If you're a cookie decorator who uses royal icing, you may want to run. In fact, I would recommend that you RUN far, far away from what I am about to share. Over the weekend I experimented with royal icing and I am going to share my expert advice. It wasn't easy, but in the end I was happy. Let me tell you how I got here (it's up to you to grab some Tylenol).
Royal Rose Shabby Chic Cookies
The best part about the cookies was that I got to spend another day with my mom decorating. Back in the day, when mom decorated wedding cakes, all she had available to her were Wilton Cake Decorating Books and the Watkins man. NO Internet, NO Cable TV, NO Fondant, NO Michael's, NO Hobby Lobby, NO Joann's. I think you get the picture. She used butter cream and royal icing. And she made all of her flowers for her cakes in advance out of royal icing. I wanted her to teach me roses. And she did.
Here's my expert advice~
First of all do you royal homework. I didn't. I took my meringue powder out of the Wilton can and read the directions. How hard can that be. Well, it was hard as in very hard icing. Let me show you...
I don't know if you can see how stiff my icing was. None the less, I kept adding water...more powdered sugar...more water. Finally, I just started making the roses with Mom directing me petal by petal saying "make an arch". After several attempts, she said "do you know what an arch is??" I finally figured out the arch.
On to decorating the cookies. By then, mom had left and I was on my own. So I added more water..too much water..then too much powdered sugar. I was tired of mixing and mixing, so I went back to my old ways.
I piped it on and spread it out with a spatula then cleaned the edges with said spatula. I then took my spatula and dabbed it to get little peaks. Added my royal rose and a few green leaves.
As my mom would say..."It was a Happy Mistake"!
The best part of making these cookies was that I could stack them and they didn't get smushed! AND I could package them the same day.
Now that was FUN!
So please don't...
Run From The Roses!
I am so PROUD of you KIM!!! You did it!! You said at Cookie Camp you were going to try RI and you did it!! YEAH!!
ReplyDeleteYour cookies are perfect! YOU GO GIRL!!!
Ah, thanks Lisa! It was so much easier at Cookie Camp when I just used all the royal icing that was already mixed! :)
DeleteI attempted royal icing about a month ago and know exactly what you went through. I did do my research, but still had to play with the fluidity of the icing. Your roses turned out great and I actually love the texture of the cookie. It works perfectly with the rose. I know it wasn't what you had intended, but like you said, it was a happy mistake.
ReplyDeleteYep, a happy mistake is was. Now I'm on a mission to conquer the icing! :)
DeleteLoved your post Kim. You just tickle my funnybone! I guess your mom and I are about the same age. You described my time exactly the way it was. But early in my cake decorating years I decided right then and there that I didn't like nor did my family like to eat royal icing or anything it was on. Thats' why I asked you quite awhile ago about your icing because I like it soft that it doesn't break your teeth and edible. So do my kids (your age) and the grands. Know you did a GREAT job.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nann - nothing like a buttercream frosted cookie!
DeleteThese cookies are beautiful! I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when you were working with your mom! She may not have had all the fabulous tools back then, but, our wedding cake was absolutely beautiful and when people see the pictures, even now, they always comment on the beautiful wedding cake she did for us - almost 33 years ago!
ReplyDeleteExcited to see what else you come up with using the RI.............
CHEERON!!!
It may be another challenge, but I will work with royal again!
DeleteI really like what you did with the royal icing. These cookies are beautiful and the roses are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI was happy I ended up liking them after all the work!
DeleteBeautiful, I love this effect!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer - I ended up loving it as well!
DeleteHAHAHAHAHA! We've brought you over to the dark side! I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha is right...you make it look soooo easy!!!! Now I know what all the fuss about 10/20/30 (is there 30?) second icing is!!! I think when I started I had 3 second icing. I need to move in with you for awhile! :)
DeleteAwesome cookies, Kim!! I know that royal icing can be finicky with its thickness consistencies, but I'm glad you powered through the frustration it may cause. :) Your roses look so perfect and I love the textured surface!!
ReplyDeleteI have new respect for anyone that can not only decorate with royal, but also MIX royal icing to the perfect consistancy! That is a talent!!!! I'm not going to give up yet! :)
DeleteYour roses turned out lovely!! Your mom sounds delightful, "do you know what an arch is?" LOL, apparently you DO!! Love the beautiful frame, it's perfect for Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! We always have such fun when creating together!! :)
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