Best Tips for Cookie Decorating with Children
Even Kids Can Make Sugar Cookies Pretty Enough to Give as Gifts
Nov 5, 2009
Cookie decorating with children seems like a fun family activity until actually attempted with a preschooler who cares what the finished product looks like. This treasured family tradition can easily turn into frustration and tears when the cookies break because a preschooler presses too hard while spreading icing, or when children cannot get the details to match their imaginations, or when ½ of a batch of icing is plopped in the middle of one cookie.
Eliminate the frustration by trying some decorating tips that are easy for small hands to manage. For best results no matter the decorating method, make thicker than usual cookies when rolling and cutting. And choose simple shapes without small appendages that can break easily when handled, like angel wings or snowmen scarves.
Color the Dough and Eliminate the Icing
Put food coloring into the uncooked dough and skip the icing all together. The color will fade as the cookies bake, so colors need to be vibrant to avoid looking pale on the finished cookie. Try coloring ½ of a batch of dough red and leaving the other ½ plain. Have children roll dough into approximately 4 inch long snakes. Twist one red and one plain “snake” together and bend them slightly at the top to form a candy cane.
Dough in multiple colors also makes good present cookies. Simply roll out yellow, purple, green, or even blue dough and cut with circular or square cookie cutters. Before cooking them, have children add thin strips of licorice to each package to form the ribbons and bows. Alternatively, use the icing tips in the next paragraph to decorate each package with dots or stripes to mimic wrapping paper.
Squeeze the Icing like Ketchup
Spoon royal icing into a squeeze bottle, which can be purchased at kitchen or craft supply stores. Children can hold the bottle easily and squeeze it to create designs on cookies. Large, non-descript shapes, like circles, stars, bells, and trees work best because children can simply add swirls, polka dots, stripes, or another design rather than trying to add specific details like eyes or mouths.
Brush on a Glaze
After the cookies have baked and cooled, mix powdered sugar with milk or water to create a glaze. Have children spread the glaze over the entire cookie with a pastry brush. Provide a variety of sprinkles. While the glaze is still wet, have children sprinkle the cookies as they desire.
Stamp it Out
Cookie stamps are easy for children to use. Have children roll cookie dough into small balls just as if they were molding play dough. Press the stamp into the ball to flatten and imprint it. Before lifting the stamp from the dough, an adult should gently cut away the excess dough that flows beyond the edge of the stamp. Older preschoolers and primary grade children can use a plastic or butter knife to remove the excess dough.
Dip Cookies in Chocolate
Heat chocolate chips in the microwave until they are shiny, but not completely melted. Stir them until they melt to create the right consistency for dipping. Have children dip half of each cookie into the chocolate. The cookies can be left to dry on wax paper, or children can then sprinkle finely chopped nuts, dried fruit, jimmies, or cookie sprinkles onto the chocolate while it is still warm.
Choose any one of these decorating ideas -- or a combination of a few -- for cookies that are fun for the whole family to bake and pretty enough to share. Children will delight in giving their own baked masterpieces as gifts to grandparents, teachers, and friends.
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