Tidbits

How to Decorate Unicorn Birthday Cookies

Posted by Anne Yorks on Tuesday, April 2, 2019

You know it's going to happen. You're going to get an opportunity to make adorable Unicorn Party cookies for a precious little girl's birthday. Here's everything you need to know to make that little girl's eyes sparkle!

Check out the in-depth YouTube video tutorial and then see below for hints and tips to recreate this cookie set. This video features SEVEN cookies…and some of them are so quick and easy! Here’s what you’ll see: Unicorn Head, Cute Unicorn, Rainbow, Cake Slice, Present, Party Hat with Pom Pom, and Cupcake.

Although these cookies are pretty straight forward, I provide templates for the Unicorn Head, Cute Unicorn, Cake Slice, and Cupcake below. These are helpful in recreating these cookies!

PREPPING THE COOKIES and YIELD:

COOKIE YIELD: For a single batch of dough I made 21 of these cookies, 3 of each design. I should note that I roll my cookies to 1/4" thick using the Dough EZ Rolling Mat System. The thickness of your cookies will impact your yield.

COOKIE RECIPE: For a cookie recipe and rolling and baking video CLICK HERE - this recipe can be doubled in a KitchenAid Mixer. 

 

DECORATING TIPS: 

TEMPLATES: In the video you might have noticed that I traced guidelines on the unicorn and cute unicorn. This took the guesswork out of piping those areas and made my cookies look more consistent. 

 

You can trace guides or even use a projector. Download the zip file for all four of the FREE templates for these cookies - CLICK HERE

CUTTERS (click on the cutter title to view in shop): This set features the Unicorn Head, Cute Unicorn, Rainbow, Cake Slice, Cupcake, Party Hat with Pom Pom, and Gift Box

 

PROJECT KIT:

They are also available as a set with the stencils in the 'Unicorn Party Cookie Decorating Kit'.

There are so many FUN goodies in this BOX! This kit includes: SEVEN cutters (Unicorn Head, Cute Unicorn, Rainbow, Cake Slice, Cupcake, Present,  and Gift Box), Stars Stencil, FOUR Speciality Icing Tips (Tip #67, Tip #44, Tip #13, Tip #129), a Boo Boo Stick, and 10 Tipless Bags (5 10" and 5 13")!

This kit is $24.99. Here's another view of the contents of the kit:

 

STENCILS and AIRBRUSH: 

This set features the Stars Stencil.

I used the Cookie Countess Airbrush System and Chefmaster Gold to add the stars to the party hat. 

SPECIALITY TIPS: 

I love the texture of this set, created by exploring with different tip sizes. I used Star Tip #13 for the ruffle at the bottom of the party hat - 

The cute drop flower on the cake slice is created with tip #129. The pink bow on the gift box is created with tip #67. And the wide yellow ribbons is created with tip #44. 

ADDING THE SPARKLE:

This is totally optional. The rainbow will look cute without sprinkles. But I decided to add sprinkles to the clouds on the rainbow. I did two different versions and love them both. On the first cloud, I used the stars from the Unicorn Sprinkle Mix. One the second cloud, I used a sprinkle mix. Quick, fun, and yummy.

Check out all our sprinkle sets and mixes - click here! 

PREPPING THE ROYAL ICING:

ICING PREP: For a single batch of dough, I typically use a single batch of icing. Since I'm using a KitchenAid mixer, I made a double batch of icing and split it in half (reserving half for another project). I use approximately 8 oz of white icing, 4 oz of pastel fuchsia, 1 oz of stiff dark fuchsia (drop flowers) 4 oz of pastel teal,  3 oz of pastel golden yellow, and 1 oz of black icing. A total of 21 oz of icing. I don't measure exactly...I estimate. For a more detailed look at icing planning, CLICK HERE to read this helpful blog post.

ROYAL ICING RECIPE: For a royal icing recipe and video CLICK HERE - this recipe can be doubled in a KitchenAid Mixer.

ICING COLORS: On this project I used ChefMaster food gels: Bright White, Super Black, Fuchsia for both the light and dark pinks (a very small dot for the light pink and a larger dot for the darker pink), Golden Yellow and Teal. Since i'm using pastels, I add only a drop of food gel to keep those colors light. CLICK HERE to check out all the food gel options in our shop.

 

PLANNING YOUR PROJECT TIMELINE:

(I like to break up the decorating process as follows. It fits better in my life than tackling everything in one day. Times based on a single batch of cookies, increase as needed):

Day 1 PREP COOKIES AND ICING: Mix Dough (30 mins), Chill Dough (2 hours inactive time), Roll and Bake (1 hour), Mix Royal Icing and Prep Icing Colors (1 hour)

** Make Drop Flowers on Day 1 (15 minutes). After you make your icing, make the drop flowers so they can dry overnight. Use stiff icing and tip #129 to make these cute swirled flowers (see the video).

Day 2 DECORATE: Outline and Flood Cookies (1-2 hours), Allow to dry in front of fan before adding details (1 hour for standard cookies, but allow 6 hours of dry time on the cookie stenciled with royal icing), Piping details and stenciling (1-2 hours)

**ALLOW COOKIES TO FULLY DRY 18-24 BEFORE PACKING. STORE IN A COOL OVEN OVER NIGHT.**

Day 3 PACKING COOKIES: For tips on packing cookies, CLICK HERE to check out this helpful blog post with links to my favorite packing and shipping materials.

 

PACKAGING AND BOXING YOUR COOKIES:

I just got home from CookieCon and scored some fun box samples from BRP Box Shop. Check out these new boxes. The white box is 12" x 5" x 1 1/2" (love this long box for a 3-cookie set). . The Blue box is 9 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/4".  And the Pink Box is 6" x 6" x 2 1/2" (cookies are stacked in this box).

If you're looking to pack a dozen, try the 14" white window box!

 

 

DECORATING TOOLS:

 

I want to see what you make! So be sure to tag @Flourboxbakery on Instagram and Facebook and use #happylovenote so I can see what you create!

Happy Decorating!

Anne