When it comes to decorating designer cookies, there are three techniques that used; decorating the cookie with royal icing, color flow, and fondant. Using these three techniques will produce the professional designer cookie look that you are after.
The first technique is to use royal icing to decorate the cookie. Using a basic royal icing recipe, a decorating bag and tip, you can decorate your cookie any way you like. Most often tip #1 is used for fine outlining the cookie and decorating the details. You can also use other decorating tips like the star tips #16 and #21 to achieve zig zags and interesting borders.
Decorating
The second technique is the color flow method. This is a method made popular by Wilton Cake Decorating. To make the color flow icing, combine:
1 pound of confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons of Wilton Color Flow Mix
1/4 plus 1 teaspoon of water
Blend on low speed for seven minutes.
This color flow icing will be stiff. Using a small piping tip (#1 or #2) outline your cookie. After the outline of the cookie has "set" or hardened, you need to "flood" the cookie with the thinned icing. To thin your color flow icing, add a few drops of water at a time until it is a thinner consistency that will run.
Now take your thinned icing and pipe it into the center area of your cookie. The icing will spread and fill in your cookie area. After the color flow has set, you can add more detail to your cookie with more of the thicker color flow icing or the royal icing.
The third technique for decorating designer cookies is using fondant. Many people are "afraid" to try fondant but it is actually very easy. You first need to tint the fondant the color that you need for your cookie and then roll it out to approximately 1/18" thick. Using the same cookie cutter that you used to cut out the cookie, cut the same shape out of your fondant.
Next, lightly moisten the back of the fondant shape with water - not too much or you will make the fondant "soggy". Lay the fondant shape on your cookie and lightly press down, shape, and smooth the edges with your fingers. After you have the fondant on the cookie, you can decorate it giving it details with the royal icing or the full-strength color flow icing.
Using these tips and techniques, you will be making professional designer cookies for your friends and family in no time!
Decorating Designer Cookies
To learn more about decorating designer cookies visit http://www.squidoo.com/DesignerCookies We have step-by-step instructions and videos to help you.