By: Lainey Font 

     Now that the holiday season is in full swing, decorating cookies is one of the simplest and sweetest ways to get into the holiday spirit. In kitchens everywhere, families and friends gather to decorate simple shapes into creative pieces of art. What starts with flour, sugar, butter, and icing often becomes a moment to connect and create tradition with family. 

     There are many pathways for decorating cookies. From basic trees to detailed ornaments, holiday cookie decorating is an endless way to express spirit. The Squire asked senior, Olivia Wallace, what cookie decorating reminds her of, and she commented, “It almost starts off the Christmas season and brings people joy.” With baking and decorating, it is important to know that perfection is not the only way to succeed, finding joy and memories along the way is the real success.  

     For beginners, decorating can seem overwhelming, but it can be super simple. A simple online sugar cookie and frosting recipe is an easy way to get started. Olivia also shared a tip for new decorators, “…take your time and don’t be afraid to scrape the icing off and start over if you don’t like it.” Over time, designs will get neater and better; it’s all about figuring out how you like to do it. With numerous techniques to pick from, the possibilities are endless.  

     A popular way to decorate cookies is outlining a border and filling the inside with a thin layer of royal icing. This technique called “flooding” creates a clean finish. Two-layer detailing can include stripes, dots, or writing with thicker icing and is very popular for the holiday season. Another way to add a special touch to your cookie is using sprinkles or different piping tips for varied texture. 

     Another factor in decorating is the frosting type used. There are many different frostings that range in their pros and cons. The most popular types include buttercream, glaze, royal icing, and cream cheese. Buttercream is the most common and is very versatile and fluffy and can be made with just four ingredients. Glaze is a quick gloss that is easy for beginners but isn’t used for detailed work. Likely the best option for clean decorating is royal icing, but it is more technical to make. Lastly, cream cheese frosting is similar to buttercream, but tangier with a tough outer finish. Wallace added, “I think if you know how to do it and can get the right consistency, royal icing is the best because you can get the most intricate designs.” 

     In most cases it isn’t about the decoration and product itself. The process is what makes cookie decorating an enduring tradition. Everyone in a family gets to add their own touch while spending time with family and friends. Beyond the creativity aspect, this tradition brings people together at the time of the year when connection means the most. 

     As the holidays continue, the tradition of cookie decorating is certainly here to stay and remind families that a simple activity can bring people closer than they expect. So, this holiday season, consider trying decorating cookies because the memories last much longer than the cookie itself.