Painted cookies are a creative, fun way to decorate cookies. You can use different techniques and materials, such as edible paints, food coloring, icing and fondant, to create unique, personalized designs.
Recipe · Cookies
Painted cookies
- 6 ingredients
- 10 steps
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups wheat flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Step-by-step preparation
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
- In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until well combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until a dough forms.
- Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- After chilling, take the dough out of the fridge and roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on the baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between them.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until golden at the edges and lightly golden on top.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a rack to cool completely.
Once your cookies are completely cool, you can start painting them. Here are some tips:
- Use edible paints or food coloring to create designs on your cookies. Depending on the type, you can dilute them with water or alcohol to create different shades and effects.
- Use fine brushes for precise details. For larger areas, use bigger brushes or edible-paint sponges.
- If you’re decorating with icing or fondant, let it dry completely before painting over it.
- For extra details, like shimmer or shading, use a dry brush to apply a little luster dust or powdered coloring.
- Experiment with different techniques and materials to create unique, personalized designs.
Painted cookies are a creative, fun way to decorate, but make sure you only use paints and colorings that are safe to eat. If you’re not sure, it’s always better to choose decorating techniques that don’t involve paints or colorings.