I can’t believe that the school year is just about to end. Well, for us in the Boston area, we have school for another three more weeks, but I’m pretty sure for the rest of the country, school is just about wrapping up. I always like to contribute to the class gift, and then I give the teachers something homemade. Not a big deal, but something that’s a little more personal than a gift card. So I came up with these simple Decorated Chalkboard Cookies.
These Decorated Chalkboard Cookies are some of the easiest decorated cookies I’ve ever made. I was able to decorate the entire batch of 36 cookies in one afternoon. I took a break, here and there to let the cookies dry, to pick up my kids, and to take them to activities. But it wasn’t one of those decorating marathons that lasted into the middle of the night. But believe me, I’ve been there many a times, but just not with these cookies 🙂
The key to making these Decorated Chalkboard Cookies is the black royal icing. One of the most important factors of coloring royal icing is time. The color of royal icing gets dramatically stronger as it cures. The darker the royal icing, the longer you need it to sit. So, as long as you tint your black royal icing at least 12 to 24 hours before using it, you’re going to be able to make these cookies in a snap.
The steps to making these Decorated Chalkboard Cookies is very simple. Outline and fill the cookies with black royal icing. Once the royal icing dries, using a very, very thing paint brush (we’re talking a 000 size brush) that is reserved for food applications, paint on the words “Thank You”. I did it free hand, but you can use a scribe tool to scratch out an outline. For the paint, I simply used some white gel food color.
The white color dries very quickly, and once it’s dry, it’s time for the vines, leaves, and flowers. I could have gotten a lot more detailed with the flowers, but I liked the simplicity of the cookie.
And as you can see, I personalized the cookies for each teacher. This particular set was for my daughter’s preschool teachers, and at her Montessori, the teachers go by their first names.
I know that cookie decorating isn’t for everyone, but if you have ever wanted to try, these Decorated Chalkboard Cookies are a great cookie to try. It’s such a simple, straight forward design with very elegant and pretty results.
- For the Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup, unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 tbs good quality vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- For the Royal Icing:
- 2 pounds confectioners’ sugar
- 5 tbs meringue powder
- ¾ cups water
- 1 tbs good quality vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, sift the all-purpose flour and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar.
- Once fluffy, add the egg and vanilla. Mix until just combined.
- Add the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Place the dough in a bowl, and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes. Do NOT refrigerate this dough. The cookies must be rolled out and baked right after the dough is made.
- Line sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes and bake for about 7 to 8 minutes. If you’d like soft cookies, make sure that the cookies do not brown.
- Once the cookies are baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- In the bowl of a mixer place the meringue powder and water. Whisk by hand for a few minutes until the powder is dissolved and the mixture bubbles.
- Add the vanilla and hand whisk for an additional minute.
- Place the bowl in the mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Add all the confectioners’ sugar at once.
- Mix on medium speed for about 5 to 7 minutes. You know the mixture is ready when it’s white, fluffy, and stiff enough to hold peaks.
- Black AmeriColor Food Gel
- Rose Pink Wilton Food Gel
- Avocado AmeriColor Food Gel
- White AmeriColor Food Gel
- Using 18 second royal icing in a pastry bag fitted with a #2 tip, outline and flood the cookies with black royal icing.
- Allow the cookies to dry for an hour.
- Using a thin paintbrush (used exclusively for food) and white AmeriColor gel food color, paint whatever message you would like on the cookies.
- Allow the white food color to dry for 20 minutes.
- Using 20 second icing tinted in Rose and Avocado, pipe the leaves, vines, and flowers.
- Allow to dry for about 1 hour.
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Super cute, Aida! I just baked up a bunch of cookies to practice on. I love this chalkboard look! Definitely want to try it. 🙂 Pinned!
Thanks so much, Julie! I’ve been wanting to try painting on cookies for so darn long, and I finally tried it and LOVE it. I’m already trying to figure out how/when I can paint on cookies again! I can’t wait to see how your cookies turn out. I’m sure they’ll be gorgeous 😉
Dear Aida, what perfect gift for teachers. These look so pretty. I always love baking for others. xo, Catherine
Thanks so much Catherine! I’m exactly like you – I LOVE baking for others. It’s something that’s so simple, and it brings others a bit of happiness 🙂
Awe! So sweet of you to bake for your daughter’s teacher. I bet you had so much fun baking this. This is such a nice idea to say thank you in a personal way!
Aida I love these! How perfect. Wish I’d seen them earlier this week before school got out though 😉 I’ll have to make some at the beginning of fall classes. Thanks for sharing on Weekend Bites
Thanks Adelina! Even if you don’t make these for teachers, they make some pretty nice than you cookies for anyone in your life 🙂
Quick question…how much sugar should be mixed in the royal icing? The ingredients for the royal icing does not mention sugar, but the instructions for royal icing state to add confectioners’ sugar at once.
Thank You
Hi Antonio,
Thanks so much for letting me know – I amended the recipe for the royal icing. It’s 2 pounds of confectioners’ sugar which is one bag! I hope that helps 🙂
Best,
Aida
Cutest cookies ever!!!! These would be great for any occasion really!
I can’t get over how insanely adorable these are, LOVE!!
Thanks so much, Kelly! They are some of the easiest cookies to make, but they’re still so special!