Since the holidays are here, I wanted to make some cute Christmas cookies to celebrate. Plus, I can definitely use the season as a reason to practice piping. I’ve only made decorated sugar cookies a handful of times, but I think I get a tiny bit better each time I try them.
So naturally I made ice cream cones for Christmas.
Kidding. I kid. But I did use this ice cream cone cookie cutter to make something else.
I have a limited supply of Christmas cookie cutters, so I had to improvise, you see.
I like improvising.
Simply turn it upside down and it makes a great base shape for Santa.
Lots of Santas.
I used a recipe in the book, Cookie Craft to make these chocolate sugar cookies.
Click here and go to page 7 and 16 for the recipes.
P.S. – I love this book. It’s fantastic if you want to learn the ins and outs of cookie decorating.
So – I used the shape of the cookie cutter to draw several different Santa heads on a sheet of paper. Then I made a few facial variations to help me practice.
My kind of homework.
After the cookies cooled, I drew the faces on the cookies with an edible ink pen, hoping this would help me when I start piping.
I can trace. I’m a good tracer.
But not so good at piping. The drawings did help, but I have to tell you – this stage had me a little worried.
They don’t look so hot, huh?
I think it would be easier with larger shapes, though.
The cutter I used was about 3 inches tall. So the mustaches and such were really small.
Small for me anyway.
But I piped and flooded forward.
And thank goodness I kept going, With the help of some sprinkles and sugar crystals and an edible ink pen – they all turned out pretty cute.
I definitely think the different textures help pull off the look.
Some have cute rosy cheeks.
Some have big brows.
Some have curly locks.
And the fun part is …
… if you change the drawing on the inside of the ice cream cone shape and use different colors of royal icing…
You’ll end up with some of Santa’s little helpers.
So, don’t give up.
Pipe on. Practice makes good.
I’m still trying for perfect, but I think I need to make decorated cookies more than once or twice a year.
Guess I’ll just have to keep playing.
It is sweet fun.
And if you want to play, too… I can make up a downloadable template of different Santa faces… using basic shapes like ice cream cones, circles, or hearts as the base – so you can make your own … If you like.
