Lightbulb Cookies

Dec 20

Painted Sugar Cookies

I am excited to share with my love for using edible paint and hope that you grow to enjoy it too. Not only are these painted cookies fun to create but they are stunning when served at holiday party or any event throughout the year.

Before you begin, first bake and frost sugar cookies by either using my recipe (see below), use your own favorite recipe or even purchase pre-made cookies from a local baker. Once you have your cookies prepared then follow along here for step-by-step instructions on how to paint your own lightbulb cookies this holiday season.

Holiday Cookie Painting Booklet now available for download! Visit our shop to purchase a digital download with instructions on how to paint a selection of holiday themed painted cookies.

Sugar Cookie Recipe (makes 24 cookies)

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder

Mix together the first 5 ingredients until smooth. Slowly incorporate flour and baking powder. Roll dough and use cookie cutters to shape. Place shapes on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 6-8min. Remove from the oven before the edges brown. Cool completely before transferring cookies off of the cookie sheet.

Royal Icing (fills 18in piping bag)

4 cups confectioners sugar
5 tablespoons warm water (plus more as needed)
3 tablespoons meringue powder
2 teaspoons extract (either vanilla or almond)
18in piping bag

Beat all ingredients together until icing forms peaks and peaks disappear after counting to 5. Add more water one tablespoon at a time until the right texture is achieved. Place icing into an 18in piping bag. Pipe a circle outlining the edges of the cooking and then flood the inside with icing.

Edible Painting Supplies

Now the fun part! To make edible paint you will need a paint palette or a large serving platter to mix gel food coloring into an edible color palette. Simply squeeze one drop of each gel color into your dish of choice. Then add extract or water to dilute and stir. Mix colors to achieve the shades you are looking for. To paint, use a small paint brushes (reserved for cooking only) to apply the edible paint onto the cookie. Make sure to not overdo the application or your cookie will become too wet and melt the frosting.

Step by Step

Pipe white icing onto sugar cookie and let set for one hour and up to one day.
Use edible paint to fill in cookies with color leaving some white highlights so that the bulb looks round.
Apply thin brush strokes to create lines for bulb base using grey gel color.
Use black marker to outline fine details.

Colors used: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Black.