Prevent Icing from Bleeding
Remember my last post when I told you to come back tomorrow and I would show you how to prevent icing from bleeding? Well, I am late. Last week I had company. My favorite person in the world stayed with me for a week and we did wonderful amazing things every day! It was awesome! I’ll tell you more about that later, but now, let’s talk about royal icing.
I was recently asked to make a lot of cookies that needed to be shipped out of the country and I was a little worried because I was afraid the icing would bleed. Before I began making them, I decided to do a few experiments to see if I could come up with something that would help prevent icing from bleeding. I found something that worked for me. I know it may not work for everyone, but I know this will change the way I decorate!
This worked on every cookie I shipped! I can’t believe how it stopped the bleeding and you aren’t going to believe how simple it is. My cookie decorating life has changed forever!
Supplies to Prevent Icing from Bleeding:
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Light Corn Syrup
Paintbrush
I made a tutorial several weeks ago on why royal icing bleeds. I used those tips every time I make cookies because I don’t think there is one thing that will magically make our bleeding troubles disappear. But when you take a few steps to prevent the problem, you can’t go wrong trying to find something that works better. When I had to make cookies to ship overseas, I went into panic mode. Those cookies needed to arrive without looking like a melted rainbow.
I decided to paint light corn syrup on the edge of the icing. The corn syrup acted as a separator for the colors and you only need a little because it dries shiny and can be seen so be careful. Only paint the edge like in the first picture and let it dry completely.
Then, apply the next color of icing. Guess what? It worked. So I tried it on the edge of white icing. After it dried, I added black icing and held my breath. It worked also. I even set the cookie on the counter in my kitchen and left if for 3 weeks and there wasn’t any bleeding at all. I was amazed. Then, I decided to make cookies to eat to see if I could taste the light corn syrup. I did taste it on a few of the cookies so I made another batch and used less syrup. It was perfect.
I don’t use this technique every time I decorate just use it when I think there is a strong chance for bleeding like when using black and white side by side. Sometimes we’ll do anything I can to prevent icing from bleeding, but I don’t want to spend a lot of time by painting everything with light corn syrup. I do however use it on my royal icing transfers that have a dark color such as the center of eyes and noses. No more bleeding!
If you look closely you can see that the icing that is outlining the bottom of the ice cream is bleeding a little. It is because I piped the outline onto the lines of the cone and it didn’t have corn syrup on it. S0me of the sprinkles are bleeding as well. There isn’t any bleeding where the base coats are touching because of the corn syrup stopped it. Ta-Da!! That is my tip for you. Sorry, it took a week for me to share it with you.
Now I want to tell you about my company last week. My grandson stayed with me because his mom and dad were away on a mission trip. It has been a long time since I spent a week with a two-year-old and I forgot how fun it was.
We went to the zoo and hung out with the elephants, lions, tigers, and bears! Oh my!
We dressed up as characters from Toy Story, hugged penguins statues and looked at the elephants again. We played in the creek, wrestled on the couch, jumped on the bed (don’t tell mommy!) and laughed and played all day every day. It was a blast and I want to do it again soon! I loved every minute we spend together.
Anyway, I hope you have a great week and I hope this tip comes in handy. Have a great week!
Bear hugs,
Who knew! Thanks for sharing this tip, I’ll definitely give it a try. Glad you were able to spend some awesome time with your grandson. Sweet pictures.
I thought it might be a week with your grandson – how wonderful for you! And recently I’ve been decorating with royal icing just for fun and painted them with Karo syrup for shine, who knew it also helped keep them from bleeding. 🙂 Thanks for the tip!
Thank you a million times over. I have been dreading making these vegas cookies because the chips have bright colors and white. I will definitely use this! 🙂 Love your work!!!
You may want to test it on some cookies to see if it works for you. There is one thing about royal icing that you can count on and that it does what it wants depending on where you live. I hope it works for you!!!
I am SO trying this! It’s brilliant. As are you, Lisa.
This is great, Lisa! So, just so I have it correctly…you brush the corn syrup on the edge of where you are going to add royal icing next to another (already added) royal icing? I hope I said that right:) Anyway, I will try this! Your grandson is a cutie! Being a grandma is the best!
You are correct Sue. Look at the first photo and see where the cookie and the icing is shiny, that is where I applied the light corn syrup. If you get it on the top of the cookie, it will shine in that spot only so be careful when you paint. Less is more in this case. 🙂
Hi Lisa!! I’m going to have to try this. Denyse and I have been struggling with bleeding issues. We’ve tried everything, including fans, heat fans, dehydrators, less color, thicker icing, praying etc. It doesn’t happen every time, but it’s frustrating and nerve-wracking. I’m going to definitely try this technique. The extra step would be well worth the anguish!! I’m glad you had a good time with your little guy. He is such a doll!! Thanks again!
Thank you very much for the advice and all other tutorials. I learned a lot from your tutorials. You’re gorgeous. Enjoy with his grandson. Lily of the valley
Do you think you could use this on buttercream icing also? Love this tip. I am always worried about my icing bleeding.
Wilton recommends adding Meringue powder to the icing, 1 tablespoon per 3 cups of icing. It is supposed to stop the buttercream colors from bleeding. I have not test this myself but I have seen it all over the internet. You may want to make a half a batch and practice with dark colors on white icing. Black, red, and purple are bleeders. If you try it will you share the results with us?
So I finally tried the buttercream frosting with the meringue powder. I think it works great! I used it in the green and yellow for my trees. There was bleeding with the one batch and not with the other. Dry time was the same also. I will definitely be adding it to my batches of buttercream from now on. I have some pictures of the results, but I don’t know how to post them. Thanks for the tip!
That is great news Kellie! You can email me the pictures to lisa@thebearfootbaker.com. I can’t wait to see your results!
Little late to the party here but…..would it help with putting the black “beads” for eyes on snowmen?  Mine last year turned out looking like zombie ones.  Or is there a specific brand/type that you use.  Â
Also so thankful God has healed you of your bouncer! Â Â