I'm always looking for the next great cookie decorating idea to share, for ways to make hosting your own Drop In & Decorate party easier, faster, and more affordable.
At my most recent party, a Mother's Day/May Day cookie decorating afternoon, we tested some products that worked really well, and that we'll certainly be using next time.
For the icing, in addition to pastry bags, we tried squeeze bottles. Made by Wilton for decorating candy, the bottles come in a set of 18, though you can buy them in sets of 2 for $1.99 on Wilton's web site. (I purchased ours at Michael's, a chain craft store.)
The bottles are easy to wash and they're reusable, which is an advantage over the disposable clear pastry bags we've been using. The caps keep the icing from drying out. Because the bottles are translucent, you can see the icing color inside.
Many folks found the squeeze bottles easier to use; others preferred the pastry bags for the variety of sizes of tips, and greater control.
One downside is that the bottles hold less icing than the pastry bags. I'll look for bottles that are slightly taller, but not larger in diameter so they'll still be easy for hands of all sizes to grip.
My husband Ted made the stand to hold the bottles upside down, which kept air bubbles from forming. He took a piece of scrap wood, drilled one-inch holes, and made the legs out of leftover parts from our printer's ink cartridges! The bottles could rest with the nozzles facing down, high enough off the table.
My recommendation: Try squeeze bottles for your icing.
Ted your invention is sooo clever!
Lydia thanks for keeping me in the loop.
Posted by: Theresa Tally | May 19, 2008 at 10:39 PM
I am in love with that icing stand.
Posted by: Anna | October 15, 2008 at 09:54 PM
What a fantastic idea of your husbands! Could you please tell me what size bottles he made the stand for?
Mirella O'Connor
Posted by: Mirella | January 7, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Do you have the recipe for the icing you used? Did it dry fast? I'm having a bunch of 8 year old boys over to decorate cookies for their cub scout party and I've been having a hard time trying to find an easy way for them to decorate the cookies. Thanks for any tips!
Thanks!
Diana
Posted by: Diana Haigh | February 23, 2010 at 03:18 PM
Diana, the recipe is right up at the top of this page, under "Find it here".
Posted by: Lydia | February 23, 2010 at 03:22 PM
Did you use the mini or regular size squeeze bottles? I just want to make sure I buy the right one.
Posted by: Renata | January 21, 2011 at 01:54 PM
Renata, we use the 4-ounce size, which I think is called "regular". It's a good size for small hands and adult hands to manage.
Posted by: Lydia | January 21, 2011 at 01:59 PM
May I ask how you got the icing into the squeeze bottles? They seem to have a small opening.
Posted by: Lynn | March 18, 2011 at 09:16 PM
Lynn, we made a video to show you how!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufti4plK1uQ
Posted by: Lydia | March 18, 2011 at 09:20 PM
This post made me SO happy. We are having a Cookie decorating party this Christmas, and I hate cluttering up the table with bowls of icing.
Seriously, your family could make a fortune on that idea!
If I had seen this in Michael's, I would have bought it right away!
THANK YOU for the idea. :o) I shall put my Husband to work ASAP!
Posted by: Jennifer | November 15, 2011 at 09:14 AM
I love the stand for the bottles...I am pretty sure you could sell those! We are so looking forward to our cookie making weekend- pictures to follow on Monday!
Posted by: sara clarke | December 1, 2011 at 01:44 PM