Classic Tree Cookie Decorating Tutorial

Directions

• 1

  Bake and cool cookies fully before decorating. Prepare royal icing in the following colors and consistencies: 

  Outline/Piping Consistency: 
  Green 
  Dark Green (mix a tiny amount of Super Black gel food coloring into Leaf Green icing to achieve a dark green) 
  Brown 
  Red 

  Flood Consistency: 
  Green 

  
• 2

  Using the light green outline consistency icing, outline the shape of the tree, leaving space at the bottom for the tree trunk.  

  
• 3

  Fill in the shape of the tree with the light green flood consistency icing. Use your scribe tool or a toothpick to smooth out the icing and pop any air bubbles that come up. Allow this section to dry for 20-30 minutes or until the icing just starts to crust over before moving onto the next step.

  
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  Using the brown outline consistency icing, outline a small square in the center of the bottom section for the tree trunk. 

  
• 6

  Fill in the small square shape with the same brown outline consistency icing and use your scribe tool or toothpick to smooth out the icing. 

  
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  Using the dark green outline consistency icing, pipe a swirling line in a continuous motion, moving from the bottom of the tree to the top. 
  
  Pro Tip: You may find you need to practice this on a piece of paper towel before you attempt this design on the actual cookie. Make sure you’re comfortable with the size of the hole in your piping bag, as well as the consistency of your icing. Your icing should be a consistency similar to toothpaste. Learn more about royal icing consistencies here.  

   If the icing is difficult to control, it may be too thin. Add powdered sugar, a little bit at a time, to achieve the proper consistency. 

   If your icing is difficult to push out of the bag or comes out in squiggles, it may be too thick (add water a little bit at a time to thin out), or the hole in your piping bag may be too small.  

  
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  To finish your Christmas tree design, pipe small dots of the red outline consistency icing throughout the tree design.  

  
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