Simplifying Multi-colored Cookie Designs
As a general rule I usually try to stay away from cookies that require ten million colors, but sometimes they’re unavoidable. When cookies like this happen to you these tips can make life a little bit easier.
Before decorating:
- Make a list of the colors you need
- Plan the decorating process to re-use and mix as many colors as you possibly can
- Consider cutting out any unnecessary characters or make a few “showcase” cookies and limit any additional cookies to simpler designs
- Try to repurpose cutters to keep hand-cutting to a minimum
- Simplify the color scheme…for example, if there are eight shades of red in a particular theme use one and call it good
- For small details use food color markers or paint them on
- Use an airbrush for background colors rather than mixing a new shade
- Use artistic license…who says the cookies have to match perfectly to perfectly match {a great example of this are these Toy Story cookies via Cookies with Character}
While mixing/decorating:
- Use smaller bags/bottles to reduce waste
- Outline everything in black
- Use the “one bowl” method
- Make colors from leftover icing
This is the aftermath of my date with Jake and his friends. Most of these colors will soon move on to their next life as another color in another set of cookies. If all else fails don’t forget you can mix everything together to create a nice base for black icing.
For more tips on simplifying the decorating process, be sure to check out these posts:
- The Easy Way to Use a Kopykake Projector
- Making Decorating Easier With Color
- Sketch Your Cookies via Lila Loa
- Character Cookies Simplified
I’d like to extend a special thanks to Life’s a Batch for graciously sharing her Jake and the Neverland Pirates designs along with Sam of Flour de Lis, Vicki of Sweet Tweets and Anita of Sweet Hope Cookies for all your help. I don’t know what I would do without you girls!
Great post, Callye! For me, the fun part of making cookies is definitely the decorating stage. It just sucks it’s bookended with the sucky tasks of mixing colorings beforehand and doing the dishes after. Your tips are great reminders on simplifying the not-so-fun parts.
Um…these are awesome and I’m NOT going to show them to my daughter because then she’ll want me to make some for her and I can’t do that. :-). Great tips, btw.
This was so useful, thank you!! Quick question – how long can you keep left-over icing for? …
I also make list … in 2 steps..first I write all the colors I think of using then I re-think the colors and write a shorter list.
I try to mix all the colors using the same bowl, if different colors are used I just rinse everything as I go, that kind of makes me feel better ..not having 20 different bowls in the sink.
Great post Callye!
Those cookies made me squeal but then I instantly started to have an anxiety attack when I saw all the bags & bottles! If someone would mix them all for me, I’d gladly clean all the bags & bottles! I do ridiculous things like go to add more red and accidentally add black. Yeah, I had a lot of brown that day.
Thanks for all your guidance. You make things so much easier for me!
Thanks for sharing, amazing as always ! And what did you use as cookie cutters ?
I hand cut this set. I was in a rush 🙂
Love these Callye. Did you hand cut these or think outside the box with your cookie cutters?
These were handcut 🙂
A-MA-ZING!!!
These are some really great tips! I love the one about the “showcase cookies” and filler cookies! Makes perfect sense! This is a really great set and they all look awesome! Love the 5’s too!
I see that you make character cookies such as angry birds and other cute characters. Do copyright laws prohibit the making/selling of these creations? I am curious because I had a friend ask if I could make some angry birds cookies for a birthday party. I welcome any information you have.
It is illegal. I would just give copyrighted cookies as a gift to your friend.
These are awesome tips! I am sure it will help us all when we get that request for the ten million color cookie design. TFS
Love the “outline everything in black” tip!
Great tips!
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Hi
I notice that in those pictures your flood icing has separated out, mine does this too. What’s the best way to remix this together without have to empty the bottle, or am I just trying to over complicate things?
I stick the handle of a wooden spoon in there and stir away.
Please teach the rest of these internet hognioals how to write and research!
I love these cookies! My hubby works for Disney and he has challenged me to attempt these so he can show them off at work. I’ll give jake a try but I’d absolutely love some sophia the first cookies – I won’t brave them without you. Disney is our lives, we have employee passes to get people in free so people are always asking us to take them. I’m generally tired of Disney but anything you cookiefy I love.
PS. never too tired of Disney for you, if you ever make it out to California 😉
Christina! Tired of Disney? Never!! I don’t have an annual pass but did for several years until the price shot through the roof. I go every year for my birthday and will continue that tradition until my friends have to carry my urn of ashes into Tomorrowland and dump them throughout Space Mountain.
You are like a scientist – a cookie scientist! 🙂
Where do ou buy the squeeze bottles that your couplers and tips fit on?
Hi. Do you do all your cookies using the squeeze bottles? Is it better or easier than the decorating bags? Thanks.
It’s personal preference. I use both, but you can definitely do one or the other if you like!
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