Love the way decorated sugar cookies look, but you think you could never decorate that way? Untrue! You don’t need to learn how to make and use royal icing either. Instead, I’m going to show you how you can create easy decorated sugar cookies that anyone can make!
Why these techniques are so easy
We are going to use canned frosting instead of royal icing. But I’ll show you how to use that canned frosting and get the smooth look of bakery cookies.
You can use your grandma’s sugar cookie recipe, or a tube of refrigerated cookie dough. Whatever type of sugar cookie you prefer!
Ingredients you will need are listed with each type of decorated cookie below.
How to Easily Decorate Sugar Cookies
In this section, I’ll show you five different decorated cookie options. They are all easy, yet impressive. With these simple skills, you should be able to use what you’ve learned to make and decorate plenty more!
2020: 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES
12 Christmas cookies you will love, PLUS bonus baking tips and TWO extra recipes you will not find on this blog! See ALL my cookbooks here!
Get the Christmas cookies cookbook! ONLY $9.97!!
Substituting Canned Frosting for Royal Icing
Royal icing gives your cookies a smooth coating, but it requires a little work to make from scratch. One simple trick using a can of pre-made frosting is the perfect substitution.
Microwave one can of white (the vanilla has a yellow tint, so definitely use white) frosting in 10-second increments until fluid. This should take 20-30 seconds in total. Stir between heating. Do not overheat or frosting may separate. You can reheat frosting throughout decorating as needed – 10 seconds at a time.
Scoop a tablespoon (adjust amount for cookie size) of liquid frosting into center of cookie and tilt from side to side until frosting forms a smooth circle across the top. Set cookie on parchment paper until frosting forms a skin/hardens on the surface, about 1 hour.
Use this method for the Christmas Tree cookies and the Christmas Light cookies below.
Ingredients Needed for Christmas Tree Cookies
- 3” round sugar cookies
- White (not vanilla) canned frosting
- Wilton green “icing writer” (This came in a 4-pack of multiple colors from the grocery store)
- Red and green nonpareils (typically available in Wilton holiday sprinkle multi-packs, sometimes by themselves, I get mine in bulk from cake supply store)
- Large gold sprinkles/Dragees (Wilton brand) – could also use gold stars or yellow stars/sprinkles
How to Decorate Christmas Tree Cookies
- Follow the canned frosting method above to ice your sugar cookies.
- Use the icing writer (the tip comes sealed – cut off the seal carefully so that only a very small opening is made.) to draw a line back and forth, narrow at the top and getting wider as you move down, to form the shape of a Christmas tree.
- Sprinkle red and green sprinkles over the green frosting (the sprinkles can still stick to the white frosting so sprinkle gently).
- Top the Christmas tree with a single gold sprinkle or star.
Ingredients Needed for Christmas Light Cookies
- 4” round sugar cookies
- White canned frosting
- Black Writing Gel (I used Betty Crocker brand from the grocery store)
- Mini M&M candies
How to Decorate Christmas String Light Cookies
- Prepare cookies with smooth white frosted tops just like with the Christmas Trees cookies.
- Use black writing gel to make 2 or 3 swags horizontally across the cookie.
- Press mini M&Ms along black “strings” to form lights.
Ingredients Needed for Snowman Cookies
- 3” round sugar cookies
- 2-3 tubs of White canned frosting
- Pink and blue food coloring
- Quart size plastic zip top bag
- White nonpareils
- Mini marshmallows
- Clear extract such as almond, peppermint, imitation vanilla, or clear alcohol like vodka
- Black Writing Gel (I used Betty Crocker brand from grocery store)
- Orange Mini M&M candies
How to Decorate Snowman Cookies
- Melt can of frosting per instructions above.
- Pour half of the frosting into a bowl.
- Holding the edges of the cookie, dip it face down into the melted frosting and lift up, allowing excess frosting to drip off. Quickly turn cookie right side up and place on parchment paper to smooth out and set (about 1 hour) Repeat for all cookies.
- Remelt remaining frosting and tint with food coloring.
- Dip the top third of the cookie into the colored frosting to form a cap.
- Scoop some softened white frosting (not super liquid-y) into a ziplock bag. Use scissors to clip just a very small part of the bag corner to use as a piping bag.
- “Pipe” a squiggle of frosting between the colored cap and white face of the snowman.
- Sprinkle with white nonpareils.
- Spread a thin layer of white frosting onto the end of a mini marshmallow. Dip into nonpareils to form the poof of the hat. Use a bit of frosting to “glue” the marshmallow to the top edge of the cap.
- Mix a tiny drop of food coloring (red or pink) with a couple teaspoons of extract or alcohol.
- Use your fingertip or a Q-tip to dab “cheeks” onto the snowman face – the extract/alcohol will evaporate after a few minutes leaving behind the color.
- Use the black writing gel to make eyes and a mouth on the snowman.
- Use kitchen shears to snip off one side of an orange mini M&M and press it, flat side down, on the snowman face to make a nose.
Ingredients Needed for Christmas Wreath Cookies
- 3” round sugar cookies
- 2 tubs of White canned frosting
- 1” round cookie cutter
- Green Sparkle Gel or frosting
- Red, White, and Gold (or other color) Dragees
How to Decorate Christmas Wreath Cookies
- Coat cookies with white frosting per the snowman instructions above. Allow frosting to set.
- Cut out the center of the cookies to make a “wreath” shape.
- Apply green frosting or sparkle gel to the top of the “wreath.”
- Use a zig zag pattern to mimic the bushiness of an evergreen wreath.
- Apply dragees.
Ingredients Needed for Reindeer Cookies
- 2” round sugar cookies
- Black Writing Gel (I used Betty Crocker brand from grocery store)
- Red and Brown Mini M&M candies
How to Decorate Reindeer Cookies
- Use black writing gel to make antlers for reindeer.
- Dot eyes and a nose below the antlers.
- Press a brown or red mini M&M onto the iced nose.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can freeze decorated sugar cookies. Be sure the icing is completely set. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and place cookies in a single layer on the sheet. Place sheet in freezer for 2-3 hours, or until cookies are frozen. Remove from freezer and carefully wrap frozen cookies in waxed paper and place in zipper freezer bags or airtight container with a lid. Cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.
To thaw, remove from freezer and unwrap. Allow to thaw at room temperature.
You can store your cookies in airtight containers at room temperature for 3-4 days. While royal icing does not refrigerate well, we used canned frosting which does fine in the refrigerator.
You don’t have to be a pastry chef to make beautifully decorated sugar cookies! Use these easy methods to impress your friends and family and create delicious edible gifts.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Gingerbread Man Cookies
- Italian Anisette Cookies
- Dipped Butter Cookies
- Gingersnap Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Paintbrush Cookies
- Christmas Kiss Cookies
Credit for Inspiration
We found inspiration from several other websites. We took their designs and simplified them by using a different method as well as by using pre-made cookies. You can find the original cookie recipes below.
I love to bake and cook and share my recipes with you! I know it’s hard to remember to come back and search, so I’ve made it easy for you with my weekly newsletter! You can subscribe for free and I’ll send you delicious recipes every week right to your email.
2020: 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES
12 Christmas cookies you will love, PLUS bonus baking tips and TWO extra recipes you will not find on this blog! See ALL my cookbooks here!
Get the Christmas cookies cookbook! ONLY $9.97!!
Amanda Davis
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