Video Tutorial on Drying Cookies Made with Royal Icing & Making Parisian-Themed Cookies
If you can’t see the video click HERE.
If you prefer watching videos on Vimeo, click HERE.
Hi there!
Hope all of you are having a good start to 2012 and hope this year is filled with lots of sweet things for you.
I’m excited to start my year with some fun cookie themes, like these Parisian ones here. I’ll be doing a travelling series of Around the World decorated cookies, and I just happened to begin my journey with Paris, France.
Oh la la!
I knew when I found these paris design sticky notes by Jillian Phillips, I just had to make a cookie version. Thank you to Jillian and Lilla Rogers for allowing me to use her images! They were so fun to make, and really quite simple once you know a bit about piping royal icing. If you need some guidance, a good place to start is with my Cookie Decorating Tutorial, and two videos on Icing Consistency and How to Pipe Icing Lines.
As part of this post, I thought I’d share with you how I dry my cookies after I’ve decorated them with royal icing. It seems like such a simple thing but if you’re new to cookie decorating there can be lots of questions about how to do it so that your cookies turn out. You can find all my tips in this video here (I’ve put it here in the post again in case you missed it because sometimes the page takes a while to load):
Video on How to Dry Cookies Decorated with Royal Icing
If you can’t see the video click HERE.
If you prefer watching videos on Vimeo, click HERE.
Something I didn’t mention in the video, is that the cookie shapes were made using templates I made, not cutters. I thought I had an Eiffel Tower cookie cutter and when I went to look in my (eep, hundreds of) cutters, I didn’t actually have one.
Either way, if you’re not making too many of these, cutting the cookies out with a template and paring knife, isn’t difficult, it just takes a bit longer than using a cutter.
You can find an Eiffel Tower cookie cutter here, and for the other shapes you can be creative and use other cutters you already have. Take for example the dachshund, Cindy asked on facebook if it was from a stocking cookie cutter. It wasn’t, but it easily could have been. Thanks for the idea, Cindy!
I’m thinking these would work as romantic Valentine cookies too, don’t you?
Now I’ve got some questions for you…
Where in the world do you live? Are there buildings, things or symbols from your city or country which you think would make great cookies?
Share your thoughts with me here in the comment section below, or you can share them on Facebook or twitter. I can’t wait to see where you’re from and which cookies you’d love to see!
Happy decorating!
xo,
Marian
p.s. I’ve linked these cookies to TidyMom’s I’m Lovin’ It. Check out her page for lots of amazing and fun ideas!
Sue says
I don’t see where or if you posted what projector you like the best?
Francesca Dolcimaterieprime says
Oh, funny! This week my cake is on Paris too… All your work is fantastic, but these cookies have something special, they are more than wonderful!!! Best reguards Marian and thank you for sharing, your Tour Eiffel is sensational!
Francesca Dolcimaterieprime says
Francesca Dolcimaterieprime wrote:
I’m from Italy, I think that the Pisa’s tower could be a funny cookie to see…
marian says
Hi @ Sue: I use both the 300 and 1000 model, but in the comparison at the very bottom of the post, you can see that the 1000 is a little better (lighting), but is more expensive. I’d have to say I’d chose the 1000.
@ Jennifer, @ Deemarie, @ Francesca Dolcimaterieprime: Thank you very much guys!
Vanessa says
OMG! These are sooooo cute and sooooo French! Your cookies always leave me gobsmacked with their prettiness.
Marifer says
Wow, beautiful cookies and grate tips, tnahkyou!
But I was wondering how is it that you can project the image onto the cookie?… I loved it and I want to do it so I can make elaborated perfect cookies.
Thanks for your help!!!!!!
marian says
@ Vanessa, @ Marifer: Thanks!
@ Marifer: No problem! Here is the tutorial:
https://sweetopia.net/2010/06/decorating-cookies-with-a-kopykake-projector/
Kendra says
OMG. These cookies are amazingly gorgeous. I do have a question where did you get those fabulous plates my friend who is a French teacher and who’s birthday is coming up would love them!!
Thank for your amazing blog!
Kendra
marian says
HI @ Kendra: I got them a store in Canada called Home Sense. I’m not sure where you’re located but hopefully you can find them.
Your friend is lucky to have a friend like you btw!
Tracey L says
Wow amazing! How did you get the lines in the Eiffle Tower so perfectly straight?
Carly says
Beautiful!! What cookie recipe did you use to make these cute things? I absolutely cannot wait to try these!
marian says
Hi @ Tracey L: I used a Kopykake projector (and you can see me making one in the video in this post). You can find a Kopykake projector tutorial in the tutorial section of my blog. xo
@ Carly: Sugar cookies. The recipe is in the recipe section of the blog. Have fun!
Yuri - Chef Pandita says
Marian, I wish I had half of your cookie decorating skills! Prettiest cookies I’ve ever seen.
Carly says
What are the colors of the icing on these cookies? Did you use a certain brand of coloring to color the royal icing?
marian says
Aw, schanks @ Yuri – Chef Pandita!
@ Carly: The navy is difficult to achieve without actually buying Americolor navy. Trust me, I’ve tried! I use mainly the Americolor brand, and that’s what I used for all these cookies.
Tarina says
Hi love love love the stuff u do…has been really inspirational to me.
Just starting off as a baker 🙂 check out my first attempt at decorating sugar cookies http://paglichefinmumbai.blogspot.com/
Please let me know what you think.
Tarina
India
aundrea says
I have to make eiffel tower cookies for a wedding shower. Yours looks flawless! How do I create the X’s without the icing melting into each other? Make it thicker?? And did you use your kopykake?
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Hi @ aundrea: That’s right, make the icing a bit thicker, and yes, used my Kopykake. You can see how I made it in the video above.
Have fun making them!
Marian (Sweetopia) says
HI @ Tarina: What a cool name btw. Love your cookies – it’s looks like you’re having lots of fun! Thanks for sharing and have fun decorating!
Shiyanne says
Marian-
I love these….they are beautiful!! I did have one question though 🙂 Do you have a “go to” place to find images to use with your Kopykake? I would love your input on good sources if you have any 😀
Thanks!
Aundrea says
Ok thanks! I’m excited to try! Where did you find your image? Did it come from the plate?
Jenny says
Marian these are so beautiful!! I love them. I was in Paris about a month ago and now I just want to go back! I love all your cookies and you are such an inspiration to me, hopefully one day my cookies will be as amazing as yours.
Love the pink poodle with her little upturned nose 😉
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Hi @ Shiyanne: Gosh, everywhere! Stickers probably my fave, but fabric, images etc. Everything!
Kristine says
i assume that you got the design for the lined version of the Eiffel Tower from the Parisian plate in your pictures…but is there any way that you might be able to share the copy you made? i have a kopykake and i would LOVE to try and make an Eiffel Tower cookie!
Thanks!
Natasha says
Hi Marian,
What colours and amounts of food colouring are you mixing to get the dark icing on the Eiffel Tower cookies?
Thanks 🙂
marian says
HI @ Kristine: I’m sorry, I can’t share the image itself as that would be a copyright infringement. (I’m allowed to base a cookie on it, but can’t share the actual image).
@ Natasha: To get an idea, please see, “How to Color Icing Black” in my tutorial section. I used Americolor navy for these though.
Monica says
I just discovered your site this week while on Pinterest. What perfect timing—I just bought some Easter cookie cutters last week and can wait to decorate them after watching a few of your videos and reading your posts. I’ve read that you suggest dying the frosting 24 hours in advance, how do you store your frosting? Do you leave it at room temp or refrigerate it?
marian says
HI @ Monica: Absolutely – there’s a post with that title (how do you store royal icing etc.) in the tutorial section.
Have tons of fun decorating! I’m working on Easter ones now, would be fun to see what you make too, if you’d like to share them on my facebook page.
Rachel says
OOooohhh… you really make feel as though i can do this! So I’m going to try.
Maybe I’ll do some Australian icons…like the Sydney habour bridge, the Sydney opera house, centrepoint tower, Uluru, maybe a Melbourne tram…
you inspire me so much! (BTW thanks for doing vid tutorials-so helpful)
Thank you Marion!
marian says
You can do it @ Rachel! Please come back and share them on my facebook page (so I can see pics), if you like. xo
Christine Beelen says
@ marian:
Hi Marion:
I hope this email reaches you. I am having trouble with my royal icing. White is bleeding through the colour when the icing dries on the cookies. This has never happened before. I think I am mixing the icing well. Do you think the icing is too runny (ie. too much water in it?). Any ideas to help with this would be really appreciated. I am icing dozens of easter cookies for gifts and need help.
Thannks Chris Beelen
marian says
HI @ Christine Beelen!
Yes, it helps if the icing isn’t as runny, and you could also colour your white icing, white, if that makes sense. This post will also help you:
https://sweetopia.net/2009/10/how-to-prevent-your-icing-from-bleeding-7-tips/
Tanpopo says
Hi ! Being a French girl living in Paris, I can tell you your cookies are perfect & fantastic ! Do you mind if I use one of your pictures to put a link to you on my blog ?
Cheers !
Marian says
@ Tanpopo: Thank you, and of course, no problem! xo
corinne says
Bonjour.
Ce que vous faites est magnifique !
Bravo j’adore
Amitié
corinne
Céline says
C’est d’une beauté appétissante. Quel beau travail minutieux.
Bravo!
Hilary De Witt says
Well, what can I say that hasn’t been said about your talent, your PERFECT cookies and your wonderful tutorials? Hmmmm … I’m at a loss as to anything new or original to post but do what to express my appreciation for sharing with us your absolutely gorgeous cookies and talent. Your generosity through your step-by-step videos is just wonderful and I appreciate them so very much. You are gorgeously talented and I am continually shaking my head in disbelief in the perfection of your work. Thanks so much!!
marian says
Merci beaucoup @ corinne et @ Céline!
Aw, @ Hilary De Witt, you are making me blush over here! Thank you for your lovely words. xo
Rachel says
Hi Marian, First of all, congratulations on you beautiful work! You’re truly an inspiration!I’ve been decorating cookies for about a year, and I’ve noticed that lately my cookies have been getting extremely soggy and spongy once I apply the royal icing, making them very soft and prone to breaking by the time they’re done! I do live in an extremely humid place. Could you please give me any advice as to how I can keep my cookies crispier once they’re decorated? BTW, I’ve tried letting them dry under a infrared light, and my RI got full of spots and discolored stains. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but I make my royal icing from fresh eggs (I live in South America, and it is common to do that here). Thank you so much for your attention!
marian says
Hi @ Rachel: Thanks for your kind words! Absolutely, humidity wreaks havoc on decorated cookies! I wrote this post hoping to help:
https://sweetopia.net/2011/07/how-to-avoid-spots-on-icing/
Good luck!
Velia says
Frist off I’d like to say I’m a cookie decorating beginner and your information is sooooo helpful and I love this website. I’m from San Antonio (the Alamo city) and I’d love to see a cookie the Alamo or a cookie of the San Antonio skyline. The Tower of Americas would be awesome as well. I’d also like to note the cookie cakes you did for your brothers wedding were just soooooo beautiful, you inspired me to try something like that for my own wedding, our theme is Fire & Ice, any suggestions or tips would be very much appreciated 😀 Once again Thank you for the help
marian says
Hi @ Velia: Thanks for the kind words, and for the great San Antonio ideas. I’d love to make cookies like that!
Congrats on your upcoming wedding! Fire & Ice, hmmm. Besides the color options, (blue & orange?), I’m not sure right now what you might do for the cookie cakes themselves. Maybe you can take some ideas from the rest of the decor and incorporate it? The ribbon and tag for the cookie cakes might also be an easy place to customize. Love the theme, btw! Good luck!! xo