How-to Make Bamboo Border Cookies

August 5, 2012 | 25 Comments »

Adding a royal icing bamboo border is one of my new favorite cookie additions.  I first tried it around Father’s Day on these Hawaiian Shirt cookies and have been looking for a reason to do it again.  Luckily summer is luau season.

To make a royal icing bamboo border you will need:

  • square or round cookies
  • white piping and flood icing
  • bamboo brown 20-second icing {I mixed warm brown, egg yolk yellow, and a touch of black to make this color}

Begin by piping a square onto the base cookie.  Leave enough space to add the size border you would like.  Sometimes squares can be a little intimidating, but don’t let them stress you.  I like to pipe a dot in each corner to use as a little guide. Just pipe from one to another.  Even if the square isn’t perfectly perfect, that’s okay, because the bamboo will cover it up.  Let these dry for quite awhile, overnight is best if you have the time.

Once the middles are dry it’s time to add the border.  Use twenty-second icing and a #2 tip to add the first pieces of bamboo.  I like to make each section about half the length of the cookie.

Let dry for about 20-30 minutes then fill in the next section.

Here’s a closer look at making each piece with the twenty second icing.  Remember, consistency is KEY.  whether you call it 10, 15, or 20 second icing, it MUST be thick enough that it doesn’t run off of the side of the cookie while piping.

First outline, then  quickly go back and fill the open space so that the icing all runs together.

Allowing the sections to dry between applications is important because that add dimension.  See what a difference each addition makes?

After the border dries, I like to add a few final details with a #1.5 tip.  This is also a GREAT way to hide craters!

Once the border is dry, you can decorate the cookies any way you like.  I added a Tiki monogram and little hibiscus flower that I made using  Wilton’s apple blossom tutorial and a #102 tip.

If you would like to make cookies like these, you may find these posts helpful:

If you like these cookies, be sure to check out these adorable tropical treats:

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Cookies, Flower Cookies, Popular Cookies, Tropical/Luau Cookies
25 Comments »