How to make a Cute Penguin Cookie

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These are cute penguin cookies I made for a baby shower.  I love the use of soft grey instead of black – so much less food dye.  For more photos and information on how I made these continue reading.

What you need to make these cute penguin cookies:

  • Penguin Cookie cutter (the one I used came from the Wilton set with 50 animals)
  • Sugar Cookie Dough
  • Royal Icing
  • Black dye (either Americolor Super Black or Wilton Black)
  • Blue dye (I used Americolor Sky Blue)
  • Americolor Ivory
  • White sanding sugar

To start, prepare cookie dough.  For these very specific shapes I rolled the dough 1/4 inch thick between two sheets of saran wrap and chilled the dough for at least two hours.  I also chill the baking sheets while the dough is chilling.  This keeps everything chilled so the dough does not spread and ruin the penguin shape.

The penguin cookies are baked and cooled.  I now continue by preparing the royal icing.  Just the smallest bit of black dye creates the grey color needed for the penguins.  Be sure to add just a little bit of dye – you can always add more later.  I also kept some of the icing white for the details.  I am using just one consistency icing.  I normally outline and flood, but in this case I decided to make a medium thick icing.  I thinned the royal icing and added just a few drops of water at a time.  I knew the icing was ready when I placed a knife through the icing, making an indentation, then counting for 10 seconds.  If the indentation is gone after 10 seconds the icing is just where I want it to be.

Outline the gray portion of the cookie using a Wilton #2 tip.  If the icing is right it will fall gently on to the penguin cookie.  If it is too thick it will twist and turn as it comes out of the piping tip.  If it is too thin, it will run off the cookie.  Immediately after the penguin cookie is outlined, fill in using the same icing.  If you do not want to see the border use a toothpick to mix it into the icing used for a filling.  To make the process go faster remove the Wilton size 2 tip and replace with a larger Wilton size 3 tip.  Allow this section of the penguin to dry for about 20 minutes.

Outline the white bellies and flood with white icing.  Add the ivory colored icing for the bill and the feet of the penguin.  At this point the penguins need to dry overnight.

The next day add two lines to make the wings and cover immediately with white sanding sugar.  Make the eye using royal icing that has been colored with sky blue icing.

These penguin cookies will be perfect for a zoo themed baby shower.