Notes
•For those looking for cookies that are precisely the same thickness every time, consider purchasing dough guides. These are typically plastic rods that take the guesswork out of rolling! I highly suggest them for people planning to bake a lot of cookies.
•To keep cookies soft and maintain a consistent texture, I do not recommend rolling out the dough more than six times. This is why it is important to make the most out of your dough when cutting it out! Think of it like a puzzle.
•With this recipe, the cookies will spread in the oven but should hold their general shape.
Royal icing is the key to perfectly decorated cookies. It is also the hardest part to master! This chapter will guide you through the step-by-step process of making royal icing, how to achieve the perfect colors, and the biggest challenge: the consistency! Royal icing dries completely hard, which makes the cookies easy to package without a mess.
This is a standard royal icing recipe using meringue powder. I prefer to use meringue powder as a safety precaution with the volume of cookies I make and decorate. If this is the method you would like to use, I would highly suggest ordering meringue powder from a specialty baking store. Picking up this ingredient from a local craft store may cause some problems and affect the overall taste of the cookies. If you’re not looking to invest in a container of meringue powder just yet, feel free to utilize a traditional royal icing recipe using egg whites. All of the same principles you will learn in later sections will apply exactly the same if you choose to use egg whites; however, you will need to find your own royal icing recipe, since a simple egg white substitution in this recipe will not have the results you expect.
Royal Icing
Ingredients
•4 lbs. powdered sugar
•1 c. meringue powder
•¾ c. water
•4 T. vanilla
•Airtight container, for storage
Directions
1.Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer. Use a PADDLE attachment, this trick will help you later on while decorating. A whisk attachment creates more air in your icing, which leads to frustrating bubbles later in the process. Please trust me, give your whisk attachment a break and use the paddle!
2.Slowly mix the ingredients until combined, turning the mixer up to a medium speed. Keep an eye out for the sludge-like mix to brighten into white icing as mixing creates stiff peaks; this process takes a while, so be patient. Time varies by mixer, but expect to be whipping for about 10 minutes.
3.To test the peaks, pull the paddle out of the bowl; the icing should be stiff and create a steady peak both in the bowl of icing and coming off the paddle. Cover immediately or transfer to an airtight container.
4.There are some troubles you might run into; over-whipping your icing is a real problem! The icing might appear to be okay, but then when you go to ice the cookies, the icing will never dry. Keep an eye on your mixer—a watched mixer does create the perfect peaks! As soon as you see those peaks, turn your mixer off. If you’re finding that the peaks are not stiff and the icing is still thin, turn your mixer back on, keep going, and have a little faith—it will get there. Royal icing can be a bit finicky the first few times you give it a whirl, but soon you’ll be BFFs and you’ll have it down!
Reminder: If you choose to use egg whites, find an alternative recipe. This recipe will NOT work with egg whites as a substitute.
Get the Right Color with the Right Products
There is a huge variety of food coloring out there. Although the majority of them will give you colorful happy results, for the purpose of royal icing, I would highly suggest using gel coloring. The four little squeeze bottles of color that were the center of any baking project when we were kids just won’t cut it for your soon to be cookie masterpieces!
I typically stick to the brands ProGel and AmeriColor. ProGel colors come in a variety of really bright colors that are what I reach for first when I am mixing colors. There are also some AmeriColor hues that I can’t live without; these are typically specialty colors such as gold and the darker hues. This book’s recipes will make use of AmeriColor’s “Bright White,” “Chocolate Brown,” “Gold,” “Copper (Flesh Tone),” “Super Black,” and “Super Red.” AmeriColor is a nice option for beginners because they come in small 0.75oz bottles, which are perfect if you’re looking to purchase a variety of colors without committing to large quantities. If I do not specify the brand, you can assume that I am referencing a ProGel color. Note that I am not sponsored by either company, I truly just love their products—so ProGel, if you see this, call me!
Mixing Colors & Filling Piping Bags
Have you met the color wheel? I would suggest you find yourself a picture of it and get comfortable with it. I have to admit I do not know a lot about color theory, but the basics have become my best friend and my biggest asset when working on mixing colors. This is especially important if you don’t plan on purchasing more than the primary colors in food colorings. Knowing the color wheel will help you achieve different shades, match existing colors, and find the best complementary colors.
This is a time-consuming process! I would recommend making a list of all the colors you plan on using for a particular batch and mixing them all at once. That way, when you are ready to sit down to decorate, you can really focus on what is in front of you.
Plan on mixing all your related colors in the same bowl. For example, I would mix all my pinks, reds, and oranges in the same bowl. Not only does this save on the number of dishes, it gives your colors a more cohesive look overall. Always start with your lightest colors and work in order all the way to your darkest shade. These basic principles will apply when mixing any colors.
Single-serving dining bowls are the perfect size to mix colors in. Fill the bowl with royal icing to the top, leaving enough room to comfortably stir. Time to add your color! Remember, you can always add more color, but you can’t take it away, so start with a very small amount; we’re talking pin-sized amounts. Stir until completely combined, making sure there are no streaks of color, then add additional color until your desired shade is achieved. Small spatulas work best for this, but use what you have in the kitchen. Don’t be afraid to mix different colors—this is where your color wheel will come in handy!
Fill Your Piping Bag
Ingredients
•Tipless piping bag
•Royal
