I love beautifully decorated sugar cookies, but I’m always on the lookout for easy, short-cut options for making them because I feel like they’re So. Much. Work. And they require more skill and patience than I feel I have the majority of the time. That’s why I love our easy sugar cookie glaze, and that’s why I’m bringing you another fun option, today! This is a SUPER easy way to get a custom sugar cookie design, and it’s fun, too!
These cookies start with a plain layer of royal icing. Now you can make your own royal icing, which is the kind of icing that goes on wet and then dries into a dry, smooth, matte finish. We actually don’t have a recipe here for royal icing, but there are a million on-line. I recommend our friend Bridget of Bake at 350– she’s the master of royal icing! However, if you want to take the REALLY easy route- do what I do. Go to a local bakery and just order plain cookies with a single-color royal icing like these (from local One Haute Cookie, in the Boise, area). Make sure the icing is completely dry; it’s best to draw on these a full day after they’ve been iced.
The second thing you’ll need for these is a set of food-safe markers. I ordered a set from Americolor on Amazon, you can see them here. These ones are a little pricy, but I love the vibrant colors and they work well. They also have a semi-flexible brush tip, which comes in handy if you want to use them for hand-lettering. Wilton also makes some that you can order on Amazon, or they usually carry at craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
These look and feel just like regular markers, only they’re made with food coloring so you can write on things like cookies! The smooth, dry finish of royal icing is a perfect canvas.
I thought this would be the perfect tutorial for Valentine’s Day because you can letter someone’s name or write a sweet love note right on your cookie.
Think of baby showers, weddings, birthdays, and so much more.
Even just investing in a plain black food-safe marker is a great idea. I LOVE the plain black and white, and look how simple the designs are. It literally took less than 30 seconds to whip those ones out.
And of course I love a splash of rainbow thrown in.
There are endless opportunities here, grab some cookies and some markers and have fun!
Also speaking of things I LOVE this month, there’s a sale in our Shop! Save 15% on everything with code LOVE through the 14th! Click here to shop.
Did You Make This?
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Questions & Reviews
Can you use edible markers to write on cookies decorated with your glace icing recipe? That is my favorite icing! It’s been a bit since I’ve made the icing, and can’t remember if it gets hard enough to try writing on. Thanks!
I think that would work IF you let them dry completely, like at least 24 hours, and use a light hand! Let me know if you try it!
I did these for my son’s Kindergarten Valentines Day Party. Kids loved it, and they were SO much cleaner than having the kids do frosting and sprinkles!
Maybe I am just not comprehending, but can you NOT use the glace icing with these?
I’ve never tried, but I think royal icing would work much better.
I’m also not good at all in decorating sugar cookies, these markers looks so great! Gonna try it. Thank you for sharing!
This is my plan for Valentine’s Day! I have the markers on hand and am ready for the weekend. I ordered mine from King Arthur Flour.
Oh these are so fun and cute! What a great Valentine’s activity to do with your kids!