Easy Sunflower Cookies

I have a confession to make to you because I’ve tried to grow sunflowers every year for the past 6 years and I have not been successful. It is not because I can’t grow things because I actually have a bit of a green thumb. Yes, it is covered with green food color gel most of the time but, I can grow plants.

 You see, the problem is cute fuzzy little squirrels because as soon as I plant the seeds, they dig them up and eat them. I tried to give them squirrel food, but it didn’t work. They ate the squirrel food and my sunflower seeds. So, as of now, I give up. No more trying to grow sunflowers anymore. Instead, I am going to make sunflower cookies because the squirrels can’t eat those if they’re in my kitchen.

Simple Sunflower Cookies- Make these simple sugar cookies decorated with royal icing www.thebearfootbaker.com

I know what you are thinking because I’ve already started growing the flowers inside and transfer them outside, but something ate them during the night. So I will just stick to easy sunflower cookies from now on and buy pretty sunflowers from my grocery store.

Supplies for Easy Sunflower Cookies:
(may contain affiliate links)

Flower Cookie Cutter (These were made with a 5″ cutter but, use whatever size you want.)
Circle Cookie Cutter (The circle used for these cookies was a 3″ circle. Use one that fits the size of your sunflower.)
New Unused Toothbrush (Used to spatter the icing on the center of the circle.)
Paint Brush
Airbrush Gun
Orange and Black Airbrush Color

15 Second Icing in a piping bag (or bottle) fitted with a #2.5 or #3 decorating tip

  • Brown Icing
  • Yellow Icing
  • Tan Icing

Easy Sunflower Cookies by thebearfootbaker.com

I didn’t make a template for the transfers because I don’t know what size flower cutter you are going to use. Don’t let that stop you from making these cookies though. All you have to do is trace a circle cookie cutter onto a piece of paper. Then, tape it onto the back of a cookie sheet and cover it with wax paper. Next, tape the wax paper so there aren’t any wrinkles.

Outline and flood the circles with the brown icing. Let it dry completely. It was humid here so it took mine three days to dry. If you want to airbrush and spatter the center of the flowers, watch this video to see how. It is simple and fun!

As you can tell in the video, some of the flower centers look a little wonky, but that’s alright because once you airbrush and speckle them, no one will notice. All they will see is pretty sunflower cookies.

Easy Sunflower Cookies by www.thebearfootbaker.com

Begin making the sunflower cookies and icing and if you need a good sugar cookie recipe, click here. Are you looking for a good royal icing recipe? Click here. If you want to know what 15-second icing is, click here.

Next, outline the sunflower cookies with the yellow icing.

How to make Simple Sunflower Cookies via thebearfootbaker.com

Since this sunflower is a larger cookie, you may want to only work with one cookie at a time because you need to airbrush the center orange, add the royal icing transfer, paint the lines all before the yellow icing dries. Don’t panic though. I will walk you through it one step at a time.

Flood the sunflower cookie with the yellow icing.

How to make Simple Sunflower Cookies via www.thebearfootbaker.com

Use a turkey lacer, Boo Boo Stick, scribe tool or a toothpick to pop all the bubbles and help spread the icing to the edges. Just make sure whatever you use is food safe.

Simple Sunflower Cookies by thebearfootbaker.com

Then, spray the center of the sunflower cookie with the orange airbrush color while the icing is wet. You don’t have to go all the way to the edge but you want to spray a larger area than your royal icing transfer. If you want more information on how to airbrush, click here.

Simple Sunflower Cookies by www.thebearfootbaker.com

Once you have airbrushed the center of the sunflower cookie, add the royal icing transfer while the icing is wet.

Simple Sunflower Cookies thebearfootbaker.com

This is the part where we are going to live on the wild side. Are you ready? Are you ready to work fast? Use a thin paintbrush to make a brown line on each flower petal and all you  need to do is mix a little water and a little brown food gel color with the thin paintbrush and draw a simple line. If you don’t feel comfortable painting it while the icing is wet, just let the cookie dry for a few hours. I was impatient and didn’t want to wait.

Simple Sunflower Cookies via thebearfootbaker.com

I almost edited this picture. Do you see my little shutter release? Well, that is how I take action pictures. I love it more than chocolate!

Simple Sunflower Cookies via www.thebearfootbaker.com

Oops! There it is again.

Simple Sunflower Cookies with thebearfootbaker.com

Next, with the tan icing, make a bow on the center of the sunflower cookies.

Simple Sunflower Cookies with www.thebearfootbaker.com

That’s it. Easy little sunflower cookies.

Simple Sunflower Cookies- Sugar Cookies Decorated with Royal Icing thebearfootbaker.com

You know what they say about sunflower cookies? If you can’t grow them, cookie them! Well, they don’t really say that but I do. 😉

Fall Leaves and Airbrushed Acorns
Pumpkin Cookies
Folk Art Pumpkins
Glittery Pumpkins

Bear hugs,

Lisa