Those balloons are sooo cute!! Did you bake them with the stick inside or did you attach them for packaging? What kind of sticks are those? They look thicker than bamboo skewers.
Ooooh, i wish i had a balloon cookie cutter.............

luv- i baked them with the stick in and they are thin bamboo sticks (like for bbq'ing) i was very excited to find the cutter (at this little "elite" kitchen store in my local downtown-also found a circus elephant which i haven't used-yet) i feel like the cookie is naked until i add that extra outline or detail-sometimes it sugar. has anyone crushed their sugar to make it more fine? like sanding sugar-i made mini sunglasses and wanted some sparkle but instead it looked chunky and i felt like they were ruined. i only have bulk barn and michael's close by. thanks

What do you use to keep the bitter taste out of the black icing?

That's a really good suggestion bonniebakes! I'm going to try that.

I really love all your cookies GeminiRJ! What is the best cookie recipe to use?

OK, this is a great thread. But what am I not doing. I can't see the photos of the cookies that everyone is talking about. Also, anyone done any baby einstein cookies? Would love to see pics if you did. Thanks in advance. Sorry I'm so tech challenged.

Thank you sooo much, Gemini for sharing your recipe and decorating tips!! I'm still kind of new to cookie decorating and I have learned a lot about cookie decorating from you and this tread.

Thank you for the advice about black icing. I will give Americolor a try!
Sandy

Here's another example of cookies before outlining & after (my husband was gone while I did the outlining, and came back when I was finished. He rather tactfully asked if I had meant for them to be "so....pear shaped". He could've asked why their butts looked so much bigger after outlining, but he didn't. Like I said, tactful).

Those are super cute! (And note to self, don't ever wear anything that "outlines" my butt!! )

I just got a little teacup & saucer cookie cutter and I can't wait to bake up some cookies and try this. It's like coloring for grownups isn't it?

Thanks for starting this thread. I tried to outline a few times and my black is usually to thick for my liking. I'll have to give these tips a try. I also think it depends on the cookie if it needs an outline or not. I usually don't use a tip for decorating my cookies cause the icing seems to curl around.

Yes! I found it her it is what I was looking for the the past couple of weeks. THanks to TracyLH for pointing me in the right direction.

So glad you found the thread! I hope it lives up to all that work trying to locate it!

gotta keep watching this thread!

GeminiRJ, you know your outlining tip has helped me!!

Just thought I'd pass along the information that I've started adding clear extract to the icing recipe. I didn't want to tamper with it, but it tastes better with 1/2 tsp. of either clear vanilla or almond.

My question is this: I'm having a lot more problems with the finish of the glace getting very small, barely noticeable spots. But they're still there. I've tried the usual remedies (brite white, higher ratio of corn syrup to milk), without success. I'm wondering if the extract is the culprit? Anyone notice a difference in the glace finish when using extract as opposed to without?

That's interesting. I get the tiny spots too and i've never made glace without extract cuz i feel it's needed. I too wonder if that's the culprit.

i am trying the glace tonight.... man I love it!!! just have to get used to the one consistancy thing, but even the colours look nicer.

You can get as many consistencies as you want with glace. You just add more PS to get it stiffer and more water to get it thinner.

what cookie dough do you ladies use to make the cookies? I tried the one on here, its calls no-fail cookie, but i dont like the taste of it.

i use the "best rolled sugar cookie" recipe on here

Thanks luv2bake6!!! Im used the the "dam" method lol

surgery2 -- I love the recipe that CookieCrazie uses. There's a link to it on her blog (just Google to find it). It's a soft sugar cookie and tastes great.

thanks!

Thanks so much for the great advice and ideas!!!
I've been wanting to improve my cookies, I'll try your tips this week...

Probably a dumb question but how do you know what color to outline cookies with? I see most of Gemini's cookies (Too cute!!) are in black, I guess to show detail which looks great. I have my first cookie and cake order for a wedding shower and I am nervous! Thank you!!!

thanks for sharing! i usually outline first because i don't want the icing to spill over the edge. guess i'm making it too thin huh?

susan, thanks for the shout!! i have outlined with both black, and with the same color as fill. i guess it all depends on the design.