How to Decorate a Cactus Sugar Cookie

One piping bag with a star tip

Leaf Green Food Coloring

Bubblegum Pink Food Coloring

Spatulas & pint glasses to fill your piping bags

Scissors

Step 1: Bake and cool cookies before decorating. Make sure cookies are fully cooled. If they are warm, the icing will run off of them. Make royal icing. Learn how to mix different consistencies of royal icing here>>



Prepare the following icing colors:

Piping Consistency:
Green
Pink

Flood Consistency:
Green

Step 2: Outline the middle of the cactus with green piping consistency icing.



Step 3: Outline the two arms of the cactus with green piping consistency icing. By outlining the three areas separately, you will achieve more definition between the cactus arms and trunk.



Step 4: Fill the center of the cactus with green piping consistency icing. Use a scribe tool or toothpick to move the icing around, ensuring full coverage and getting rid of any air bubbles.

Wait for the flood to dry 30-60 minutes, or until it is starting to crust over.



Step 5: Fill the one arm of the cactus with green flood consistency icing. Use a scribe tool or toothpick to move the icing around, ensuring full coverage and getting rid of any air bubbles.



Step 6: Fill the other arm of the cactus with green flood consistency icing. Use a scribe tool or toothpick to move the icing around, ensuring full coverage and getting rid of any air bubbles.



Step 7: Now, pipe two vertical lines on the main part of the cactus using green piping consistency icing. These will be the cactus spines. The base icing must be dry before piping these lines on in order to achieve definition.



Step 8: Outline the shape and pipe one line on one arm of the cactus using piping consistency green icing, following the contours of the shape. Again, your base flood must be dry before doing this step to achieve definition.



Step 9: Outline the shape and pipe one line on the other arm of the cactus using piping consistency green icing, following the contours as shown. A dry base equals greater definition between your flood and your piping consistency detail.



Step 10: Add details! You can sprinkle some granulated sugar on the still-wet piping consistency spines add texture, and/or pipe a small flower using pink piping consistency icing and a piping bag with a star tip.



These sharp-looking cookies will prickle your guests' fancy as they browse the dessert table. This shape is so versatile-it's wonderful for a southwest camping theme, houseplant theme, or just for someone who loves cacti. We love a shape that doesn't need much zhuzhing to make it pop.





Cookies decorated by Julia Perugini of @juliascookiesaz