Buttercream Sugar Cookies
- Sarah Roberts
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
Buttercream Cookie Decorating: A Beginner's Guide
Hey y’all! I'm so excited to be back in the kitchen today, and I’m sharing something new—buttercream cookies! If you’ve been following my usual royal icing cookie decorating tutorials, you might be in for a little surprise. Today, we're stepping into the world of buttercream, and I’m going to take you through it step-by-step, complete with some tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.
Why Buttercream Cookies?
Many of you have asked about the texture of royal icing and what it tastes like when it’s done. Well, royal icing is known for its crunchy texture, almost like a sweet tart, but if that’s not your thing, buttercream might just be the answer. Buttercream is soft, smooth, and stays pillowy, unlike royal icing, which hardens completely.
For those of you who have worked with cakes or cupcakes, buttercream will be a familiar medium. It’s rich, creamy, and stays soft even after it sets, which makes it ideal for cookies if you prefer that velvety, softer texture.
The Inspiration Behind the Buttercream Cookies
Now, here's a little backstory. I was making cookies for a homeschool co-op field trip (yes, I homeschool my boys—more on that later!), and I ran out of powdered sugar! In a panic, I found a recipe for old-fashioned icing that uses regular granulated sugar. This got me curious about buttercream, and once I tried it, I was hooked! It was so much fun decorating with it, and the flavor? Amazing! That’s when I decided to try buttercream cookie decorating on video.
The Perfect Buttercream Recipe
For today’s project, I’m using the Preppy Kitchen Buttercream recipe. It’s smooth, silky, and just perfect for piping beautiful designs. A little note: I initially had a mishap with the butter-to-sugar ratio (oops!), but once I got it right, I loved how it turned out.
Decorating for a Special Occasion
I’m also making these cookies for a special person—my sweet granny, who’s turning 101 this year! As I decorate, I’m thinking of her love for flowers and springtime, so I decided to incorporate red floral designs. These cookies will be a little birthday treat for her, and I’m hoping she’ll love them.
How to Get Started with Buttercream Cookies
To make these cookies, we start with my sugar cookie recipe. I used fresh eggs from our chickens for that extra homemade touch—yes, we now have chickens, and the boys love learning about chickens and their life cycles!
Tips for Buttercream Cookie Decorating
Here are some tips as you dive into your own buttercream cookies:
Choose Simple Shapes – I used hearts and jars for this batch. They’re easy to decorate and make a lovely set. You can find my favorite cutters here.
Piping with Buttercream – I used tipless piping bags and a petal piping tip to create different textures. If you’re not familiar with these, don’t worry! They’re easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Coloring – I used gel food coloring (the sparkle kind from Michaels) to add a vibrant pop of color. Red, pink, and green were perfect for this springtime theme.
You can find links to all my favorite cookie decorating tools and products, mentioned above, HERE.
Overcoming Perfectionism in Decorating
If you’re like me, you might be your own toughest critic. I wasn't completely sure about my first batch of buttercream cookies. But once I added the final touches—like flower centers and leaves—I felt much better about them. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal here! It’s all about having fun and expressing your creativity.
If you’re worried about not being “good enough” to start decorating cookies (or even to start a cookie business), I want to encourage you: We are all our own worst critics. Practice makes perfect, and the more you decorate, the more confidence you’ll build.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re interested in mastering royal icing cookie decorating techniques, check out my Cookie Classroom. This course is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to hone their skills. It’s a pay-what-you-can course, so you can join for as little as $1!
In the Cookie Classroom, I dive deep into various decorating techniques, including flower decorating, creating consistent icing, and how to design cookies that wow. It’s all about giving you the tools to create cookies you’re proud of.
Wrapping Up
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look into buttercream cookie decorating! It’s definitely a fun and delicious way to create cookies, and I can’t wait to experiment with more flavors and techniques in the future. Keep practicing, and most importantly, have fun with it!
Happy baking, y’all!
P.S. You can watch the full video on Buttercream Cookie Decorating below!
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