Common Cookie Decorating Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Avoid Them!)

 Wishing Everyone a Wonderful Year Ahead

As we step into this new year, we want to extend our heartfelt wishes for a year filled with joy, creativity, and positivity. However, our hearts are heavy as we think about the ongoing wildfires in California. To all the families and individuals affected, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. We hope for safety, resilience, and recovery for everyone impacted by these challenging circumstances.

For those who find solace and joy in creativity, cookie decorating can be a wonderful way to bring sweetness and beauty into your life. If you're just starting or looking to refine your skills, there's no better time to practice, practice, practice! 

Let’s make this the year of mastering the art of cookie decorating.

Common Cookie Decorating Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Avoid Them!)

Cookie decorating is both an art and a science. While it’s incredibly rewarding, beginners often encounter a few challenges along the way.Here are the most common mistakes and tips to ensure your cookies turn out beautifully:

1. Not Starting with a Good Cut and Bake Cookie

• The Problem: Unevenly shaped or puffed-up cookies can make decorating tricky.

• The Solution: Use a reliable cookie recipe that holds its shape well. Chill your dough before cutting out the cookies and baking them, and ensure your baking sheet is cool between batches and lined with parchment paper or baking mats. 

Here is a series of videos dedicated on how to cut and bake cookies to perfection. 

2. Using the Wrong Consistencies

• The Problem: If your royal icing is too thick or too thin, it won’t flow or set properly.
• The Solution: Learn the three main consistencies: firm for flowers and 3D details, medium for outlining and lettering, and flooding for filling large areas. Practice mixing to achieve the right textures.
• Add water or powdered sugar to achieve the right consistencies.

3. Failing to Plan Decorating Time

• The Problem: Rushing leads to smudged designs and uneven drying.
• The Solution: Set aside dedicated time for each step: baking, outlining, flooding, and decorating. Remember that royal icing needs time to dry completely before storage or packaging. 

4. Ignoring Humidity Levels

• The Problem: High humidity can make royal icing take forever to dry or prevent it from hardening completely.
• The Solution: Work in a dry environment with air conditioning or a dehumidifier if possible. Avoid decorating on rainy or extremely humid days and avoid boiling water. 

5. Skipping the Step of Popping Air Bubbles

The Problem: Air bubbles can ruin the smooth surface of your icing.

• The Solution: After flooding your cookie, tap the cookie on top of your hands and shake it side to side so the air bubble can come up to the surface, then use a toothpick or scribe tool to gently pop any visible bubbles before the icing starts to set.

6. Not Using White Food Gel Color for Brighter Whites

• The Problem: Royal icing often dries with a slightly off-white or translucent look.
• The Solution: Add a touch of white food gel color to achieve a crisp, bright white base that’s perfect for snowy designs or elegant details.

7. Skipping Outline Practice

• The Problem: Crooked or uneven outlines can throw off your whole design.
• The Solution: Practice piping straight lines and curves on parchment paper before moving to your cookies.

Here is a great video where I show how to do it. 

8. Improper Drying Techniques

• The Problem: Smudged or cracked icing happens when cookies aren’t dried properly.
• The Solution: Allow cookies to dry completely at room temperature or use a fan to speed up the process. Avoid covering them until they’re fully set.

9. Rushing Packaging

• The Problem: Packing cookies before they’re dry can ruin your hard work.
• The Solution: Ensure the icing is completely dry (up to 24 hours) before wrapping. Use clear bags or boxes to showcase your designs.

10. Adding Sprinkles Incorrectly

• The Problem: Sprinkles that sink, shift, or don’t stick can make designs look messy.
• The Solution: Add sprinkles immediately after flooding while the icing is still wet. For more precise placement, use tweezers or apply a tiny dab of icing as glue.
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Make This Year Your Sweetest Yet

Cookie decorating is a journey that improves with each practice session. By avoiding these common mistakes and focusing on mastering the basics, you’ll soon be creating cookies that are as delicious as they are beautiful. Remember, it’s all about patience and practice—and enjoying the process along the way!

Here’s to a year of creativity, sweetness, and perfectly decorated cookies!