How to Decorate a Cookie with Royal Icing (Video)
I have had several emails lately asking me how I flood my cookies. The question isn’t so much how do you flood a cookie, but more how do you make them look “full” or “puffy.” I thought I would make a how-to decorate a cookie with royal icing video to show you how I do it.
Decorate a Cookie with Royal Icing Supplies:
(may contain affiliate links)
White Outline Icing
Flood Icing– Colors are up to you
BooBoo Stick or
Turkey Lacer
Cookie Recipe
Royal Icing Recipe
There is one thing that I want to make sure I point out. When you outline your cookies, don’t hold the tip close to the cookie. If you hold the tip close and your handshakes, so will your outline. If you hold the tip away from the cookie, you will more control to gently lay the icing on the edge of the cookie.
Enough talking! Let’s get to the video.
How to decorate a cookie with royal icing video. Remember, this is my first video so please be nice=) If you are looking for some tips and tricks to cookie decorating, you may enjoy the “Beginners Guide to Cookie Decorating”. If you would like a free printable cookie supply shopping list that has all the AmeriColor Gel and Wilton colors, click here.
Bear hugs,
Love it 🙂 The music is so fun!
Thanks Ashley! 😉
Wonderful first video…even has music!
Thanks Paula! The music was the hardest part! LOL
Awesome job on the video and as always thank you so much for sharing and teaching!!!
You are very welcome Mandi!
Nice video – the repeat with colors was good – I like to see a process more than once in a video…or else I have to watch the video multiple times. Do more, do more!!!
Debbie, that is the reason I did more than one cookie! I have to watch over and over too! LOL I hope to do more soon and thanks for liking it! Hahahah
GREAT job! Thanks for sharing this. And the video is wonderful, just right. You make it look like we all can do this!
Everyone can do this Rosemary! It is easy and fun!!
Agree that the music is fun and I love that you showed the process multiple times. Even though I’ve made loads of cookies this past year, I still find it so helpful to actually see what other cookiers out there are doing. Thanks lady!
Awe! Thank you Michelle!!
I agree with everyone else, the video was great and love seeing the actions and not talk, but fun and happy music! Great job! Keep that up!
Thank you so much Alice! I liked the music too!
you are too cute!
Not as cute as you Karen!! 😉
Thank you for the great video! May I ask how thin is your flood icing and what size PME tip did you use? When I thin my icing too much, I tend to get bubbles (and yours did not seem to have a single one!). Is there a way to mix the water into piping icing to avoid bubbles? Thanks!
I used a PME 2.5 for outlining and flooding in this video. I have a post on icing consistency that might help you here: http://thebearfootbaker.com/2012/03/royal-icing-consistency/
You did an awesome job.
Thanks Natalie! I was nervous! Hehehe
I’m not usually a fan of videos but I think this is one of the best cookie video I’ve ever seen! You’re a natural and we want MORE MORE MORE!!!
You have been inspiring me since I picked up my first piping bag! MORE MORE MORE is how I feel every time is see a new post from you!!
Fantastic job on your first video! Loved it…..wish I had seen some great videos on the simple basics when I first started. Will definitely share this. I too, like to see things more than once.
I really appreciate you saying that Kim! You are sweet!
Oh, I just love this! I clicked on it, looking forward to hearing your voice and got treated to this delightful song! You did a wonderful job on your first video!! So cute and so easy for anyone to understand! Again, great job! (and thanks for the cute tune to listen to!) I do miss your voice though. :0)
I will work on that for ya Tracy! PS-I miss your voice too:)
So great! I love the simple, but perfect cookies, and the music is sweet too!
Thanks Glory!!
Love the video, you did a great job. I have a great recipe for royal icing, but struggle with the right consistency for the flooding. You make it look so effortless.
Icing takes practice Bobbie! But once you get it, you can do anything! This link might help: http://thebearfootbaker.com/2012/03/royal-icing-consistency/
Know one would ever guess that this was your first video! Thanks
Awe! Thanks for being so sweet Cynthia:)
Hard to believe that’s your first video – so well done!
Thanks so much! You all have made my day!!
Lisa !
Love your video!!
Thanks Paula!!
FUN ! FUN ! FUN!….put a smile on my face and a ZING in my step. Well Done
Thanks Rachel! You just put a smile on my face and a ZING in my step! THANKS!!!
Great video. Please do more. I need to “see” it done not just read about it when it comes to decorating cookies. Especially if it is something I struggle with, and smooth surfaces are something I struggle with. Thanks–Katy
I will try really hard to make more Katy! Thanks for the encouragement! If you ever have icing questions, just shoot me and email and I will try to help.
I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Great first vídeo, can’t wait for more to come!
Thanks Claudia! You are very kind!
Hi! Love your site, I have to check in several times a week! Thanks for the video tutorial, it’s so helpful! Can you tell me the name of that darker blue colour you used to flood the last cookie in the tutorial, it was absolutely gorgeous! Thanks! Have a great day!
Hi Line,
I am so glad you like the video. The color was AmeriColor Violet.
Well, my dear it looks like EVERYONE loved the video you made – It was so much fun I loved watching it!!
Thanks Kim! I am glad you liked it!
So, after watching your video I’m excited.No, really, EXCITED. I have icing waiting from yesterday ready to ice my frogs. You know, the cookie you’ve been desperate to ice. The design has been drawn and you have ALL the fancy sprinkles? Thanks to you, the icing is perfect, really perfect and oh so smooth. My heart skips a beat. The eyes are on, pearl necklace is SO Glamorous, the crown is glimmering gold. I’m feeling like a pro and then the unthinkable happens….I try to move her. Not pick her up or anything, just give her a little nudge along the bench….and there it is, a smudge in her perfect Froggy leg. Not just a smudge, more of a crumple. Something that cannot be repaired. And if this is not enough, the next Miss Froggy gets a crumpled mouth, and the next Miss froggy’s lips fall from my tweezers and land askew! OH DEAR.
NOTE TO SELF….when they say leave icing to dry for 6 hrs, ….they mean it! BG learning curve served for lunch today!
Oh we’ll, it’s food right? Looks like froggy’s for morning tea tomorrow!
Xoxo
Love the colours Lisa! And the music. This is the first time I’ve left a comment, but I really enjoy your blog 🙂
R
Thank you for sharing! 🙂 Good job for your first video! The music is upbeat to match the mood while making cookies…. 😀
K
The video is great and super informative! I had no idea how to do this. I posted it on our facebook page! Thanks so much and well done xx
I thought it was perfect! The music was so cute. The video was well lit and angle was great, and close enough to see every detail. The notations were easy to read and understand. What’s not to love? Can’t wait to see more videos! Oh and the cookies were just adorable.
I’m a glazer who wants to dabble in RI now and this video was perfect for calming my fears about the pesky air bubbles ;). Cute video to watch!!
Great video! Really takes the cake…..er…..cookie!
Somehow I missed this! All I can say is “Ditto” to all the compliments! I like this type of video to see clear and up close the “how”! Gives alot clearer picture of the icing consistancy done in little segments like this. Keep up the good work, Lisa and thank you for taking the time to share like you do!
Blessings, Donna B.
Can’t believe I missed this one…I love it!! And I love your choice of music!! Great job, Lisa!!
Great video…especially for your first time!! Look forward to many more!
I Love it! Thanks for share it!
This video is great!! I’ve always wondered how to frost cookies so smoothly! I can’t wait to try this method! Thanks!!
I’m a very new baker. I appreciate all your wonderful videos but would be even more appreciative if you could include tip numbers that you are using for outlining, flooding and detail work and approximate times for mixing batters and icings. Thank you for supplying me with some confidence!
Nancy
Hi Nancy! Welcome to the wonderful world of cookie decorating! I have been trying to do better at adding what kind of tip I am using but I will work even harder from here on out. See, there I go again assuming everyone know that my favorite tips are PME #2. I promise I will do better.
As for the times to make things, I will try. I never really pay attention to the time because I am always stopping to take pictures or to move the video camera. It is a one woman show up here in my kitchen. I will work on watching the time just for your but I can’t promise anything. But I will TRY! 😉
I love your website. I am addicted to learning new cookie ideas. I just want to know what consistency you like to use for wet on wet icing. If it is too thin will it bleed??
Hi Janine,
I like to use 10-Second Icing for wet on wet decorating. As far as the bleeding issues go thats hard to say because of humidity. I usually don’t have issues with bleeding when I use the wet on wet technique, but nothings perfect when it comes to royal icing bleeding issues.
Hi, I truly enjoy your videos. Question, why is it that my icing does not completely harden even after 10 hrs of drying? When I go to write on them, it pokes a whole right through 🙁
It sounds like there may have been a problem with the icing or grease in the icing. If there is grease in the icing it will cause it not to dry and bleed into the other colors. Grease can cause your icing to do all kinds of strange things.
Did you place them in a container to dry? If your cookies don’t get air, they won’t dry. Most cookie decorators (including myself) will place them in front of a fan to help the icing dry.
Also, overmixing the icing can cause it to stay moist or not dry completely. These are a few things you might try to address to fix the issue. If you try any of these and they don’t work, email me and we’ll try a few more things.
My icing dries dull. How is your still glossy?
I dry the cookies in front of a fan. Sweet Sugarbelle shared this tip with us a long time ago and it works! Here is her tutorial about it:
http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2011/04/my-1-fan-wfmw/
Hope that helps!
Do you always outline in white? I understand with this project you have multiple flood colors so it’s less cleanup, but I wasn’t sure if it had another purpose…. depth or something like that? If you were only making two colors of hearts, would you outline in white? Or those specific colors?
Thanks for sharing your experiences & baking wisdom!
Hi Brianne,
No, I don’t always outline in white. I usually think of the final cookie when I plan colors. If I want the outline to stand out I’ll use a different color.
So I guess to answer your question I usually outline and flood with the same color. Hope this helps!