When I decorated the cupcake cookies for the Cupcakes & Hearts 1st birthday party the other day, I (with the help of Joshua on a few of them) took some pictures of the step by step decorating so I could show you How to Decorate Cupcake Cookies!
I know it will be a little late to make these for Valentine's but these would be perfect for any cupcake-themed party! Just remember you can change the colors and the sprinkes (or use no sprinkles) to fit your theme!
To do these cookies, you'll need:
- Cupcake cookies* (I used the cupcake cookie cutter from the Wilton Party Cookie Cutters set)
- White Royal Icing, in stiff and flood consistency
- Hot Pink Royal Icing, in stiff and flood consistency
- Tiny Pastel Heart Sprinkles
- Jumbo Heart Sprinkles
- Plastic Squeeze Bottle for flooding
- Toothpicks (not pictured)
I have to start by apologizing for all the pictures being sideways... that's a job hazard trying to take pictures while decorating cookies!
The first step for these cookies will be use royal icing (in the thicker consistency) to draw a cloud shape for the "frosting" on your cupcake. Allow this to rest for 2-3 minutes I usually work with 6-8 cookies at a time, so by the time I get an outline on the last one, I can go back and start flooding the first one.
I use a squeeze bottle to squirt some flood icing into the center - not filling it all the way in or you'll get overflow. Then use a toothpick to guide the frosting out to the edges and pop any bubbles.
The white will need to dry for at least thirty minutes (up to an hour) before you do add any details to it, so at this point, I moved down and started working on the bottom of the cupcake!
Start by piping a pink outline for the liner, using stiff royal icing.
And again - go ahead and flood that area with flood icing in a squeeze bottle.
Again using the toothpick, guide the frosting to the edges, careful to get it into all the tiny corners.
Just be careful to not disturb the white icing. If you're working as quickly as I did - it will still be wet and soft!
Now... you'll want to let them dry for an hour or so (maybe a little less since the white has already been drying for at least a few minutes).
When you're ready to work again, using stiff icing, pipe little "c's" onto the white frosting. This will give the frosting dimension and make them super cute! There is no right or wrong way to do this!
While the icing is still wet, use a tiny dot of royal icing and add a jumbo heart for the cupcake topper....
You could also use fondant for this tiny heart, or make it a tiny cherry on top!
Still working quickly, gently add the tiny heart sprinkles to the cupcake.
Now you're ready to finish them up! Using stiff icing, add a line across the bottom of the cupcake liner.
Then draw vertical lines (with stiff icing) to complete the cupcake liner!
That's it! Aren't these just the sweetest cookies? Be sure to let them dry overnight or at least 6-8 hours before stacking or packaging them!
Let me pause here and say again what I've said before - I'm not a cookie expert! But if you're wanting to learn more about cookie decorating, my number one suggestion would be to checkout Bake at 350 or buy Bridget's book, Decorating Cookies!
Do you have any questions about these cookies? Please leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer and help out!
PS. If you’re not already subscribed to my blog, would you? You can sign up here for my free email updates and then you’ll never miss a cake or dessert or deal or any other quirky thing I choose to post here! 🙂
Peggy
Lovely!! <3
Rose
Thank you Peggy! xo
Ann
Very cute!
I need to try these, you make it look so easy 🙂
Rose
Thank you!! Best of luck!
Vickie
Beautiful! I'm just learning this technique and was nice to see the step by step. Which tip do you use for the outlining?
Rose
It was #3. I'll add that to the post, thank you!!
Vickie
Thanks! I appreciate your quick response! 🙂 Finishing up some hearts tonight and wanted to make sure I was using the best tip! 🙂
Julie
Hi Rose! Love your cookies! I have someone asking me to do baptism favours for her baby. However, she doesn't like the sweetness of sugar cookies. Can you recommend another cookie that would be good to decorate in this fashion?
Thank you!
Julie
Rose
Huh? Cookies are supposed to be sweet.. I mean, it's a cookie 😉 I'm just being funny... but these aren't super sweet (at least to me, but I'm a cake fanatic, so I may not be a good judge)... but you might also try these brownie roll out cookies!? Otherwise, I'm not really sure. Once I found a recipe that worked really well for decorating and we liked it, I quit experimenting!
Julie
Thanks, Rose! I know, and they are give aways, so it's not like she even has to eat them herself! Lol! I appreciate your help, and, wow(!), your quick response! You rock!
Anna
I lovelovelove what you do! So neat and beautiful!
Getting inspired to bake my daughter's 2nd bd cake by your pics (love-eyed smile here)
Keep it cool!
Mimi
Well, I'm determined to master this technique, so I really appreciate your detailed instructions! Thanks. Mimi xxx
Robin
cuuute! you should do decorating videos!
Leslie
These are ADORABLE!! I'm not talented enough to make these, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming <3 Great job!!
Emily
These are so cute! Thanks for sharing with Merry Monday - I pinned to our party board 🙂
Karly
Cute! Cute! Cute! Thanks for linkin' up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Laura
These cookies are adorable! I love seeing pretty, decorated cookies. Thank you for all the helpful tips. And, thank you for linking up to The Creative Exchange. We are featuring your project this week.
xo,
Laura
Rose
Oh awesome, thank you so much!! xx
MARY
I've been so inspired by your blog! You are such a talented woman! These cookies are beautiful!! I've so enjoyed browsing all the pictures of your gorgeous cakes and cookies!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share all your tips, tricks and recipes with us! When I "grow up" I want to be able to bake like you do!
I'm from the Brookhaven area and my sister in law says she hears all the time what great cakes you make! ❤️
Rose
Hi Mary! Thank you so much for your kind words!! That's awesome that you're so close - maybe we'll meet someday!
Liz Parker
Love this so much! I do have a question. How do you determine how much royal icing you will need for your cookies? I find that I always run out of a color and have to make another batch and invariably, the colors do not match. Hoping you may have a general guideline that you use and can share. Thanks very much. 🙂
Rose
Oh Liz, I wish I could answer that. It's always a guessing game for me too! I'm sorry.
Lynne
These look amazing. Can I ask, how do you package them without them being spoilt please?