Airbrushing Royal Icing Transfers
As you know I have a slight obsession with royal icing transfers. I enjoy making them and using them to decorate cookies and cupcakes fast because it’s easy and stress-free. The only thing that I don’t like about them is sometimes my black transfers look a little dull after they dry. Don’t fret because I have a solution for you. Airbrushing royal icing transfers before you need them will keep them looking shiny.
I thought a good example to share this little tip with you would be to make puppy dog noses. Have you heard if a dog’s nose isn’t shiny and wet looking then the puppy is sick? I hope puppies never get sick because I want them all to be happy, healthy and playful every day.
Can you tell which puppy is feeling a bit under the weather? The nose on the left is airbrushed and the one on the right hasn’t been airbrushed. In-person you can see the difference, but it’s kind of hard to tell by looking at the photo.
Supplies for Airbrushing Royal Icing Transfers:
(may contain affiliate links)
Small Nose Transfer
Medium Nose Transfer
Large Nose Transfer
Airbrush System
This is reason 1,001 that I love my airbrush gun. I love making royal icing templates in advance so they are always ready to use and the airbrush gun helps make them look shiny. I don’t airbrush my royal icing eyes because they dry with a shine but for some reason, the black always fades and looks dull. A little spray of the airbrush gun, while they are still attached to the wax paper, makes them perfect so they are ready when I am. Airbrushing royal icing transfers is fun and good practice for using your airbrush gun.
I got the idea for these dogs from Callye over at Sweet Sugar Belle because she used these cutters to make the cutest horse cookies. When I asked her if she would let me make puppies with her design and she said, “Sure you can!” I love that girl because she’s the sweetest!!
- Would you like some information on making royal icing transfers? Click here.
- If you have made royal icing transfers and want to know how to remove them in one piece, click here.
- How about some information on how to store royal icing transfers? I think that’s a great tip and if you agree, click here.
- Polar Bear Cookies with royal icing transfer noses
Bear hugs,
Thanks for the tip, I love your airbrush and transfer tutorials 😀 I just bought an airbrush and yours was the first blog I thought of to check out when it arrived, can’t wait to start using it properly! 😀 Thanks again!
Hi Shel! If you want to see airbrush things, I think you will like what I have planned for the next few months 😉
can’t wait!! 😀
Thank you for being so kind and sharing all of these helpful hints! Adorable puppies too 🙂
Ditto to what Shel said, and Brenda too:)
How do I keep my RI transfers shiny without using an airbrush gun. I don’t have one. Thank you. Love your site.
Hi Jeannie,
I treat my royal icing transfers the sames as I treat my cookies and dry them in front of a fan. The only color that seems to dull is large back transfers such as noses. If you want them to really shiney, you can paint them with a mixture of vodka and corn syrup. Here is a post from Yankee Girl Yummies that explains how she did it and the results.
Hope this helps!
Hey, Lisa! I’ve been a huge fan of yours for years. You’ve inspired me numerous times…thank you!!
I’m having trouble w larger RI transfers. I’ve always set my transfers into wet icing. However, with larger transfers I sometimes get unsightly air pockets that appear 5-30 minutes afterwards, which completely ruins my gorgeous work! I have applied transfers to a dry base, but I prefer the way the transfer bonds with wet base icing.
So…here’s my questions..how can I avoid air pockets with the wet method? Is this method used only with small transfers such as eyes?