Hey Besties! I’ve received MANY requests for a tutorial on how to use embossed parchment paper for your cookie decorating, so here we are! I’m sharing my favorite source with the best selection of embossed parchment papers, along with my tips and video demo as well! You’ll see exactly how easy it is to add beautiful textures, patterns and designs to your royal icing. In my opinion, it’s one of the easiest ways to make your cookies stand out from the rest. Beginner-friendly so anyone can do this too! If you’ve been here before, you’ll know I’m ALWAYS looking for simple ways to create impactful and stunning cookies that anyone can do. So I’m confident you’re going to love this! Let’s jump in!
Cutout Cookie & Royal Icing Recipes
Before we get into it, let’s make sure you’ve got a beautiful and delicious canvas to start with! You may already have a recipe you love but you may also want to check out our ever-growing collection of ridiculously delicious cutout cookie recipes. All of our recipes are no-chill and no-spread which means you’ll have delicious cookies in all your favorite shapes ridiculously fast. Personally, I just don’t have time for chilling dough and if I can create delicious cookies without it, I’m IN.
For royal icing, again, you may have a recipe you love, and I love that for you! But if you’re looking for a recipe or if your current recipe is giving you any heartache, try THIS one. It perfectly spells out exactly HOW to make beautiful and delicious royal icing that gives perfect results every time. The magic is in the METHOD of how you make your royal icing. Cookie decorating is SO much more fun when you don’t have to even think about color bleed or other issues.
Into To Embossed Parchment Paper
Beautifully embossed parchment paper has been gaining popularity in the cookie decorating space for good reason! It’s so simple to use while leaving people asking, “How did they do that?!” And isn’t that kind of what we’re all after? To leave people astonished at our cookie sorcery? Maybe it’s just me. Anyway, these magical pieces of paper allow you to easily emboss (press in) or deboss (raised) beautiful patterns into your royal icing. I actually usually prefer the debossed look, but it depends on the design and look you want to achieve.
How To Use
I recommend using a thicker flood for a few different reasons. First, since you’ll be applying the parchment sheet and a little pressure when the icing is wet, if your icing is too thin, it will just run over the edge. Second, a slightly thicker icing allows you to better push out any potential air bubbles. Third, it helps with dry time.
You’ll see in the video that my icing is thicker than my normal flood icing for those reasons. And since you’re covering your flood with the design, it’s not critical to have perfect flood anyway. It’s probably about a 20-second flood if I were to time it out. It smooths out with a good shake.
Add the paper starting at one end of the cookie and gently rolling it down across the cookie. I like to run my finger over the top to really make sure my paper is adhered to the icing. No simply let it dry! I let mine dry overnight for best results and this also helps keep your parchment paper in good shape to be reused multiple times. If you try to pull it off when the icing is not completely dry, the paper may be more fragile.
And remember that you don’t necessarily have to emboss/deboss your entire cookie! You could just flood a section, add the paper and decorate the rest the more traditional way. It’s completely up to you but keep that in mind as it can be a great way to add texture to just a portion of a design too!
My Favorite Source for Embossed Parchment Papers
I was fortunate enough to be able to Feature Marguerite Redman, also known as The Cookie Artist, as one of our Featured Bakers last year. She also happens to have the most extensive collection of embossed parchment papers of any shop I’ve seen! Seriously, my mind starts reeling with ideas every time I visit her online shop, the possibilities are endless. So, I’m thrilled to be able to share Cookie Artist Studio with you. Marguerite is as sweet as her cookies, is an amazing decorator and cookie supply shop owner. I love being able to support her small business and I highly encourage you to check out her designs.
When used as described, your parchment sheets can be reused multiple times, which is a great benefit!
Demonstration Video
Let’s see it all in action! I created a demo video that you can find HERE! You’ll see how I flooded the cookies, added the parchment papers. the big reveals the next morning and final cookies! I hope this is helpful for you!
The Endless Options with Embossed Parchment Paper!
I hope this post all about how to use embossed parchment paper in your cookie decorating has been helpful! I know it has left me tremendously inspired to do more with them in my designs! Now I just need to make decisions in the Cookie Artist Studio shop! 🤪
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