Hey Besties! For those wanting to learn how to decorate cookies, a video is worth 10,000 words! And while it’s super fun to watch cookie decorating videos, there are a lot of details left out for those actually trying to learn! And with so many requests for help with steps and order of operations, I’m thrilled to introduce Step-By-Step Cookies! A whole new section of this website, where you will be able to find detailed cookie decorating tutorials! And this guide to step-by-step cookies, will provide all the additional resources you need as far as recipes, consistencies and more! Together, you’ll be decorating your own beautiful cookies!
Cutout Cookie Recipes
Before we can start decorating, you need a delicious cookie canvas! There are a few things we stand firm in around here! First, I believe decorated cookies need to taste just as good as they look! I also believe that life is too short for only vanilla cookies. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a vanilla cutout cookie; But there are SO many amazing other flavors too! Lastly, we’re busy around here and I’m sure you are too! All of our cutout cookies are no-chill. You can make your dough, cut your shapes and have your cookies baked and out of the oven in under 40 minutes. Enjoy them plain or get ready to decorate! If you want to start with an easy, delicious vanilla cutout cookie recipe, you’ll find it HERE! If you want to go beyond vanilla, you can find many more amazing favorites HERE! Enjoy!
Royal Icing Recipe
If you’re looking for a fabulous royal icing recipe that is super simple to make and gives us perfect results every time, you’ll find it HERE. There are only a few steps, but they are important since the magic is in the method of how royal icing is made. If you currently have a recipe that is giving you any challenges, I encourage you to try the recipe we use every day. Many cookiers kick themselves for not trying is sooner and never look back! Beautiful icing that is easy to work with and is delicious is what I want for you. No gate keeping here, I literally share all my secrets with you, Bestie!
Royal Icing Consistencies
Arguably the hardest part of cookie decorating is learning the consistencies you need to achieve the look and results you want. Once you learn your consistencies, you can pretty much create any design you want. And in these step-by-step cookies, you’ll see me reference exactly which consistencies I use for each technique.
To learn how to make your different consistencies and exactly what each one looks like, this consistency guide will be your new bestie. Learn exactly how to thin or thicken your icing and exactly what each consistency looks like when making it.
Order Of Operations in Cookie Decorating
Bestie, I’ll be the first to admit, when I first started decorating, order of operations was extremely difficult for me! And I know it’s difficult for most other new cookiers too! Looking at a cookie, determining the order of steps to create it, can be overwhelming. This is a big part of step-by-step cookies, and you’ll see these videos specifically call out not only the decorating you see, but what goes on behind the scenes too. This is one of the differences between step-by-step cookies and the quick decorating videos that are fun to watch. The goal here is to help you actually learn to recreate designs and give you the confidence and skills to create your own!
You’ll also notice that step-by-step cookies are much closer to real-time decorating. Cookie decorating videos are almost always sped up, which makes them fun to watch but also makes it looks really easy! In reality, cookie decorating is SLOW, so I’m showing you the reality of decorating!
Other Helpful Cookie Decorating Resources
Cookie Decorating Supplies
Foe those starting out, you don’t need much to start decorating! I encourage cookiers to start with the short list of what you need and once you know you love it, you can consider other tools and products to grow your skills and efficiency. THIS post explains exactly what you’ll need to start and what you can consider for later.
Royal Icing FAQs
If you run into any issues with your royal icing, most solutions are covered HERE! Color bleed, matte finish, drying times, craters and more. It almost always come down to science and fortunately, there are solutions for just about everything!
Beginner Decorator Tutorials
I also have a large variety of blog posts organized in a Beginner Decorator category on this site, which you’ll find HERE. Covering a wide range of topics, you’ll find a wealth of information!
Bestie Support
I’ve got fabulous news! You are not alone in this journey, and we all started at the same place! If you need a positive group of besties where there is no judgment and endless amounts of help, support and encouragement, you should join our private group HERE. You’ll also find me there every day, celebrating all of your successes and growth!
Guide To Step-By-Step Cookies for YOu!
I hope you love step-by-step cookies and can’t wait to regularly bring you fun, new designs! We’ll cover all kinds of techniques, beginner designs, more advanced designs, and everything in between. You’ll see new designs every week!
And if you aren’t already receiving my weekly newsletter, now is your chance to subscribe! Join thousands of fellow cookiers who love this weekly newsletter! Never miss out on a new recipe, technique, tutorial, product recommendation, free printable and step-by-step cookies! Happy Baking, Besties!