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Edible Image Christmas Cookies

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | December 6, 2016 37 Comments

Last updated on December 11th, 2016

cookies-dark-background-12-02-16What inspired me to make these elegant cookies? The sheets of edible ink images that arrived on my doorstep the other day. The images were scanned from 19th-century post cards, and then printed, with food-coloring, onto paper made from potato starch. Ready for a taste-test?

edible-wafer-cookies-cropped-3-12-05-16I purchased the printed paper from Fancy Flours, an online company that sells all kinds of cool baking paraphernalia. Check them out at www.fancyflours.com.

A brief how-to for you:

sugar-cookies-baked-12-02-16First, bake some cookies! You’ll find a printable version of my Sugar Cookie recipe at the end of this post.

outline-cookies-4-12-02-16Outline each cookie with stiff, uncolored royal icing. I used a #2 piping tip for the outline-job.

Wanna make royal icing the easy, no-raw-egg-whites-way? Get thee a tub of this stuff.

flood-cookies-let-dry-12-02-16Next, “flood” the cookies. In other words, fill-in the outlined border with with some thinned-out royal icing.

flood-cookies-paint-brush-4-12-02-16My simple flooding technique: Put a dollop of icing in the center of a cookie, and spread it out with a small, stiff-bristled paint brush. Alternatively, you can spread the icing with the back of a spoon. Let the icing dry for several hours or overnight.

edible-ink-wafers-2-12-02-16Now cut out your wafer images…

apply-corn-syrup-12-02-16And, one wafer at a time, brush the back side with light corn syrup. Be sure to spread the syrup all the way to edge of the wafer, so that corners won’t curl up. I used a small sponge-type brush for the job.

apply-decals-12-02-16Attach the wafer image to the cookie, and press it down with clean, dry fingers.

exhibit-5-12-02-16Then pipe a frame around each image with stiff royal icing and a #16 (or similar) star tip. My first frame looked a little wonky. But as with all things, practice makes perfect.

And that’s it! Let the frames firm up for several hours before serving the cookies. Or, just store them at room temperature (or in the fridge) covered with plastic wrap for 3-5 days. I don’t know if the finished cookies can be frozen — I haven’t tried.

exhibit-1-12-02-16

exhibit-2-12-02-16

exhibit-8-12-02-16

exhibit-6-12-02-16

exhibit-9-12-02-16

Are these decorated cookies worth the effort? Yeah, baby. I delivered a few of them to Brenda Johnson just now, and she showered me with kisses.

Hungry for more? Get my email updates. And don’t forget to post a comment below!

xKevin

Need a printable recipe for Sugar Cookies that will be cut out and decorated? Here goes:

Print
Sugar Cookies for Eating and Decorating

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Yield: Enough for 2 dozen 2 1/2- by 2-inch rectangular cookies

This is the ideal recipe for tender, delicious sugar cookies that will be cut-out and decorated. Since the dough is not leavened with baking powder or soda, the cookies hold their shape during baking.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room-temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon each vanilla and almond extract)
  • 3 cups flour

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a standing mixer outfitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy -- about 5 minutes. Then beat in the salt, eggs, and vanilla. At low speed, beat in the flour until blended.
  2. Working 1 large handful of dough at a time, roll the dough from 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick between sheets of parchment paper. Put the dough sections on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  3. Press out cookie shapes, place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet, and refrigerate for about 10 minutes, or while you preheat the oven.
  4. Center the oven rack; preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake until edges of cookies start to color -- 8-12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer the individual cookies to a rack for further cooling. When completely cool, decorate the cookies.
3.1
https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/edible-ink-image-cookies/
Copyright 2015 by Kevin Lee Jacobs

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Comments

  1. 1

    Ray Stokes says

    December 6, 2016 at 1:57 pm

    Those are really Nice!

  2. 2

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 6, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    Hi Ray Stokes — Why, thank you!

  3. 3

    Dolores F says

    December 6, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    Your cookies are gorgeous! I’m afraid I would make a mess of them if I tried to make them, so I will just admire yours.

  4. 4

    Kathy says

    December 6, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    Love these….I like your ruffled edge cookie more than the plain edge can you share where you got your cookie cutter please? Thank you and Merry Christmas!

  5. 5

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 6, 2016 at 3:55 pm

    Hi Kathy – I purchased the ruffled or scalloped-edge rectangular cookie cutter as a set from Amazon. Click here for details.

  6. 6

    Martha Greene says

    December 6, 2016 at 6:57 pm

    You my dear rock!

    These are just divine ~ I never saw the printed antique pictures on cookies before. I looked at the website and discovered all the options offered. I have two daughters getting married. One in 2017 & the other in 2018.
    I now know what I’ll be baking for the shower. It will make others wonder out loud how I did it. I’ll give you credit but won’t give away my source!
    Have a wonderful Holiday!!

  7. 7

    badger gardener says

    December 6, 2016 at 10:21 pm

    These look amazing and it seems to be decorating I can handle. I peeked at the site and see they have wafer paper for lots of occasions. I liked the Christmas paper the best, but don’t know if I’ll have time for it so may try a different occasion. Thanks for telling us about this technique.

  8. 8

    Kathy says

    December 7, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    Thank you Kevin. You inspired me to try these this holiday. I’ve ordered everything I need and am very excited! Thank you!

  9. 9

    Cozette says

    December 7, 2016 at 4:31 pm

    I’m so glad you posted this. I started receiving catalogs from Fancy Flours but had no idea what to do with these. I ordered some papers yesterday (couldn’t find this collection, which I really like). I like your method of applying them better than others I’ve seen. Can’t wait to start!

  10. 10

    Judy Hines says

    December 7, 2016 at 4:32 pm

    Kevin, these are astoundingly beautiful. Just gorgeous.

    Kevin, these are astoundingly beautiful!

  11. 11

    Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says

    December 8, 2016 at 9:07 am

    Unexpectedly clever, as per usual in Kevin Lee Jacobs’ kitchen.
    You slay me.

  12. 12

    Brenda Elliott says

    December 9, 2016 at 10:23 am

    These are wonderful. Unfortunately, I’d want folks to admire only…DO NOT EAT! Which, of course, spoils the whole cookie thing. Oh, well…

  13. 13

    Kathy Keating says

    December 10, 2016 at 8:30 am

    I absolutely cannot wait to make these and shall as soon as cutters and pictures arrive . perfect way to spend a few freezing Vermont days . fine gifts for friends!

  14. 14

    John says

    December 10, 2016 at 8:30 am

    Those are so beautiful, Keven. They would look great with a little hole for a ribbon to hang on the tree. Someday (when I don’t have dogs!) I will try it!

  15. 15

    Grani Frani says

    December 10, 2016 at 9:03 am

    First—Happy Birthday!!!!
    These look so elegant and beautiful. Have to get my order in so I can make these. Thank you so much for the info.
    Merry Christmas

  16. 16

    John says

    December 10, 2016 at 9:11 am

    So cool. 🙂

  17. 17

    June says

    December 10, 2016 at 9:28 am

    I love these! Have you ever tried to use the gf baking flour? I’m new to the gf program and haven’t had great success with conversions. I am definitely going to use this recipe for gifts for the neighbors.

  18. 18

    Elizabeth H says

    December 10, 2016 at 9:43 am

    Happy Birthday!
    Loving these cookies, I’m headed over to check out the edible sheets. Thank you! 🙂

  19. 19

    Patricia Panuccio says

    December 10, 2016 at 10:07 am

    Thank you

  20. 20

    Susan says

    December 10, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Thanks for the info and instructions. A few of these beauties on plate would be amazing. Great idea for future entertaining. These cookies would also make lovely place cards, hostess gifts, ornaments on a tree etc. I will be checking the fancy flours site.

  21. 21

    Chuck says

    December 10, 2016 at 11:21 am

    World Market has bottles of non-alchoholic Glogg @$7 ea., may be mixed with hot cider, etc., Yum.

  22. 22

    Peggy Herron says

    December 10, 2016 at 12:37 pm

    I mail Christmas cookies to the U.K. How thick did you make your cookies and do you think they would be good little shippers ? It can take two to three weeks for a package to get there.
    Loved your info on cleaning the cookie sheets , omg it really works.
    Many thanks, Peggy

  23. 23

    Shirley Blaschke says

    December 10, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    OMG – KEVIN, THANK YOU!!! These cookies will be baked with my granddaughter as soon as the fabulous transfers arrive!

  24. 24

    Candy says

    December 10, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    Thank you for introducing me to another wonderful website. I placed my order, right away…they have a 30% off sale. I can’t wait to get these and work with them. We make cookie platters for the neighbors, every year. These will make beautiful additions. I love sugar cookies, but am not a fan of the typical ways that they are decorated. I have not included them on my “must bake” list, for several years. I now have a way to bring them back, in a way that is much more my style. I even ordered a beautiful cake topper, to use in the same manner. Thank you!

  25. 25

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 10, 2016 at 2:02 pm

    Hi Peggy – For these decorated sugar cookies, you’ll want to roll the dough fairly thickly. I rolled mine somewhere between 1/4- to 1/2-inch. As for shipping to the UK (or anywhere else!) I’d pack the cookies between layers of a soft, flexible material, such as bubble wrap.

  26. 26

    Carol DeWald says

    December 10, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    Beautiful! I’m a 75 year old grandmother of 11, but I have left my cut out cookie making to their parents—even gave them my old cutters!

  27. 27

    Joanne in Zone 6b says

    December 10, 2016 at 11:33 pm

    The cookies are so beautiful; I’m not enough of a baker to replicate what you’ve done, but I’ve been looking for a good sugar cookie recipe, and I have complete confidence that yours will be great. Thank you!

  28. 28

    Michele says

    December 11, 2016 at 1:09 am

    Kevin how beautiful! Thank you for the hookup. I think I will give these a try! Merry Christmas and a Happy New a Year to you and the Silver Fox

  29. 29

    elaine says

    December 11, 2016 at 10:52 am

    Thanks for providing another wonderful way to decorate cookies and a wonderful source! Your’s came out beautiful~ And in case I get busy baking… a very Merry Christmas to you & yours!

  30. 30

    Trudi says

    December 11, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    OMG ! These are SO beautiful and looks like they will take all day ! I am so impressed by your devotion to making beautiful food!

  31. 31

    Liz K says

    December 11, 2016 at 6:36 pm

    You’re amazing, Kevin. These instructions alone would be worth a bundle if offered as a class–and, you give them all for free. The cookies are beautiful and so are you.

  32. 32

    Cathy in Baltimore says

    December 12, 2016 at 6:56 am

    Awesome cookies!

  33. 33

    Julie M. says

    December 24, 2016 at 9:50 am

    So beautiful! You are always there when I need you. I am about to make Christmas cookies with my kids to leave out for Santa tonight, and remembered that I wasn’t very pleased with the recipe I used last year, and behold a new sugar cookie recipe for me to try! I’ll have to order those papers for another occasion, but my 4 kids have fun decorating with icing and lots of sprinkles. Merry Christmas Kevin!

  34. 34

    Lyla says

    April 13, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    I just made these for Easter. Thanks for the pics, the idea, the sources…..mine turned out beautiful! I’d send a pic, but where? This makes me look like a pro!!!!!!! Thanks Kevin!!lyla

  35. 35

    Mary ellen says

    December 6, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    I have not seen these before. They are absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing!!

  36. 36

    jackie serba says

    December 13, 2020 at 1:47 pm

    your cookies are beautiful. I do mine with home made royal icing didn’t know u could buy it ready made. Thanks for all the cool ideas and Happy Late Birthday.

  37. 37

    Danella on the Canadian west coast says

    December 14, 2020 at 4:01 pm

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these cookies! Labour intensive for sure. SO special.

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