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Gussying Up Glazed Cookies

With the right techniques, decorating cookies with ­colored glazes in different patterns is an easy way to create professional-looking results.

THREE TECHNIQUES TO GUSSY UP GLAZED COOKIES

  • DRAGGING: By applying dots of a contrasting ­colored glaze on top of another glaze and drag­ging a toothpick or thin skewer carefully through the center, you can create a variety of patterns and designs.
  • EMBELLISHING: Place decorations in the glaze while it is still soft; once the glaze dries, it will act like glue. In addition to the usual decorating options, consider cinnamon candies, jelly beans, crushed peppermint candies, gum drops, and chocolate morsels.
  • SUGARING: Once a glaze has been applied to a cookie, sprinkle it with colored sugar. For the most even distribution, hold your hand about 12 inches above the work surface. Excess sugar can be brushed or gently shaken off when the glaze is dry.

THREE WAYS TO GLAZE

  • SPREAD: For a simple, smooth coat, drizzle a little glaze in the center of the cookie and then spread it out in an even layer using the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula.
  • PIPE: To apply more intricate detail work, such as dots or lines, pipe the glaze directly onto the cookie. Fill a homemade parchment piping bag or a small pastry bag fitted with a small 1/16-inch round tip with glaze.
  • PAINT: Use a small paintbrush to apply different colored glazes to a cookie without overlapping or to fill in an outline.

THE "SPREAD" TECHNIQUE

THE "PIPE" TECHNIQUE

THE "PAINT" TECHNIQUE

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