what you have written. It’s 2:08 a.m. and I’ve only managed to get 10 cookies decorated. I have my good days and lately lots of bad days. What I love about your talent is that you worked hard and through many trials and tribulations, you are now succeeding. Sometimes I want to give up, but I love this so much. Thank you for the encouragement. I hope one day to be in your position. However, I will always remain a great fan! Lisa
Kim says
Great post, as always! you are such an inspiration and a source of excitement – I will never be a master cookie decorator, but I live vicariously through you! Biggest compliment I can give you is a new post from you is like seeing a new pair of shoes – love that inhale and flurry of excitement. Love seeing the love you put into your work and how free you are to share all your secrets! much love!
hugs! Kim @ Party Frosting!
Teronia Bayonne (Tara) says
I am o so intimidated by cookie decorating. Don’t be mad, but I don’t particularly like the taste of cut out sugar cookies so that adds to my fear of trying, but I love to look at beautiful cookies and dream of making my own. Yours is one of the first food blogs I ever started reading. Thank you so much. I will make cookies one day! Looking to make my own flavor that I can actually eat.
Carolyn Woods says
Great posting. Very inspiring tips and ideas. It makes me want to decorate some cookies today (my day off). 🙂 Thanks for sharing all your cookie knowledge with us! If I made a list of cookie secrets you would be one of them!
-Carolyn (Occasional Cookies)
Wendy Newman says
Thank you so much for sharing, I loved reading your tips . I can relate to all! I must say I’ve learned alot from your site and I am GRATEFUL! Thanks so much, Wendy
ceecee says
Love the way you organized your cookies cutters….stealing the idea!!! thx., Ceecee
Rose @ Rose Bakes says
I love this post! Cakes are my thing, but I’ve been trying my hand at cookies here and there – very good tips!!
Caitlin says
Love this! You crack me up!
I recently asked my husband if we could turn our basement into a bakery rather than a man cave when we refinish it… He saw $ signs when I mentioned “oven, drying racks, etc.” but said that the $ signs I saw (tv, couch, tv stand, etc.) were completely logical. he he. I take that as permission to continue to invade our kitchen!!
Melissa says
Found a great tip for filling piping bags-they’re the worst to clean up!
Great video I found via Pinterest, but not sure how it will work with runnier cookie icing. Might be worth a look anyway.
Great tips!!
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/09/mind-blowing-cake-decorating-tip/
buggalcrafts a.k.a. melba says
So vey cute! I too LOVE cookie cutters. In fact I love what u can do with the CUTTER better than actually MAKING cookies these days. Take a look at my Pin Board: http://pinterest.com/buggal1989/ways-to-use-cookie-cutters/
I am also doing a series of posts on “Not Just For Cookies Anymore” on my craft blog on wordpress.com:
http://buggalcrafts.wordpress.com/
I have my cutters in plastic drawers. That way I don’t have o take all the containers out to get to the one one the bottom. They WERE organized by season, etc. UNTIL the granddaughter played with them and mixed them all up!!!
I will def be following u!
Thanks,
Melba
Jackie Thompson says
Hi Marian, I just love this post. I also am a visual person and would love to tack my tools all over the wall ~ it just keeps the creative juices flowing. If I ever get my own decorating room … right now all of my baking and cake decorating takes over the dining room.
A couple of weeks ago I made your sugar cookie recipe and it was a huge success. My son’s girlfriend was hosting an event to raise money for a trip overseas to help underprivileged kids and I offered to make sugar cookies for her guests. My cookies didn’t look like yours but they were so well received that I smiled for the rest of the day from the compliments. Thank you for such a delicious recipe and for all of the time you take to share and help us other “cookie nerds” TRY to do what you do so well. I’ve admired your work for a long time but have only recently spent time on your site. I’m excited to delve in some more.