Emergency cookie decorating help please!!

LisaMinFL

So, I ordered these cookies (3 dzn) for DD"s bday party Saturday morning through Etsy, and the baker is sick and had to cancel my order.

I am not a very experienced cookie decorator - but can you help me? I think I can pull it off. Any good short cuts? Can I use a tube of pilsbury or a box of cookie mix, has anyone had any good experiences with them as far as making "pretty" cookies? I am going to to Michaels to see if they have premade cookie icing. I know I can buy the googly eyes, and I think the lips/lashes are edible makrers.

Any advice? Bake today, ice tomorow? Open for tips and suggestions please!

noyomoco

Oh no, how stressful!

I've used sugar cookie box mixes and they can work in a pinch (I normally use them to practice piping!). But, I don't know how they would work as cookie pops; they may be too soft for that - maybe add more flour?. Do you want them to be pops?

If you want the cookies to be stackable and dry hard, you will need to use royal icing - I believe Wilton has a royal icing mix that you can just add water, so you don't have to buy the individual ingredients - I think I saw this at Michael's before. However, if you don't mind a soft icing, you could use a pre-made cookie icing. For the features, you could use googly eyes (as you said - as long as you don't mind having inedible features!), the eyebrows look kind of like long sprinkles to me, so that could work. The mouth could definitely be drawn on with edible markers if you use a hard icing - Michael's will probably have those too! 

I have tips for perfect sugar cookies on my blog: http://notyourmommascookie.com/2012/03/10-steps-to-perfect-sugar-cookies/

 Hope this helps! 

lovethebeach16

You can use premade cookie mix. I've used the refrigerated Pillsbury sugar cookie one before. Just flour the surface and dough, roll it out and use a cookie cutter. Baking time always seems to be on the higher end of the range for me, but maybe its just my oven.

For the colors, I wouldn't do that many, its going to stress you out if its your first time working with royal icing. I'd just pick two or three. As for royal icing, there are tons of recipes, but the one I have the most success with is 1 lb. powdered sugar and just enough heavy whipping cream to turn it into a smooth but not stiff icing. I'd estimate 1/4 cup, but I add it in a tablespoon or so at a time until it gets to the right consistency. 

You should be able to find premade icing if you don't want to do your own. I've found edible googly eyes at Walmart and a few different craft stores. I'm pretty sure the craft stores also carry the edible markers. I bought mine online. 

UDscoobychick

lovethebeach16:

As for royal icing, there are tons of recipes, but the one I have the most success with is 1 lb. powdered sugar and just enough heavy whipping cream to turn it into a smooth but not stiff icing. I'd estimate 1/4 cup, but I add it in a tablespoon or so at a time until it gets to the right consistency.

FYI, ^^^ the above is not royal icing.  Royal icing contains powdered sugar, water, and meringue powder or egg whites.  The recipe above is a regular icing recipe.

jobiann

noyomoco:

Oh no, how stressful!

I've used sugar cookie box mixes and they can work in a pinch (I normally use them to practice piping!). But, I don't know how they would work as cookie pops; they may be too soft for that - maybe add more flour?. Do you want them to be pops?

If you want the cookies to be stackable and dry hard, you will need to use royal icing - I believe Wilton has a royal icing mix that you can just add water, so you don't have to buy the individual ingredients - I think I saw this at Michael's before. However, if you don't mind a soft icing, you could use a pre-made cookie icing. For the features, you could use googly eyes (as you said - as long as you don't mind having inedible features!), the eyebrows look kind of like long sprinkles to me, so that could work. The mouth could definitely be drawn on with edible markers if you use a hard icing - Michael's will probably have those too! 

I have tips for perfect sugar cookies on my blog: http://notyourmommascookie.com/2012/03/10-steps-to-perfect-sugar-cookies/

 Hope this helps! 

I just checked out your blog...LOVE IT! I love to bake but I haven't been lately thanks to my diet but I'll have to do a few things from your blog soon!!

noyomoco

jobiann:

noyomoco:

Oh no, how stressful!

I've used sugar cookie box mixes and they can work in a pinch (I normally use them to practice piping!). But, I don't know how they would work as cookie pops; they may be too soft for that - maybe add more flour?. Do you want them to be pops?

If you want the cookies to be stackable and dry hard, you will need to use royal icing - I believe Wilton has a royal icing mix that you can just add water, so you don't have to buy the individual ingredients - I think I saw this at Michael's before. However, if you don't mind a soft icing, you could use a pre-made cookie icing. For the features, you could use googly eyes (as you said - as long as you don't mind having inedible features!), the eyebrows look kind of like long sprinkles to me, so that could work. The mouth could definitely be drawn on with edible markers if you use a hard icing - Michael's will probably have those too! 

I have tips for perfect sugar cookies on my blog: http://notyourmommascookie.com/2012/03/10-steps-to-perfect-sugar-cookies/

 Hope this helps! 

I just checked out your blog...LOVE IT! I love to bake but I haven't been lately thanks to my diet but I'll have to do a few things from your blog soon!!

Thank you, thank you!

LisaMinFL

Thanks everyone. I went to Michaels, and it is just too much 2 days out. Maybe I can start practicing though for the next occasion. Lesson learned, Etsy is great, but it is only as good as the seller's health