Patterns On Sugar Cookies

Icing different patterns onto sugar cookies and then mixing them together on a tray can make for a striking display. It's also fun to choose unexpected color combinations.

Usually I outline and fill with the same color of icing but this time I chose to outline the cookies with a soft yellow and then flood them with lavender. Bright red icing added in dots, stripes and a honeycomb pattern add brightness and interest.

Outline with icing that is the consistency of yogurt. Let that dry for at least 10 minutes and then flood the cookie with another color. Use a skewer to fill in all the gaps.

Gently shake the cookie to help the icing settle and remove air bubbles. Let the cookies dry before adding patterns in another color.

Use piping consistency icing and a #1 pastry tip when you add your patterns.

Dots

Honeycomb

Horizontal Stripes

Diagonal Stripes

Cookie Decorating Idea

My niece Maya asked me recently to make a giant cookie for a friend's birthday.

We decided on decorating the cookie with a bumble bee so I thought I could just use my bee-shaped cutter to cut another cookie that I could stick on top.

Maya said she wanted the bee to be iced onto the cookie so I figured I should practice drawing bees until I was struck with an idea that simplified everything — Just use the bee-shaped cutter to stamp an outline onto the cookie and trace away! Why didn't I think of this sooner?


Stamping and tracing the outline was easy and gave me lots of ideas for future cookies. Thank you Maya for helping me figure this out! When it comes to cookie decorating, there is always something new to learn.


Here's how I made Maya's cookie:

Outline and fill a cookie.

After the icing has dried for at least 1 hour, use your cookie cutter to stamp your design. Don't press too hard, just gently set the cutter into the icing and lift straight up.

Trace your design with piping consistency icing.

Add detail.

And add more detail....(see my honeycomb design post).

Add color with flood consistency icing. I used bright yellow and cream colored icing. And, I added two "sugar pearls" for the eyes.