After posting the Halloween Party Food, which included pictures of sugar cookie pops with spider web designs on them, I had a lot of people ask how I made the icing design. I had even more people comment that they could never make them look so pretty. So I’m here to tell you- and more importantly show you that you can! Here’s a simple tutorial- watch how easy!
I used Glacé Icing for these cookies, but the same technique will work on a variety of frostings and icings as well as with white and dark chocolate ganache. You can use this method to top cupcakes, cakes, cookies, just about anything that you could top with frosting!
Step 1: Top cookie with the base color. In this case I’m using a white base.
I used the Glace Icing in the flooding consistency and added just a tad more powdered sugar so it wasn’t too runny. However you don’t want it as thick as you would use for piping. It should easily run and Don’t bother trying to outline them first to fill, just flood the cookie and either stop near the edges, or what’s even easier is to do as I did and just let the icing drip right over the edge of the cookie. Let the cookie dry for just a few minutes. If you’re doing multiple cookies, go ahead and glaze another 5-6 cookies and then your first one will be ready for step 2.
Step 2: Using black icing, again just a tad thicker than flooding consistency, but thinner than piping consistency, start from the center of the cookie and pipe a swirl until you get to the outside edge.
If you don’t have a piping bag, just use a heavy duty zip-lock bag with a small hole cut out of one corner.
Step 3: Use a toothpick and starting from the center of your swirl, lightly drag it in a straight line to the edge.
Step 4: Continue around the cookie repeating that step. You can continue pulling only from the center, or so as I did and alternate pulling from the center out and then from the outside to the center. You’ll get different designs, try it out and see which one you like.
Experiment with color combos. I love how the black turned out. If you’re using black make sure to use gel or paste food color. Purple, green, and orange webs look cool too!
Let those cookies dry for a full 24 hours if you’re going to stack them, otherwise they can dry for only a few hours as long as you’re very careful not to bump them and dent the icing. It will be smooth and dry on top, but soft underneath. (Which is in my opinion, the yummiest way to eat them!)
Questions & Reviews
I love your site. I really appreciate how you take all the “scary” mystery out of beautiful decorating so anyone can produce quality designer treats.
Just made these- such a cool idea! However, I’m wondering how you managed to keep the black glace icing from feathering into the white. Yours look perfect!
I didn’t do anything special- it just worked! lol
Can you freeze the cookies after they are decorated? If you can, what is the best way to wrap them so they don’t get the yukky freezer taste. Thanks!
I only freeze my cookies without frosting, so I really can’t tell ya. But I wrap mine well in plastic wrap, then seal in ziplock bags, and then in a freezer container.
I get it. Freeze the cookies then decorate later. I can do that. Thanks for the freezing tips. Have a fabulous Friday.
Could I do this with cupcakes? And how did you get the black icing..so black? Thanks!!
I want to know too. Thanks!
Use gel color to get the icing black, and yes you can use this technique on just about anything! If you’re doing cupcakes, don’t use this icing though. You can do it with white and dark ganache 🙂
I love this! you are both so fun to read and learn from. My 5 year old even thought these were cool ans said “click on that one”. 🙂
@Tara – that was my thought too! How did you get it so black without tasting awful?!?
How do you get the icing so black? I usually use the Wilton gel colors – the ones in the little jars with screw on lids. I have black but usually when I make black icing I add it to chocolate icing. Help!
Could you put plastic over these without ruining them? Like individually wrapping them as a favor?
Absolutely! This type of icing dries solid so they’re perfect for wrapping 🙂
I think they could look like a pinwheel also and pinwheels seem to be “in” now with papercrafting.
I made this design on my Halloween cookies. I also used your sugar cookie recipe. They were great! everyone loved them. Thanks! Next year I will make the majority of my cookies with the spider web design since it is so easy and this way I dont get tired by the 20th cookie 🙂
How do you get your icing soooo black? Not gray, but black!
Did they ever answer this question? I am about to make a ton of Mickey cookies and thought I would visit the pro’s before attempting Black!
Just make sure to use gel or paste coloring- it just takes a lot 🙂
You ROCK! THANK you for sharing with those of us who are less creative!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!
I LOVE all your halloween inspired recipes!!! I would LOVE for you to link up to my linky party for your chance to win!
http://lovestitched.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-3-halloween-recipes-and-linky.html
I can't wait to try and make these …. maybe with some orange and purple icings.
They look not so hard to make!
Those are by far the coolest Halloween 'anything' I've seen!! Awesome tutorial as well!! Thanks for sharing!
I am working on making some of these cookie pops for a birthday party and I was wondering what size sticks did you use for these cookies. Do you remember?
seriously?!?! amazing, amazing, amazing . . . thanks so much for sharing!
It's right where it's always been laura! Here ya go:
https://ourbestbites.com/2009/10/easy-halloween-party-food.html
what happened to the Halloween post with all the treats? Bummer.
Great! Love it! Thanks! Those loo really cool : )
Beautiful cookies… I was thinking of writing a post on similar cookie decorating technique this week, but didn't think I'd get around to it. Yours look wonderful, though. Perhaps I'll just post links in my Friday Favorites instead!
Beautiful cookies! Just wondering if you've ever tried freezing the cookies after frosting them with the glace frosting? Would that work?
this look like FUN!!!!
I sent you an award 🙂
http://my-creative-attempts.blogspot.com/2009/10/check-if-youve-won-best-blog-award.html
having a Halloween party on Halloween,going to use your ideas,thanks for sharing! Great blog!!found you through Tip Junkie!
Oh my goodness, this is too hilarious! I just made these eaxct cookies yesterday morning! I baked the cookies on friday with the intent to ice them saturday morning! I was just about to post them on my blog and was thinking about how clever I was LOL
Your cookies look fantastic!
Katie
Oh wow… those are seriously GORGEOUS. I don't have time to cook this week! 🙁 Do you suppose spiderwebs are good for other holidays? 🙂
so cool! Thanks for sharing.
you girls are just plain genius. Thanks for all the great tips/tutorials/recipes!