|
This post contains affiliate links.
A Cozy Cookie Project Straight from My Kitchen
Every winter, decorating cookies becomes a heartwarming tradition in our house. It started as something small—just my daughter and me, sitting at the table with cups of hot cocoa and a rainbow of sprinkles—but over the years, it turned into a ritual we both look forward to. Mitten cookies in particular have become a staple. They’re easy, endlessly customizable, and just so cozy to look at.
This decorating method is one I’ve used for years—especially when we’re short on time but still want to make something beautiful and festive. These cookies are great for cookie exchanges, class parties, or just for fun. And if you’re looking for the perfect dough that holds its shape, my Classic Sugar Cookie Dough for Cutout Cookies is the one I use every single time.
I’ve also shared more in How to Flood Cookies with Royal Icing and How to Package Cookies and Fudge for Gifting—both are great if you’re prepping cookies for the holidays or giving them as thoughtful homemade gifts.
Why You’ll Love Decorating Mitten Cookies This Way
- Works with royal icing or even candy melts
- Uses simple techniques even kids can do
- No fancy piping skills required
- Great for cookie exchanges and gifts
- You can make them match any color scheme
Watch how I make this recipe
Tools That Make It Easier
- Mitten Cookie Cutters – I’ve tried a few styles over the years, but any basic mitten shape works. The clean lines are perfect for decorating.
- Scribe Tool – Essential for getting that icing smooth and popping any air bubbles. Sometimes I even use a toothpick when I’m in a pinch.
- Silicone Spatula – Helps me scrape every bit of icing or dough from the bowl—no waste!
- Piping Bags – I like using thin piping bags.
- Food Coloring Gels – These give bold color without thinning the icing—perfect for clean designs.
What You’ll Need From Your Pantry
Start with already baked and cooled mitten-shaped sugar cookies. I use my Classic Sugar Cookie Dough (linked above). For decorating, gather:
- Royal Icing – I often make my own with meringue powder—that’s my preferred way. Store-bought works too, but remember the more icing you apply, the longer it will take to dry. Follow my blog to learn more about icing consistency and drying time.
- Gel Food Coloring – Think wintry: icy blues, lavender, or classic red and green.
- Sanding Sugar – Adds sparkle and texture. This part is completely optional, but I love how a sprinkle of sanding sugar gives the cuff a magical frosty effect. It’s a little extra step that makes a big difference, especially when gifting!
- White Sugar Pearls or Nonpareils – Great for mimicking stitches or adding sweater details—this part is optional, but fun for that extra decorative flair.
- Optional: Edible glitter, fondant snowflakes, or holiday sprinkles.
Before You Start: My Quick Tip
- Use 15-second consistency icing to both outline and flood—it saves time and still looks smooth.
- Only mix 2–3 icing colors at a time to keep things simple and prevent icing from drying out.
- Use muffin tins to organize sprinkles—it’s a game changer when decorating with kids.
- If you’re planning ahead, refer to How to Freeze Decorated Cookies to save time later.
Latest Video
Let’s Make It Together
- Outline and flood each mitten with a base color using 15-second royal icing. I always have a scribe tool nearby to smooth out any uneven spots.
- Once the base sets slightly, add a cuff with white icing. For a fluffy look, sprinkle sanding sugar while it’s still wet.
- Pipe simple sweater-like designs with contrasting icing: zigzags, dots, snowflakes, or little hearts.
- Decorate with sugar pearls, edible glitter, or sprinkles—this is when my daughter jumps in to add her touch.
- Let cookies dry completely—usually overnight—on a cooling rack.
Storage Tips
- For longer storage, place them in layers with parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. They keep well frozen for up to 2 months.
- Store finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
More Cookie Decorating Ideas You’ll Love
- How to Flood Cookies with Royal Icing – My step-by-step video and photo tutorial
- Easter Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing – Bright and cheerful cookie decorating
- How to Package Cookies and Fudge for Gifting – Perfect ideas for cookie exchanges
- Chocolate Ginger Sugar Cookies – Spiced, soft, and irresistible
- Classic Sugar Cookie Dough for Cutouts – The base recipe I always rely on
- How to Cut Fudge into Smooth Perfect Pieces – A favorite holiday treat!
Mitten cookies have become part of our winter tradition, and decorating them always brings warmth to our kitchen. It is more than just baking—it’s making memories, one mitten at a time.
Easy Way to Decorate Mitten Cookies
Decorating mitten cookies with royal icing is one of my favorite winter traditions. This easy and festive cookie decorating method is perfect for beginners, fun for kids, and great for holiday gifts or cookie swaps. Use bold gel colors, sanding sugar, and a few simple techniques to create cozy winter treats that look beautiful and taste even better.
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Confectioner’s Sugar
- 3 tablespoon Meringue Powder or 2 egg whites
- 6 tablespoon Warm Water
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Food Coloring optional
- Gingerbread cookies
Instructions
- Prepare the royal icing. Mix it to a 15-second consistency using meringue powder and divide it into small bowls. Add gel food coloring to match your holiday palette.
- If you made your sugar or gingerbread cookies ahead of time, take them out of the freezer and let them come to room temperature before decorating.
- Lay all your cookies in a single layer on the table or workspace. This keeps everything organized and helps the icing process go smoothly.
- Outline and flood each mitten cookie with your base icing color. Use a scribe tool to even out the icing and pop any air bubbles for a smooth finish.
- Once the base layer sets slightly, pipe the mitten cuffs with white icing. While still wet, add sanding sugar to give a fluffy, sparkly effect.Decorate each mitten with simple sweater-inspired details like dots, zigzags, hearts, or snowflakes using a contrasting icing color.For extra charm, top with sugar pearls, edible glitter, or festive sprinkles. Let the cookies dry completely on a cooling rack—this usually takes overnight.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
From My Kitchen to Yours
Christmas food gift ideas
- Layered Caramel Fudge – Chocolate and Caramel in Every Bite
- Chocolate Cookies with Peppermint Chips
- No Bake Christmas Wreath Made with Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Swirled Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fudge – No Bake Treat
- How to Wrap Homemade Fudge for Christmas and Birthdays
- How to Make Eggnog Fudge (Easy Holiday No Bake Recipe)
Pin It For Later
Food Photography & Video Tips from My Studio
Here’s a peek at the tools, gear, and camera setups I use to film my recipe videos and photograph food at home. Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of different setups, and now I’m sharing what actually works for me—whether I’m filming overhead shots for YouTube or styling still photos for my blog. If you’re curious about how I create the content you see here, these posts are a great place to start.
What is in my toolbox?
Equipment to Create Food Photos, Videos, and Stock Footage I get many questions pertaining to my equipment, so here’s my complete list of things I use on a daily basis when doing shoots. It’s important to remember that this list will constantly be changing and evolving, because I think it’s important to advance my equipment...
3 ways camera setup for Tasty-style video recipes
How to make food videos with an overhead camera for YouTube and Instagram This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full discl...
Best camera for cooking videos
How to figure out the best camera for your recipe videos! Before you start selecting cameras to produce your cooking videos, take a step back, be honest with yourself, and ask: do you need to use this camera for a hobby or for business? If you want to do this just for a hobby, then...
Leave a Reply