There are lots of easy, cool ways to paint designs on cookies.

PAINTING ON BAKED COOKIES

Using Colored Sugar to Paint on Cookies:

Use a paintbrush to paint patterns on baked cookies with light corn syrup then dip in colored sugar or sprinkles.

How to Use Food Coloring to Paint on Cookies:

1. Mix confectioner’s sugar and water to make a relatively thick icing that pours.
2. Divide icing into as many parts as you want colors.
3. Color icing with either paste or liquid food color.
4. Coat cookies with a thin, but opaque, layer of colored icing.
5. Let icing dry completely.
6. With fine brushe(s) paint designs either with:
   • paste food color thinned slightly with water or
   • undiluted liquid food color

Tip:

• Cover colored icing with damp towel to keep it moist. If it dries or gets to thick add more water, little by little, to get to the desired consistency.

Using Powdered Food Coloring (Petal Dust) to Paint on Cookies:

Powdered food coloring comes in a huge assortment of colors, including silver and gold.

Where to Get Petal Dust:

• Mail order
• Specialty cake decorating stores

How to Apply Petal Dust:

• It can be used dry and applied with a brush for a glistening-type of finish.
• It can also be diluted with a few drops of alcohol for a smooth finish.
  • If it is diluted, more alcohol may need to be added as it evaporates.

Sponge Painting

How to Sponge Paint Cookies:

1. Mix confectioner’s sugar and water to make a relatively thick icing that pours.
2. Divide icing into as many parts as you want colors.
3. Color icing with either paste or liquid food colors.
4. Coat cookies with a thin, but opaque, layer of colored icing.
5. Thin confectioner’s sugar colors.
6. Dip sponge into color(s) and go to town.

Tips:

• Cover colored icing with damp towel to keep it moist. If it dries or gets to thick add more water, little by little, to get to the desired consistency.
• Sponges can be cut out into shapes and used like stamps for cookies.
• Finely woven make-up sponges work for fine designs.
• Kitchen sponges with lots of holes are fun for open, bigger designs.
• One design can be made with different density sponges and various colored icings.

PAINTING ON UNBAKED COOKIES

Yolks and Water (about 1:1 teaspoon)

• For each yolk, whisk in about 1 teaspoon water
• Use a small, clean brush to paint designs onto unbaked cookies

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