Somebunny loves cookies: Icing 101

There was a lot more cookie business happening at our place over Easter weekend, and even though the holiday has come and gone, I thought you might get a kick out of taking a peek at my icing escapades of late. Around Valentine’s Day this year, I watched an episode of the Martha Stewart Show that featured the oh-so-adorable cookie stylings of Sweet Dani B (you can check out her website here. There’s tons of nifty stuff to see), and I’ve been itching to try her icing techniques ever since.

The process starts with a basic sugar cookie (I think Sweet Dani B uses the Martha Stewart recipe. I stuck with my Real Simple version). Then you make the icing (see recipe below) and divide it into separate bowls, mix up the colors that you want using color gels and transfer each color to its own squeezey craft bottle. The craft bottles make applying the icing to the cookies super duper easy. It’s sort of like coloring a picture. You start by outlining the cookie, fill in the center, use a flat spatula to even out the icing and add whatever other decorations you want. Easy peasy!

I’m so, so, so in love with this icing because it’s so simple to make, simple to apply and leaves such a professional look. Seriously, I think it’s going to revolutionize my cookie decorating. Woo hoo!

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Basic Icing Recipe
From Sweet Dani B

• ½ cup meringue powder
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 pounds confectioner’s sugar
• icing color gels

Combine meringue powder and cold water in a large bowl, and use a hand-mixer with whisk attachment to mix until completely blended. All the air bubbles should be mixed out, and the mixture should hold soft peaks.

Add all the confectioner’s sugar to the bowl, and mix with the hand-mixer (using standard attachments) until completely combined. The finished icing should be a smooth, glossy mixture. If needed, add a bit more cold water or confectioner’s sugar.

Divide the icing into separate containers (the number depends on how many colors you’re planning to make), and use the icing gels to mix desired colors. Once colors are mixed, transfer each one to its own squeezey craft bottle. Now you’re ready to decorate!

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Did you make any fun treats for Easter weekend? Have your own icing recipe that’s second to none? And does anyone else feel like they could sit and ice cookies for hours and hours on end? Methinks I need a cookie shop.

XO,
Katrina