We painted some heart cookies with food coloring recently, just for fun.
And you know, because we have to do all things heart related around Valentine’s Day.
Here’s how we did it…
How To Paint Heart Cookies
INGREDIENTS
- Uncooked sugar cookie dough (make or buy)
- Heart-shaped cookie cutters
- Food coloring
- cotton swabs
- parchment paper
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Roll and cut dough
First, roll out the sugar cookie dough and cut into hearts. Place the dough on a parchment-paper lined baking sheet and freeze.
Tip :: Freezing the cookies makes them easier for the kids to work with and means they won’t get smooshed out of shape during the process.
2. Mix paint
While the heart cookies freeze, prepare the “paint” by diluting the food coloring with water or milk to create the shades and tints desired.
Note :: We did this once before (painting directly on the uncooked cookies) but the colors were too dark and intense, so this time I diluted the food coloring with water (yellow and red) and milk (pink) first and think the colors worked out really well.
3. Paint cookies
Now it’s time to paint the cookies using Q-tips (cotton buds) as brushes.
I make these kids do art to get treats!
4. Bake cookies
Finally, bake the cookies according to the recipe guidelines.
After baking the cookies, the kids admired their artworks briefly, then ate them!
We’ve also painted with food coloring on glazed cookies and glazed cupcakes. It’s a very different look, but works equally well. And of course we decorate with icing and sprinkles.
I’ve been really curious about the edible “Food Writer” markers, though. Has anyone used them?
MORE VALENTINE’S DAY FOOD TO MAKE WITH KIDS
- Heart-Shaped Cherry Hand Pies
- Cranberry Oatmeal Heart Cookies
- Make Heart-Shaped Pretzels
- DIY Heart Lollipops
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28 Comments
Kirsten
January 28, 2011 at 8:29 pmMy son has used the markers with my mom (on sugar cookies). As I recall, the color is not very bright/saturated, and it obviously doesn’t go on super-smooth because of the texture of the cookies, but they do work!
Kristie
January 28, 2011 at 9:50 pmWe have used the markers before. The kids liked them pretty well. We had a really good experience making an egg yolk/food coloring wash and painting it on the cookies before baking. Then we piped icing on. The colors went on very bright using the egg yolk. Here is a link if you wanted to see…the picture is terrible because I used photo booth to take it instead of using my camera. https://sillygoofy.blogspot.com/2010/12/cookie-making-part-deux.html
[email protected] Chalk in my pocket
January 29, 2011 at 12:04 amThese are so neat! I haven’t had much luck with those markers but might give them another go now that my daughter is older. I remember the color looking really washed out when we used them last year.
Helen
January 29, 2011 at 9:20 amThe food markers are great on glazed cookies. Probably not good straight onto the cookies.
Steph at Modern Parents Messy Kids
January 29, 2011 at 11:49 amSuch a cool look, these are great.
Roopa
January 29, 2011 at 8:57 amThese look lovely! We have painted the glazed cookies as part of my daughter’s 3rd birthday party with ‘ART’ theme. She loved it a lot and the kids liked them pretty well. Here is the link …
https://puttiprapancha.blogspot.com/2010/12/painted-cookies.html
Padma
January 29, 2011 at 2:55 pmWe used the Wilton edible markers and the results were not very good..the colors were not bright and some didn’t even show. I like the idea of food colors..your cookies look nice and bright. Will try ;-)
Julie
January 29, 2011 at 4:06 pmSince I’m terrible at decorating cakes with frosting I’ve used the markers on frosting sheets to decorate birthday cakes (since my daughter has been known to request things for her cake such as the dragon from My Father’s Dragon). The frosting sheet just dissolves into the cake frosting once you lay it on the cake. The colors come out bright and true so artwork would look lovely. I think for her birthday this year I will make cupcakes and she can decorate little circles of frosting sheet for each cupcake using the markers.
Tamrah T.
January 29, 2011 at 5:16 pmThat was my experience with edible makers, too. Terrific on glazed cookie surfaces: vibrant colors and easy for the kids to “paint” their designs on. (I say, “paint” because little ones didn’t have the control to lightly “draw” fine details as I was able to do.)
MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author
January 29, 2011 at 2:00 pmCheerful, easy process (except maybe all the baking!), light hearted, enjoyable, and just plain cute! I also love the blue princess in one of your pictures. I’m so glad you are documenting your life with photos. This precious time is now a treasure that will never disappear from your mind and from that of your kids.
Katie
January 29, 2011 at 9:21 pmWhat a fun idea! I think I may do this with our preschool group next time it’s at my house. :) Thanks so much for sharing!
erin
January 30, 2011 at 1:55 amSuch a wonderful idea, we’ll definitely be doing this!! :-)
Jenniferdknick
January 30, 2011 at 6:36 pmLookin yummy!! Thanks for the great idea.
Jennifer
http://www.cooperating4boys.com
JDaniel4's Mom
January 30, 2011 at 7:13 pmThis is a great project. The cookies look wonderful.
Kristi @ Creative Connections for Kids
January 30, 2011 at 7:32 pmGreat idea, love the markers and all…but those angel wings are ADORABLE. :)
Jennifer
January 31, 2011 at 4:06 pmWe use the food markers on pancakes every Saturday morning. The kids love them. Ours are just now wearing out and we’ve had them for about 7 years. I love the idea of painting unbaked cookies. We’ll definitely be doing this before Valentine’s Day.
Jean Van't Hul
January 31, 2011 at 8:05 pmWhat brand of food markers do you use? I wonder if they are different from the ones others are saying don’t work so well unless on glazed surfaces…
Jean Van't Hul
January 31, 2011 at 8:06 pmMaia wears her angel/fairy wings all.the.time! They were a Christmas gift from her grandma and were easily her favorite gift.
Jean Van't Hul
January 31, 2011 at 8:07 pmGreat! I’ll have to give them a try!
Jean Van't Hul
January 31, 2011 at 8:08 pmHmm. A frosting sheet? I don’t even know what that is or where to buy one. Sounds fun to use though.
Jean Van't Hul
January 31, 2011 at 8:08 pmI’m loving taking the photos, too!
Jean Van't Hul
January 31, 2011 at 8:09 pmLooks great! I love the square cookies!
Jean Van't Hul
January 31, 2011 at 8:09 pmI love the egg yolk paint idea!
Katie
February 2, 2011 at 10:11 pmDo you know if this would work with pre-baked cookies?
Deb Chitwood @ Living Montessori Now
February 6, 2011 at 3:07 pmWhat a great activity before Valentine’s Day! Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos and directions. I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow
sheila
February 6, 2011 at 3:13 pmGreat idea! Great for dexterity too! I’m over from LivingMontessoris link on FB. Yummy post!
amy
February 7, 2011 at 10:01 pmwe did this last week and it was a huge hit. what a great suggestion to freeze the cutout shapes a bit so they would be easier to handle.
catering los angeles
May 7, 2011 at 7:46 amWe are always using the markers before…! The kids liked them pretty well…We had a really good experience making an egg yolk/food coloring wash and also painting it on….!