Fun & Easy Alternatives for Cutout Cookie Designs Without Icing

Hey Besties! While so many of us spend endless hours creating beautiful, decorated cookies, sometimes you just want something simple and easy! And hang onto your hats because I’m about to say something shocking. Some people don’t like iced cookies! Gasp! I know it’s like a dagger in the heart, but it’s true. And those people still deserve incredibly delicious cookies. So today, I’m featuring some super simple, yet beautiful and delicious, alternative cutout cookie designs without icing that anyone can do! These are perfect for kids and anyone who still want to make stunning cookies in a fraction of the time. Let’s jump in!

Cutout Cookie Recipes

Before we even talk about how to dress up your cookies, let me remind you that plain, undecorated cutout cookies are still insanely delicious! You have 20+ incredibly yummy flavor options available at your fingertips HERE! They are all no-chill, which makes them super quick and simple to make. And they are all no-spread, which means they perfectly hold all your favorite shapes! So, if you really want to make this easy, just whip up a fun flavor with a cool cookie cutter and call it a day! I promise, those you bake for will be thoroughly impressed!

But if I may, I can tell you that cookier top favorites from our collection include the salted caramel, funfetti, and peanut butter cutout cookie recipes. These are fabulous year-round and then the gingerbread is famous during the holiday season. And you’ll definitely want the lemon cutout cookie recipe come springtime. Honestly, they are all delish, so just have fun picking your fave.

Cutout Cookie Designs Using Candy Coating

Often times our family and friends enjoy our cookies naked (the cookies, not the people). But sometimes I just want to jazz them up a bit without hours of decorating. And that’s where almond bark or melting chocolate saves the day! You can also use the fun-colored candy melts too. These products make it SO easy to simply melt and then drizzle or dip for beauty and flavor!

If you’ve never really played with melting chocolate, you may be tempted to throw a bowl of chocolate chips in the microwave on full power. Bless your heart. My daughter almost burned our house down doing that years ago. Seriously. So, I’m gonna stop you right there because that is not how chocolate chips work. Save yourself the headache and make it easy on yourself with products made for this!

The most readily available options are Walmart’s Great Value Almond Bark in both chocolate or white. They are in the baking aisle and taste fantastic. Or you can hit Michaels or Joann’s for the candy coatings in many different colors. Regardless of which type you select, you’ll use the same method to melt and use. Let’s cover that next!

How to Melt Candy Coating

These candy coatings are made for melting and are super easy to use, but it is important to learn the proper way to melt. Otherwise, you could overheat and seize it all up…which is then garbage.

All you need is a microwave and a microwave-safe bowl. Add some of the candy coating to the bowl and heat in the microwave on half-power for 1 minute. Give it a stir. You will then do the same in 30 second increments until it is completely melted and smooth. Note that if it’s close to smooth, you can commonly just stir out any last lumps without needing additional heat.

If you overheat it, it will go from melty smooth to hard again…that’s when it’s seized up. So just go slow in increments, being careful not to overheat.

How to Use Candy Coating on Cookies

The most common ways to use candy coatings with cookies is by drizzling or dipping. You’ll see several examples here that I made using our peanut butter cutout cookie recipe. You can simply dip using a cup or bowl, if desired. Or you can use your candy coating in a decorating bag or in a Ziplock with the corner snipped off! Sometimes people just try to drizzle using a fork but that gets messy. I highly encourage some kind of bag for more control.

Helpful Tips!

• Candy coating sets/dries quickly! So, if you want to add sprinkles or chocolate chips, drizzle and decorate each cookie individually. If you drizzle ten cookies, the first will already be dry and sprinkles will no longer stick.
• Your melted candy coating will start to thicken and reharden in a manner of minutes if not stirred or used. So, if you’re dipping in a bowl or cup, be prepared to zap it in the microwave again for 15 seconds on half-power to re-melt and keep using.
• Whatever you don’t use can be saved and re-melted in the future! If you end up with a bunch of candy coating left in your bowl that you didn’t need, no worries. Re-melt it as instructed and you can save in an airtight container to use in the future!
• If you want to add flavoring or coloring to your candy coating, you can! However, it needs to be oil-based. Any water added to candy coating will make it seize up.

After using candy coating once, you’ll see how easy it is with endless options of things you can dip, coat and drizzle! It’s very forgiving and fun to work with!

Inspiration for Cutout Cookie Designs Without Icing!

We have some peanut butter/chocolate lovers in this family, so what better combo than our peanut butter cutout cookie recipe and chocolate candy coating?! And if you’ve never tried peanut butter with vanilla candy coating, you are missing out! I had fun easily creating these different cutout cookie designs in a matter of minutes. I hope these inspire you to make some of your own! And these are SO easy for kids to make too! A perfect holiday activity!

These are just a few ideas and there really are endless options you can do with fun shapes and candy coating! It all starts with an incredible recipe and your creativity. Those you bake for will be so impressed with your beautiful, delicious cookies! You don’t need years of experience to make stunning cookies!

And hey, before you go, make sure you’ve subscribed to receive my weekly newsletter! Never miss out on a new recipe, technique, product recommendation, free printables and more! Happy Baking, Besties!