How to decorate bird cookies with poured sugar icing and fondant.
These bird cookies are the result of my experimenting with poured sugar icing, that is, an icing you pour rather than spread or pipe. Usually, poured sugar is used to coat petits fours, but I used it to coat cookies.
The pros of poured sugar icing: It’s quick, easy, tasty and makes a smooth coat. The cons: I felt like I wasted a lot of it. Overall, I’d say poured sugar is a good way to easily coat cookies without the muss and fuss of whipping meringue, preparing frosting bags, piping…
how to coat cookies with poured sugar icing:
In a bowl, blend with a whisk:
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 tsp light corn syrup
2 tsp milk
a drop of coloring, if desired (I used Sky Blue Americolor soft gel paste)
Add more milk, 1/2 tsp at a time until desired consistency.
Your icing should be thin enough to pour, but not so thin it drains off your cookie totally.
It should have a slight thickness, but not so thick it sits on your cookie.
You can add confectioner’s sugar or milk to thicken or thin, respectively. Line a baking tray with wax paper and place a wire rack on the tray.
Lay cookies on rack and use a small spoon to pour icing over each cookie, making sure the icing falls over the sides, encouraging with the back of the spoon as needed.
Like I said, you’ll see a lot of waste falling from the cookie. So sad. Let the sugar dry several hours or overnight before decorating.
how to make birdie cookies:
you will need:
cut out cookie dough
1 1/2 inch circle fondant cutter
1 inch leaf fondant cutter
sharp knife
poured sugar icing
food coloring
white rolled fondant
black edible marker
light corn syrup
*Find fondant in the baking aisle of the craft store. Find the cutters there, too. The leaf will likely be the smallest in a set of cutters (you can also make these cookies with the larger cutters). For coloring, I used Americolor soft gel pastes (Sky Blue for the background, Red, Orange, Electric Pink and Electric Green for the birds) and a black Americolor Gourmet Writer. Find tips on finding cookie decorating supplies HERE.
step one: prepare your cookies
Bake cookies as directed by recipe using the circle cutter (or any desired shape). Let cool completely. Add a drop of coloring, if desired, to the poured sugar icing and use to coat cookies (see above).
step two: prepare your fondant
Take about an egg size chunk of fondant (or less, depending on how many cookies you have) and tint a piece for each color you need by adding drops of food coloring and kneading very well. Start with one drop and add more as desired. If fondant gets too sticky from overhandling, simply let sit uncovered at room temperature for about 15 minutes until easily pliable.
step three: prepare your birdie pieces
Roll out fondant between two pieces of wax paper or on a surface dusted with confectioner’s sugar. For each bird, cut out a leaf shape in desired color. With a sharp knife, cut out a small triangle for a beak (I used orange for all the beaks, though I think yellow might look better. I just happened to already have orange fondant.)
step four: assemble your cookies
Dab corn syrup on the back of the birdie pieces to adhere to the cookie (you might want to arrange the beak and birdie shape first to see where they will go). With the marker, draw a dot for an eye and two upside down “Y”s for legs.
Catherine Hansen Peart says
I love these. Do you have any idea where to get natural colourants instead of the artificial ones?
Chic Cookies says
I've never tried them or ordered them myself, so can't speak for the companies, but they have them at NaturesFlavors.com or indiatree.com. (Not sure if they ship internationally, assuming from the "u" in colourants you're not in the US, but worth checking out, or they may have other resources) I also posted on a site that talked about how to make your own on my column: https://ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com/diy-icing-colors-from-fruit-and-veggies/2009/06/08/hope that helps!!
bridget {bake at 350} says
Those look really cool! I always love your tutorials…your graphics make me smile every time! 🙂
Sue Sparks says
Absolutely LOVE these colors together!
GroverFamily says
thanks for sharing! i havent ever tried poured sugar icing.
Cady says
As far as not wasting as much, I know a gal that does the poured sugar icing, but pipes a border with royal icing along the edge of the cookie. That way the poured icing stays within the boundary and you don't waste so much!
cookies and cups says
very cute! I know what you mean about wasting, though…that's why I keep graham crackers and hungry kids ready…that icing is yummm on graham crackers!
Party Box Design says
OMG beyond cute! I am so thankful for recently finding your blog! I LOVE IT!
Sarah-Lyn says
Wow these are fantastic! And so cute … thanks for the tutorial!:)SLibakecupcakes.com
Jenn's Crafty World says
I love the colors! I have never tried poured icing before and this project definitely makes me want to try it. Thanks!jenn
Anonymous says
In order to not waste the icing, try this method: Line a sheet pan/cookie tray with 2-3 layers of plastic wrap, making sure there are no gaps. Place a wire rack in the tray, and use this as the base to pour the icing over the cookies. When it starts to fill up, move the rack and fold the plastic wrap in toward the center making a purse shape. Cut/punch a hole in the bottom and squeeze the icing back into the bowl. Repeat. It's how we re-use ganache/ patisserie fondant etc. in bake shops.
Chic Cookies says
Thanks everyone! That's how I flood icing, too, Cady. I'll have to try it with the poured sugar recipe instead! (much quicker to make). Thanks anonymous! I'll definitely try that. I thought about reusing the drippings under the rack, but didn't think about plastic wrap. Thanks!
Angela Brian says
i think your blog is an abosolute gem. i get so excited when you post something new!this is such a fun idea, i can't wait to try it out!THANKS FOR THE POST!
Amanda says
GREAT tips!! Those cookies are amazingly beautiful… and that is my favorite recipe for all my sugar cookies that I ice!!Love the color too!Blessings-Amanda
Susie says
This type of icing is on my list to try. The color is amazing! Does it dry hard like royal? It is so humid here I am afraid it would be tacky for days. Also, I have bought natural color from Dancing Deer, it has been many years, not sure if they still sell it. Great blog, I'll be back!
Chic Cookies says
aw, thank you! Susie, it does dry well enough to handle, but I don't feel like it's as super-dry as royal icing…
natalie says
such cute cookies! they look great!
ZUHAL says
Hi.I'm Zuhal from Ankara.My blog is zuzu kurabiyeleri.
Natalie... says
Oh wow these are great, i love the idea of poured icing, it makes decorating them so smooth and pretty!
M. says
really cuuuute!!!!