The Easy Way to Use a Kopykake Projector

April 26, 2013 | 55 Comments »

What do Kopykake projectors and Robert Downey Jr. have in common?  Nothing really, except that I kinda love them both.

Over the years I’ve made no secret of my affection for Kopykake projectors.  I mean, what’s not to like about a machine that can turn a five hour nightmare into a manageable, two hour job?

It may surprise you to know that my Kopykake and I didn’t start out on the best of terms.  When I ordered it, I expected a magic machine. Talk about a disappointing surprise! No one mentioned that it would take time and practice to learn how to effectively utilize it as a cookie decorating tool.

Long story short, I eventually learned to love the beast and we lived happily ever after.  Since then, I haven’t given our relationship much thought.  Then, a couple of weeks ago I shared template for One-Direction cookies, touching briefly on how to decorate cookies using a Kopykake. I was surprised at how well people liked the idea, so I decided it was worth a little more explanation.

Here is an in-depth look at how I approach cookie designs (like Iron Man) using my Kopykake projector.

How to decorate Iron Man cookies with a projector (or not).

Iron Man Cookies_SweetSugarBelleSometimes, I begin with an existing cutter and with the help of my Kopykake, adapt the design to fit. You can see a great example of that HERE.

In this case, however, I found a pretty straightforward image to use as a template, so I hand-cut the cookies.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle1Once the cookies were baked, I placed a copy of the template into the projector and adjusted the lens so that the image was the same size as the cookie.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle2Many people prefer to pipe the design outline-style onto the cookie before flooding, but I like to add color first.

Using 20-second icing, I quickly filled each section to quickly cover the base. Luckily, it wasn’t even necessary to allow drying time in-between steps.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle3Just a little tip, from experience, my images are often black and white (to conserve printer ink) so I keep phone nearby to help me keep track of where each color should be.

Just to be safe, I make sure the base is dry before piping the black outline.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle5Also, I don’t worry much about little boo boos like these, since most of them end up covered with piping.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle6To finish up, I place the cookie back under the projector and use piping icing and a #1.5 tip to add details.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle7Remember I mentioned not worrying about perfection?  If you look closely, each cookie is a teensie bit different, but I promise that no one will notice. Except you, of course.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle8On that note, I thought I would point out a few of my own boo boos to illustrate a point.

It’s in our nature as cookie decorators to be overly critical of our work, but in the grand scheme of things tiny imperfections aren’t really that big of a deal.

Iron Man Cookies_Sweetsugarbelle9I’ve made cookie after cookie with great results using this method.  It cuts down on cratering, mixing time and decorating time, and leaves you with a very sharp, detailed design.

Iron Man Cookies_SweetSugarBelle11If you don’t own a cookie projector, do not despair!  This method takes a bit longer, but it’s a great way to make uniform cookies without a projector.

Have you ever used your Kopykake in this way?  If not, try it sometime and let me know what you think.  If you don’t own a Kopykake, GET ONE NOW.  Try Jerry’s Artarama for the best deals.

For more helpful Kopykake tips, check out these links:

Character Cookies, Cookies, Kopykake, Popular Cookies, Tutorials
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