Sugar cookie frosting help!

[wdw_girl_18]

I was going to make royal icing for my sugar cookies (http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Royal-Icing)

How do people get it to go on the cookies so smoothly? Is there a special tip for the frosting bag? Or do you use a knife to spread it?

like this:

source of pic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmenrose/3502658789/

Thanks!!!

 

[lovetoscrap]

That technique is called "flooding. You pipe the edge with the regular icing first and have thinner batch you use to fill in the inside. Do a Google search for royal icing flooding and you will find lots of information.

ETA: Here is a good how to with photos: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/06/04/how-to-decorate-cookies-with-royal-icing/

 

[lovetoscrap]

FYI, royal icing dries rock hard. It looks really, really nice but is not as pleasant to eat as a buttercream icing. There is a reason royal icing is used as basically "construction cement" in gingerbread houses!

 

[wdw_girl_18]

That technique is called "flooding. You pipe the edge with the regular icing first and have thinner batch you use to fill in the inside. Do a Google search for royal icing flooding and you will find lots of information.

ETA: Here is a good how to with photos: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/06/04/how-to-decorate-cookies-with-royal-icing/

Thank you!! That website is just what I was looking for!

 

[jaminmd]

FYI, royal icing dries rock hard. It looks really, really nice but is not as pleasant to eat as a buttercream icing. There is a reason royal icing is used as basically "construction cement" in gingerbread houses!

Can you use buttercream icing on cookies? Once you mentioned buttercream icing I got hungry now & want to bake.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

Can you use buttercream icing on cookies? Once you mentioned buttercream icing I got hungry now & want to bake.

You can, but it's hard to store and transport the cookies (which I need to do!) because the frosting does not dry

 

[si-am]

I make icing for sugar cookies with powdered sugar, water, and food coloring. Easy. Doesn't dry out and spreads smoothly.

 

[*BTMRR*]

I make icing for sugar cookies with powdered sugar, water, and food coloring. Easy. Doesn't dry out and spreads smoothly.

This is what all the bakers in my family have done for generations--it gives a nice smooth look, tastes better than royal icing, and transports fairly well. Easy and cheap too.

 

[java]

I make icing for sugar cookies with powdered sugar, water, and food coloring. Easy. Doesn't dry out and spreads smoothly.

I do these too. tastes yummy too.- oh and I have made bunches of cookies using this meathod for bake sales- elaborate cookies- and it was easy to work with

 

[golfgal]

Betty Crocker has "cookie frosting" in what looks like mini icing bags. They have several colors and it actually tastes ok. I got a bunch to use for when we do our sugar cookies

 

[DisneyBeagle]

FYI, royal icing dries rock hard. It looks really, really nice but is not as pleasant to eat as a buttercream icing. There is a reason royal icing is used as basically "construction cement" in gingerbread houses!

I totally agree. I'm not a fan of royal icing on cookies and prefer a softer icing or buttercream.

 

[surfgirl]

I make icing for sugar cookies with powdered sugar, water, and food coloring. Easy. Doesn't dry out and spreads smoothly.

Mine also calls for a little corn syrup which ensures that it dries hard. Kids love it, we use it on cookies a lot!