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My top 4 "must have" tools for cookie decorating (that aren't actually made for cookie decorating)!

6/24/2015

 
If you are new to cookie decorating, you'll need the obvious pieces of equipment: rolling pin, cookie cutters, baking sheets, decorating bags and tips, etc. Sweet Sugarbelle has put together a very thorough list here with all the basics. 
However, there are a few pieces of equipment that I HAVE to have in my kitchen. They aren't made by Wilton or some of the other cake/cookie decorating companies. They are everyday items that have made a big impact in what I do! Let me share them with you!
1. Plastic Knives: You know you got 'em- the leftover silverware from the birthday, graduation, and holiday parties from last year. So put them to use!!
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Use a plastic knife to scrape out your icing bottles. 
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Make interesting textures! Run a plastic knife through a layer of stiff royal icing to create a wood grain texture. Then use the knife's edge to define the edges of the boards. Mix it up by using different plastic knives- the teeth might be different sizes or spaced differently. Check out the pic of the knives above to see this! 'Betcha never noticed that before!
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2. Wal-Mart Premium Wrap: If you're not familiar with using plastic wrap to make an icing pod, check it out here at Karen's Cookies. It's a great technique! I've tried many different brands of plastic wrap, and I like this one the best based on the price and the amount that I use. I make cookies all the time, so I go through a ton of this stuff.
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3. Tea Strainer​: I hate tea. Hot tea, iced tea, flavored teas- can't stand any of it. I know it's weird, and people have said, "Well, you've never had MY tea". Sorry. I'm not gonna like it. So what do I do with a tea strainer that was from my bridal shower eons ago? I put powdered sugar in it and tap it over a bowl of icing that I need to thicken. The strainer breaks up any chunks of sugar and allows good control over how much sugar I add. 
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1. Paper Plates​: Ordinary paper plates. Like the ones that lovingly hold delicious funnel cakes at your local carnival or fair. They are my absolute, must-have, can't-decorate-without-it tool (that's not a traditional baking tool). I even packed a few in my luggage to take with me to CookieCon because I knew I would be decorating there. True story. Let me share their endless versatility!
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Paper plates are my everyday cookie decorating surface. If you have seen any of my tutorial pictures, you'll spy the tell-tale paper plate in the background. The plate is a great disposable Lazy Susan, since it spins smoothy on my worktable.    
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Paper plates are my sanding sugar helpers. The slight lip of the plate keeps sanding sugars from running away from me when I sprinkle them on wet icing. Bending the plate into a pour spout makes clean up easy!
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Paper plates are great for weighing my ingredients. I always weigh my flour and powdered sugar for my recipes. The paper plate makes this task easy! Then I'll bend the plate into a funnel and pour the ingredients right into my sifter.
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Paper plates are great cookie crumb collectors. To make perfectly sharps edges, I use a microplane to gently shave down excess cookie.  Use the plate to catch the cookie shavings for easy to clean up!  
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I hope that I have inspired you to use some non-traditional tools in your cookie decorating fun!
Heather McGrath link
6/24/2015 02:32:16 am

I LOVE these tips! I'm going out to get some paper plates and raiding my drawer for plastic knives RIGHT NOW! Sweet hacks are the best! :)

Amy Clough'D 9
6/25/2015 02:22:02 pm

I hope they work out for you, Heather! I agree, sweet hacks ARE the best!!

Cindy
6/24/2015 11:46:32 am

I use the 1st three but never thought about paper plates...you're a genius!

Amy Clough'D 9
6/25/2015 02:23:21 pm

Love love love the paper plates!! And you never have to worry about cleaning them!

Ana @ The Smart Baker link
6/27/2015 05:47:32 am

You’ve inspired me in so many ways! Thanks for all your wonderfully creative ideas.

Khadijah link
7/9/2015 04:14:34 pm

Excuse my french, but these tips are f*^%ing awesome!!!!! Thank you so much for posting! You are a genius!

Jane link
4/26/2016 03:33:18 am

Good post. Thank for share this


Comments are closed.
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    I'm Amy. Wife, Mom, former science teacher- and now full time cookie baker on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Pull up a chair and we'll create!  I'll bring the coffee- maybe Mike (The Cookie Widower) will make it for us.

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  • Home
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    • Fall Textures Class 2022
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    • All Things Baby!
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    • Food and Beverages (in cookie form!)
    • It's a Party!
    • Holidays >
      • Valentine's Day
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      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Winter Holidays
    • School & Graduation
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    • Sports
    • Building Our Kitchen
  • Reflections of a Cookie Widower
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  • About Me
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  • Freebies