A few of my favourite things- Cookie Decorating Edition

There are so many brands out there to choose from so purchasing tipless bags can be overwhelming!! I have tried a few, I acutally use two different brands, one for flooding and one for fine lines.  Sounds excessive right?  Well maybe it is, but I like what I like!

For flooding I like a sturdy bag, I tend to squeeze pretty hard, especially when I am in a hurry and I have had the unpleasant experience of a popped bag more times than I would like to admit.  For flooding my go too tipless bag is by Cookie Couture.  They are great, I have even used them for florals if I am not going to have a full bag of icing (floral consistency is so stiff, so using a tipless bag is sometimes not ideal due to the amount of pressure put on the bag while piping) These bags can also be used for fine lines and outlining, but I do find that due to the solid structure of the bag, it is sometimes more difficult to get a nice round line, so I do use a different brand for fine lines and details which I have outlined below.  

Here are the links to the Cookie Couture bags!

Cookie Couture Piping Bags
The Cookiery-Cookie Couture Bags
(you can by these direct or you can also purchase them at The Cookiery which I have linked as well)

There are sooooo many options out there for scribes, lots are made with decorative silicone beads and fun handles.  I do love the look of these but my top choice is pretty boring aesthetically.  My absolute favourite scribe is made by PME.  It is like a needle with a handle, it is so fine, and it is great for wet work and poking out the teeniest of imperfections.  Other scribes I find are much thicker and bulkier, which is fine, they will all do the trick, but this one is hands down my favourite and I highly recommend it. Here are the links for this scribe:

PME Needle Tool-Walmat Canada

PME Needle Tool-Amazon USA

Amazon Canada only had the thick one when I wrote this blog, so I have linked it through Walmart, but lots of small suppliers do carry them as wll!.

As many of you are aware, not all meringue powder is created equally.  I think everyone has their fave, but I am often asked what my go too is.  I have tried several, including Wilton, which for some time was my brand of choice, but now I will never ever stray from Americolor Meringue powder.  I LOVE IT!  I find it works so well for a nice smooth, matte finish. I also rarely have an issue with colour bleed and air bubbles.  I have been using it for about 3 years and have never looked back after making the switch!  That said, there are many wonderful brands on the market that I am sure would work just as well, but for me, this is what I will use as long as it is accessible to me.  You can purchase Americolor Meringue Powder direct from Americolor, or you can also purchase it through The Cookiery.  I have linked both below for you!

Americolor Meringue Powder

Americolor Meringue Powder- The Cookiery

I like a very fine tipped food pen, the one I use most often is actually non toxic as opposed to edible.  I use the Tweets Cookie Connection pen almost daily, it has a very fine tip which I love and I have never had it bleed.  I also find it doesn't catch on my icing as often as some of the others do.  Some edible alternatives to this would be Rainbow Dust pens and Cookie Couture also offers an edible fine tip pen.  Below I have linked the Tweets pen that I use.

Tweets Cookie Connection Pen

There are so many options out there for gel colours these days, but I am absolutley an Americolor girl.  I love these gels.  They are good quality, there is a great selection of colours, and a little really does go a long way. Also, colour bleed is quite rare with these gels.  I love them so much I based a whole colour guide around their line colours.  I am always mixing different gels to see what kind of colours I can come up with.  

Here are a few staples that I would recommend adding to your collection:

Blush
Soft Pink
Sangria
Cypress
Forest
Midnight
Ivory
Taupe
Espresso
Super Black

I do on occasion use a powder base colour. For example, when I am trying to achieve a very deep red, green, orange or black, I always reach for my Sugar Art Master Elite colours.  When using gel colours I find these are the ones that you will find bleed most often. The powder based concentrated colours by The Sugar Art very rarely, if ever, bleed when they are used properly.  I highly recommend using these for at least your reds and blacks.  You can even do wet work with these deep colours alongside very light shades even white and have clean lines with no colours seeping into each other.  The product line you are looking for is the Master Elite line.  

Please note, these colours must be activated with water, they have plenty of tutorials on their Instagram page so be sure to check that out! I have linked this line of colours below, you can buy direct from the Sugar Art, and if you do so, you can use the discount code below for 10% off!  The Cookiery does also carry this brand.

I definitely recommend purchasing the Red Rose and the Black, a couple more I often reach for is Soldier Green, Red Wood and Cerulean Blue.

Sugar Art Master Elites
Discount Code for 10% off: TheMillersWifeCustomCookes

Sugar Art Master Elites- The Cookiery

I always use perforated baking mats when baking my cookies.  I find it really helps with an even bake and also drastically reduces, if not eliminates any spread issues.  I use the ones from Chua Cookie, they are pink and perfect!  But you can also purchase perforated mats from the cookiery or from amazon!  They all work the same!  One thing to keep in mind, you may have to reduce bake time and tweak oven temp with these.  Cookies bake faster due to the air circulation so you may need to play around a bit with your method, it is a bit of a learning curve for sure.  Linked below are the mats from Chua Cookie, and from The Cookiery.  Please note, with the purchase of any class from my site, you will receive a discount code for US Residents for the Chua Cookie Mats!

Chua Cookie Mats

The Cookiery Mesh Mats

When it comes to 3D Printers I use a Creality Ender 3.  I have 2 different models, both of which are great for what I need.  If you are looking to just print cutters for personal use I think these are a great choice!  They are not overly expensive and if you are like me, and are constantly adding new designs to your collection, it is well worth the investment.  I use a basic model Ender and a self levelling model that is a bit easier to use.  The set up is a bit overwhelming for a 3D Printer, but if you can get through that part, you are golden!

Unfortunately I cannot offer links to the printers I have because the model I have is no longer available due to changing technology.  But Creality Ender 3 is what I have, you would just have to do a little research to see which model best suits your needs!

I typically use Overture PLA 1.75mm Filament which can be purchased off of Amazon as well!

If you are looking for the best cookie cutters out there, then look no further!  The Cookiery is where it's at!  They are all labelled, and they have comfortable handles and deep cutting blades to accommodate a nice thick cookie!  And coincidentally, they do carry all of my designs, I feel very luck to have had the opportunity to work with Nicole and her lovely team over the past 5 years.   That said, there are so many great cutter shops out there with beautiful designs, so shop around on this one for sure!  Hope this blog has been helpful in sourcing your cookie cutter supplies, and happy cookie-ing!!

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