Double Detailing!

 Spotlight: 2023 Senior Celebration Cookies

A Precise Presentation!

When decorating, numbers and letters always need to be precise. If you can achieve a level of uniformity, your cookies will transform into something even more awe-inspiring! I accepted this order a while back and didn't even think about everything that would go into it. Sometimes I convince myself that cookie projects will be a breeze and neglect to think through all the small technical details. This was one of those orders, but in the end, everything worked out for the better!

Helping Those Who Helped You!

I made these cookies for the current Seniors at the K-12 school I attended all the way through. I'm quick to accept orders like these because they hold a special place in my heart. There is something so precious about being able to give back to a place that poured so much into you throughout the years. Cookie decorating is my small way of helping the School celebrate the next class of graduating students. 

There were so many individuals at my high school that supported LJays Bakery before it was even considered a business. They had faith in my ability and encouraged me to keep progressing in my craft. I am honestly beyond thankful for influential individuals like this. Without them, who knows where I would be in the cookie world today! Maybe I would have still pursued my passion and maybe I would have left it aside. All I know is that I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend there and find delight in offering my services to them when needed.

Look below to see my Kindergarten graduation photo compared to my Senior graduation photo! (Make sure to click on the photos to make them clear!)

Only 5 and already looking scholarly!

May have taken 13 years, but at least I learned how to smile!

So How Did You Make the Cookies?!

The funny thing about these cookies is that from a finished product perspective, they look very simple. Although, when decorating, there was nothing simple about them. Let's take a walk through the step-by-step process of making maroon and gold cookies to better understand what I mean by this!

Step 1: The Maroon Layer

I cried. Complete honesty here, trying to color-match maroon for the flooding had me in tears. There is something so difficult about the color maroon in that everyone utilizes a different shade. Some favor more of a purple-looking color while others favor one that has a more red base. For example, look at the two pictures above. The maroon color of the gowns drastically changed over the course of ten-plus years. 

Shout out to my mom (You're the absolute best!) who quite literally saved me from an even larger mental breakdown. She helped me perfect a shade of maroon that I loved and that also resembled the School's colors wonderfully! Don't get easily discouraged when trying to make certain frosting colors. It is majorly trial and error. Also, there are so many helpful color-mixing recommendations online when it comes to food gels! The Internet is your friend!

*Time Stamp: Flooding four dozen of these squares took me 2.5 hours!

Lots and Lots of Squares!

Step 2: Gold Flooding, Piping, and a Little Glitter!

Gold can be just as tricky of a color to match! Thankfully, I didn't have as much trouble with the color this time around. My little secret to achieving true gold is by adding Wilton gold glitter spray to the flooding and piping. A small addition of glitter can go a long way! It adds an extra shimmer, dazzling those who cast their gaze on the cookies. 

Also, I love when unexpected details go in my favor! In this particular project, I was spraying in my gold glitter spray when something very unintentional occurred. While I was mixing the gold color, I had a fan drying the maroon top coat. The air from the fan actually picked up some of the glitter specs when I was spraying and perfectly layered it on top of the flooded maroon squares. It added just the right amount of sparkle that I never knew I needed! Not too much and not too little!

*Time Stamp: Flooding and piping prep took me 1.5 hours!

Here is what I now term the "miracle spray" because I needed a major win in this project. The glitter spray was a definite win!!

Step 3: Piping BEFORE the piping!

What do I mean by piping before piping? Let me show you real quick!

As you can see above, before I even begin to flood my numbers in, I take the time to pipe them with a thicker royal icing consistency. (I am referring to the cookies on the back of the tray) This ensures an elevated level of precision and provides me with a guideline for when I go to flood. Starting with piping also creates a boundary line for flooding. Instead of it spreading out all over the place, the flooding becomes restricted in the space it can occupy. More control and less chaos! 

*Time Stamp: Initial Piping for four dozen cookies took me 4 hours!

Step 4: Fill in with Flooding!

Once you reach step 4, it is a downhill journey! The flooding is a lot quicker than the piping portion because the consistency is much more wet and fluid. Things move fast...sometimes too fast! One thing to pay careful attention to is making sure your flooding fully covers your piping lines. While it is totally fine to have them showing because they are the same color, the cookies look extra refined without them being present. Covering the piping creates an illusion of sorts! The average person would not have known that I pre-piped all of those numbers because I carefully covered my tracks. 

Is covering your tracks tedious? Absolutely! Is it worth it? I'd say so!

*Time Stamp: Flooding in the numbers took me 2.5 hours!

Step 5: Pictures!!!!

When all the cookies have had the opportunity to dry, it is time to take Instagram-worthy photos. I try to have them all arranged and ready for photos when it is still light outside. Natural light is crucial to make your treats look even more impressive! Let's look at the finished product!

*Time Stamp: Pictures took me 30 minutes!

My hand hurts looking at this!

Step 6: Rest and Recovery!

I believe that the most important thing to do after every cookie project is to take ample rest and allow time for recovery. With piping that takes multiple hours, it is essential you give your hands a break! If not, carpal tunnel might be present in the future. Here is a short list of measures I take in and out of the cookie process when it comes to self-care!

• Compression sleeve: My Grandma is a flight attendant and receives a lot of compression sleeves for free. She gifted some to me for Christmas and they have been total game-changers! They keep my wrist in place and offer the support I need while I flood and pipe my cookies!

• Ice/Heat Gloves: Every time I finish a project, I try and remember to throw on my "life-saving" gloves for at least thirty minutes. I prefer to do heat therapy with them, but you can also throw them in the freezer! Do what works for you! Without my hands, I think my cookie business would fail. Take the time to take care of yourself!! 

They look like this!!

• Starbucks: Starbucks is the best form of recovery in my opinion! Something about the whole experience can instantly alter my mood in the best way possible. The people, atmosphere, and drinks are truly divine. 

Make friends with your baristas to receive little notes like these :)

All out of Time!

6 somewhat simple steps and the cookie project is finally complete! You now probably understand that while a design can look minimal, there are actually a lot of different parts involved. In this project alone, the time stamp totals eleven hours! Important note: the time stamp excludes the time making the dough, rolling it out, chilling, baking, cleanup, sealing, and packaging. If there is one thing I want everyone to know about my cookie business, is that I am charging more for my time than for my materials. 

Cookie decorating is a lot more time-consuming than one may think! The next time you order from me, make sure to provide me ample time in advance of the date you need them. I can't throw cookies together overnight. It just doesn't work that way! 

I hope you enjoyed this step-by-step walkthrough and I'll talk to you all very soon!!