Part 1. How to make Royal Icing Letter Transfers.
Bridal Shower Favor Cookie with Royal Icing Letter Transfer
How I made the letters – great if you don’t have a kopykake
This is super easy if the icing is right. I made royal icing transfers for the letter “A” to save time – this has been a busy week. I don’t think it really saved time versus using the kopykake, but it did break up the decorating. First print the letters using a font that is simple to outline. Make lots of extras. Tape the paper to the back of a baking sheet. Now tape wax paper on top of the paper. DO NOT USE PARCHMENT PAPER, it wrinkles, I learned the hard way. You can also use shortening if you are worried about it sticking to the wax paper. Other people use acetate but I didn’t have any of this around. I know my limits and I know how fragile these are when transferring so I kept the font simple. I used the font “Kaleigh” size 100 and wish I would have gone bigger in the end. Now simply outline the letter. I used a Wilton size 2 tip and royal icing that was thinned to piping consistancy (it will make small soft peaks, it will hold it’s form if you make loops, it will be flowy and not stiff…) Again, I will someday right about making icing.
Let the letters dry overnight or longer. This will all depend on humidity. In Arizona icing dries really fast. At this point I decided to paint the gold onto the letters. It makes for a cleaner look. I found 2 coats gave the letter the look I wanted. Now gently pull the wax paper and remove the letters. Don’t cry if one breaks. After outlining and flooding the cookies I carefully added the letters to the center.
Adding the gold dust to the letters per package instructions. Do not use too much extract, it will cause the letters to dissolve in places. I think it’d be easier to use a spray can or an airbrush, but I make do with what I can find at local supercenters.
Some casualties. So tragic. Next time I’ll do better. Te lo juro. I promise.
Part II. How to make the scalloped border.
Use size three Wilton and piping icing. Make a small dot and drag. DO NOT DO IT AS I DID ABOVE. It should not look like a baby tooth. It should look like a cute little head of garlic.
This is better. Hold the tip just above cookie, pipe a dot, and QUICKLY pull tip to the side while you release pressure. After about 1/2 a dozen cookies you’ll get the hang of it… is it too soon to begin working on my gingerbread house?
Sugar Cookie using my favorite sugar cookie recipe by Beeinourbonnet and icing recipe from Sweetsugarbelle – the idea came from SweetAmbs. The bride’s colors are dusty rose and gold. To make the rose I used just a tiny bit of Wilton burgandy and brown. For the border and royal icing transfers I used just a tiny bit of Wilton Brown. I outlined these cookies with thick piping consistency (the icing has small soft peaks) then filled with thin icing (like honey). The scrolls were kind of random, although I did look at scroll fabric swatches. I realized a few cookies into decorating that my icing was a bit thick for the scroll work, but I was too tired to take it out and thin it. I used a Wilton size 2 tip for the scrolls and would try a size three if I did it again. I used Wilton gold dust painted on with almond extract. I really really need some nicer brushes. The Wilton ones do not hold up!
I can NEVER, and I mean never get that bead border right, no matter how hard I try! I love this blog post. 🙂
Hey – I'm glad to see you here Melissa – I found if I forced myself to move quickly it worked. Who knows… it all depends on the day and that's why this cookie thing is so addicting!!!
So pretty! Honestly….I have a kopykake, and I still think this is a better way to make letters.
Hi lizy b! I like the way it sinks in, i wonder how complicated I could go without breaking letters. Thanks for looking! 🙂
Great post! I love my Kopykake but this technique is great for making a lot of letters. I always forget leftover icing is great for transfers of all kinds. Thanks for sharing. The border is great!
I just had someone email me about football jersey cookies, and i think i'll try to make the little numbers in advanced the same way. Thanks for looking!
Very pretty! Did you paint the bead border too? It must be difficult not to smear gold on the cookie itself when you do.
Yes I did two coats of the gold on the bead border. It is tricky not to get it everywhere. I used the wilton brushes – they are horrible. I just read that it is okay to use nicer art brushed made with synthetic brushes. The little bristles kept coming off the wilton brushes making it very frustrating. Thanks for looking!
Now I find this! After I bought a plain stencil and have attempted to use regular frosting…. lol.
Live and learn. Let’s see what i can do to the store bought whipped frosting and a tupperware piping thingy I found in the cupboard.
Thanks for looking. I’m glad this helps. Make lots of extras. I’m clumsly so I break several. Happy Baking!
Suzanne 🙂
Suz, I can not begin to tell you what you just did for me today. You have no idea how I needed that little bit of info. I am 76 and only been decorating for 4 months now. I just do it for a hobby and for love to those who need cheering up. But today I looked at my “templates” which to me are just pictures, and said, “now what do I do? When I ice over them they brake. But your step-by-step instructions gave me hope. I am a member of Sweetambs and she has done so much for me, but I feel like I ask her too many questions. I will now watch all of your tutorials.
Meilssa, Thanks for saying you don’t get that boarder. Me either!