I am new to the cookie stuff and was wondering if any of you have tips on how you do it?

What is:

~your fav cookie recipe
~fav thing to cover cookies with
~your prices
~your most needed tool for cookie making?
~.......any other tips

thanks

I am not an expert, or have even made the elaborate cookies on here.

But most of the discussions, even the topic I posted Is

No Fail Sugar Cookies In the Recipe Section
Many People use Antonia74 Royal Icing Recipe Section
Cookie Cutters of Course
Don't Know Price (I do not Sell)
And I have a copy of Cookie Craft By Valarie Peterson And Janice Fryer Which Was recommended to me from this site and it is the best book to have if you are starting a cookie business, at least I think so

I am not an expert either but here goes:

1. You learn by doing. I am always looking at other people's photos and asking questions. People are very helpful on this site, so I would say this is my favorite baking tool!

2. Royal icing is my favorite.

3. I use Americolor gel coloring. They have been a God send. I especially love the Super Black. You can get some good deals on eBay.

4. I buy my cutters from - American Traditions Cookie Cutters - www.AmericanTraditioncc.com They are a good price and they have a great selection.

5. Prices will vary. Mine start at $2.00 and go up depending on the size, number of colors, and design.

GOOD LUCK!

You'll hear people talk about buying a dobord which I also did. Don't bother. Go to Home Depot and buy yourself a yardstick and cut it exactly in half. Works great. I wish somebody had told me that first.

This the dobord http://kitchenfriendly.com/ I have one and I love it! I is very helpful when you're making a lot of cookies. i also use antonia74's royal icing, it is very easy to work with.

I use a cream cheese sugar cookie recipe and love it. It is a little more high-maintenance than other recipes, but the taste wins out over that. I don't have a good icing-need to try royal icing someday. In the past I've used the one (don't know what it's called) that is corn syrup, flavoring and PS, but I'm not crazy about it, and you can only use it if you want the whole cookie to be the same color. I've also tried a really stiff buttercream which looks good and tastes good, but "chips" off easily and isn't very good if you are sending or delivering them to someone.

Ooh this is kinda fun to answer, once I started with cookies I was hooked and just about everthing I know I learned here!

~your fav cookie recipe:
No Fail Sugar Cookies (for decorating), they are easy to make and cut, the recipe makes a good amount and they hold their shape well. I add creme bouquet for flavoring and everyone loves them. I have different favorites if they are just for eating, not decorating.

~fav thing to cover cookies with:
I love Toba's Glace, it works well for me and tastes so good, I use corn syrup that already has vanilla added.

~your prices
I am a hobby baker, no prices

~your most needed tool for cookie making?
Hands down my Doboard, I dreaded doing rolled cookies before I got one, I had the sticks and rings before and although they work the doboard is so easy and rolling is a cinch, it's expensive, but I would buy another in a second if, heaven help me, something happened to it!

Also squeeze bottles for icing, have fun and I hope you enjoy cookie making as much as I do now!