Quick Answer
Yes, you can absolutely put pictures and designs on cookie cakes! Cookie cakes are fun blank canvases for creative decorations. There are a few different ways to decorate cookie cakes with images, including using icing, chocolate, fruit, candies, and more. With the right techniques and materials, you can decorate your cookie cake with any picture or design you can imagine.
Decorating Cookie Cakes with Icing
One of the most popular ways to put pictures and designs on cookie cakes is through icing decorations. Using royal icing or buttercream frosting, you can pipe detailed images directly onto the surface of the cookie cake. Here are some tips for decorating cookie cakes with icing:
- Use stiff icing that will hold its shape, like royal icing or stiff buttercream frosting. Softer icings will spread and lose definition.
- Outline the design first with an icing tip before filling it in. This helps keep the edges clean.
- Use multiple icing tips and colors to add detail and dimension.
- Let each section dry slightly before adding more icing on top.
- Steady your hand on a flat surface or use icing bags with handles for maximum control.
- Start with simpler designs and work your way up to more complex images.
- Consider making a practice run on a cookie first to test your design.
When decorating with icing, the possibilities are endless. You can pipe delicate flowers, intricate patterns, or recreations of photos. Even writing is an option for putting names, messages, or lyrics on a cookie cake. With some practice and creativity, you can decorate cookie cakes with just about any design imaginable using icing.
Photo Icing Images
One specialized icing technique for putting pictures on cookie cakes is photo icing images. This involves transferring an actual photograph onto the cookie cake using royal icing. Here is a summary of how to create photo icing images:
- Print out the desired photograph reversed as a mirror image.
- Lightly tape the image onto the iced cookie cake surface.
- Use a toothpick or skewer to lightly trace the outlines of the photograph through the paper onto the icing.
- Remove the paper and fill in the outlined design with thinned royal icing using a piping bag.
- Build up colors and shading by layering the icing from light to dark tones.
- Smooth and blend icing together for a seamless finish.
- Add final details and touches with appropriately colored icing.
With some practice, you can reproduce photographic images on cookie cakes using this icing transfer technique. It allows you to put any special picture on a cookie cake for truly customized designs.
Using Chocolate Decorations
In addition to icing, chocolate makes another tasty decorating material for cookie cakes. Here are some ideas for using chocolate:
Chocolate Ganache
– Spread chocolate ganache evenly over the top of the cookie cake.
– Allow it to slightly set then etch designs, patterns, or writing into the chocolate using a toothpick or skewer.
– Or pipe chocolate ganache decorations onto the cookie cake and allow to set.
Chocolate Sprinkles
– Arrange chocolate sprinkles, chips, or shavings into images or designs while the frosting is still tacky.
– Use sprinkles, chips, or shaved chocolate in different colors for added visual appeal.
Chocolate Molds or Cutouts
– Make chocolate shapes using candy molds, then attach them to the cookie cake as decorations.
– Cut shapes and designs out of chocolate wafers or candy melts with cookie cutters.
Chocolate Transfer Sheets
– Transfer printed edible chocolate images onto the cookie cake such as detailed photos, patterns, or messages.
Chocolate Fondant
– Roll out chocolate or candy melts fondant icing and cut into shapes, designs, letters, and numbers using fondant cutters.
– Arrange fondant shapes on cookie cake and secure gently with frosting.
With melted chocolate and any of these techniques, you can create dazzling cookie cake designs from simple stripes to intricate works of art.
Fruit and Berry Decorations
Fresh fruit can make bright, colorful, and edible decorations on cookie cakes. Consider decorating your cookie cake with fruit using these ideas:
Fruit Slices or Shapes
– Cut strawberries, kiwis, bananas, pineapple, oranges, etc. into round slices or fun shapes using cookie cutters.
– Arrange fruit slices decoratively on frosted cookie cake.
– Brush with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Whole Berries
– Dot the cookie cake surface decoratively with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or halved strawberries.
– For small berries, insert toothpicks into each berry bottom to secure into the frosting.
Dried Fruit
– Use dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, apricots or banana chips to spell out words and phrases on the cookie cake.
Fruit Sauces
– Drizzle fruit sauces over cookie cake in fun designs like zigzags and spirals.
– Make your own sauces or use store-bought versions like raspberry, strawberry, mango, or passionfruit sauce.
Zest
– Sprinkle lemon, orange, or lime zest over frosted cookie cake for bright citrus flavor and colorful flecks.
With so many fruits and berries to choose from, you can create all sorts of fun cookie cake decorations and designs using fresh fruit.
Candy & Sweet Decorations
For the ultimate sugar rush, decorate your cookie cake with a variety of candy products and sweets. Here are sweet ideas for candy cookie cake decorations:
Sprinkles
– Cover cookie cake in rainbow sprinkles or decorative jimmies for color and texture.
– Outline designs in borders of contrasting sprinkle colors.
Sanding & Crystal Sugar
– Add sparkle with white, colored, or crystal sanding sugar.
– Draw designs or brush sugar in patterns onto frosting.
Candy Buttons & Jewels
– Spell out words by affixing candy buttons on cookie cake.
– Decorate with shiny candy jewels for elegance.
Chopped Candy Bars
– Sprinkle chopped candy bar pieces like Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or Kit Kats over the top.
Dragees
– Decorate cookie cake borders with small silver or gold dragees.
Licorice
– Shape red or black licorice into flowers, loops or other designs.
Caramel
– Drizzle caramel over cookie cake in zigzags or other fun patterns.
With this wide assortment of candy, the options are practically unlimited for sweetly decorating your cookie cake creations.
Ready-to-Decorate Icing & Toppers
Beyond decorating from scratch, there are also ready-made icing and cake topper options to easily put pictures or designs on cookie cakes:
Canned Icing
– Use pre-made icing from cans or tubes to write messages, draw designs, or decorate cookie cakes.
Edible Printed Icing Sheets
– Print your own custom edible icing sheets with photos or designs using an inkjet printer and edible icing sheets. Transfer images onto the cookie cake.
Edible Cake Toppers
– Buy pre-made fondant cake toppers to affix to cookie cakes including characters, shapes, 3D objects, and more.
Sugar Decorations
– Use ready-to-apply sugar decorations like flowers, photo cake images, edible decals or pre-made designs.
With these convenient ready-made decorations, you can customize and put pictures on cookie cakes without doing any of the decorating yourself.
Creative Cookie Cake Design Ideas
To spark your creativity, here are some fun pictures and design ideas for decorating cookie cakes:
Occasion Themes
– Birthdays: Write name and age, add candles, balloons, and confetti.
– Weddings: Bride and groom figures, hearts, flowers.
– Baby shower: Stork, rattle, baby footprints.
– Graduation: Cap, scroll, tassel shapes, grad year.
– Holidays: Jack-o-lanterns, Christmas trees, fireworks.
Personalized Photos
– Baby or childhood pictures
– Vacation landscapes
– Pet or animal photos
Sports Themes
– Team logos, mascots, jersey numbers/colors
– Football field or basketball court designs
– Sports balls like soccer, basketball or baseball
Interests & Hobbies
– Favorite flowers, animals, toys, characters, foods etc.
– Music symbols, instruments, lyrics
– Artsy patterns, swirls, and shapes
Fun Shapes
– Geometric squares, circles, triangles
– Wavy designs, zigzags, squiggles
– Footprints, handprints, faces
Let your creativity go wild when decorating cookie cakes! With the right icing skills and materials, you can put any picture, design, or theme you can imagine onto cookie cakes for tasty and personalized edible art.
Best Practices for Decorated Cookie Cakes
Here are some top tips to follow for best results when decorating cookie cakes with pictures and designs:
Allow Enough Time
– Decorating takes time, so be sure to schedule enough in advance of the event. Rushed designs often look messy.
Prepare the Frosting Surface
– Frost the cookie cake smoothly and let crust slightly before decorating for best results.
Keep Decorations Simple
– Overcomplicated designs usually turn out messy. Keep it simple for best success.
Use Royal Icing for Outlining
– Outline key elements in royal icing first since it keeps shape well and dries hard.
Steady Your Hands
– Rest hands on a flat surface or use icing bags with handles for stability.
Practice First
– Try a test run of the design on an extra cookie or board before working on the real cake.
Work From Light to Dark
– For colored icing, start with lightest colors first, adding darker shades on top.
Keep Chocolate Firm
– When using chocolate, be sure it’s properly tempered or sets up firm, not soft.
Refrigerate Carefully
– Once decorated, refrigerate the cookie cake briefly to set icing before transporting or serving.
Display Proudly
– Showcase your decorated cookie cake as the centerpiece! Add decorations around it to complement the theme.
With smart strategies and practice, your custom decorated cookie cakes can turn out picture-perfect every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common cookie cake decorating FAQs:
What kind of icing is best for decorating cookie cakes?
Royal icing and stiff buttercream frosting both pipe well for cookie cake decorating. Avoid softer icings like whipped cream or glaze that will smear easily.
How do you transfer a picture onto a cookie cake?
Print a reversed image onto paper, tape it to the cake, trace outlines with a toothpick, then fill in with icing. Edible icing sheets can also be used to transfer photo images.
Can you write on a cookie cake with icing?
Yes, you can pipe written messages, names, and letters onto cookie cakes using royal icing. Use piping tips to write or print out stencils for neater results.
How do you attach decorations to cookie cakes?
Candies, fruit slices, or lightweight decorations can be pressed gently into the frosting to attach them. Toothpicks inserted into heavier items can secure them into the cake as well.
How far in advance can you decorate a cookie cake?
It’s best to decorate cookie cakes no more than 2-3 days before serving. The cake and icing will stay freshest within this timeframe.
Conclusion
Decorating cookie cakes with pictures, designs, and other creative toppings is a fun way to transform a basic cookie cake into an edible work of art. With techniques like icing piping, chocolate molding, fruit arranging, and candy affixing, you can customize a cookie cake with almost any design you can imagine. Use royal icing, chocolate, fruit, and candies to decorate cookie cakes for birthdays, holidays, special occasions, or just for fun. With some basic skills and the right decorating materials, you can put personalized pictures or illustrations on cookie cakes to make them totally unique and delicious. Let your creativity run wild on your next cookie cake creation!