Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would b Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would be fun for Valentine's Day dinner with your kids. 

In full transparency, I wanted to make quesadilla uncrustables, but bought the wrong kind of tortilla. If you want to make those definitely get flour tortillas not corn. 

These are easy to make though, just use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut your tortillas, then fill and grill on the stove! 

#easymealsforbusypeople #easyrecipesformoms #valentinesideas #valentinesdinner #recipereel #galentinesbrunch
Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in your closet! Use a magazine! Roll it up and stick it inside for your boots to stand tall! 

After organizing all weekend, I didn't want to purchase ANYTHING else to organize. I wanted something cheap that I already had lying around.

I like the pool noodle hack but did not have time to go acquire a pool noodle in January.

Try the magazine hack and let me know how you like it? What's your favorite organizational hack?

#organizationhacks #closetmakeover #homehacks #closethacks #widecalfboots #organizationideas #homeorganizationtips
A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺 A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺

As a boy mom, I have to work a little harder for matching ensembles, but this little floral wrap dress and button down for spring are just too cute! 

Linking our outfits here: https://liketk.it/40B4p

#ltkfamily #shopltk #ltkunder50 #boymomclub #familymatchingoutfits #familymatching #ltkkids #boyclothes #oldnavybaby #oldnavykids #oldnavystyle #floralsforspring
I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holiday I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holidays and loved it so much I bought one for my sister. The rotating barrel makes getting ready so darn easy! 

Use my code HELENWAVE for 10% off!

#beachwaver #beachwaverpartner #hairstylingtutorial #hairstylingtips #hairstylereels #curlingirons #curlingiron #curltransformation #igotbeached
Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blank Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blanket for your super bowl party. 

-First, roll out crescent dough and slice each of the triangles into thirds. 
-Then spread a little boursin herb and garlic cheese onto each of the triangles. 
-Add a lil smokie and roll it up. 
-Bake for 12-15 minutes on 375. 
-Serve and enjoy!

Do you add anything extra to your pigs in a blanket? 

#superbowlsnacks #superbowlsnack #superbowlappetizers #easyappetizer #easyappetizers #easyrecipeideas #easyrecipesformoms #easyrecipesathome #recipereel
You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen a peanut butter board? 

Today we are making one for Valentine's Day. 

-First take a board and spread peanut butter all over it. 
-Then top with chocolate chips, valentine's day sprinkles, bananas, nutella and strawberries. I cut mine to look like hearts. 
-Then serve with graham crackers, pretzels or fruit and enjoy! 

Are you doing anything fun for Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day? Have you tried the peanut butter board yet?

#valentinesdays #valentinesdaydessert #galentinesparty #butterboard #peanutbutterrecipe #peanutbutterdessert #recipereel #valentinesdayideas #easyrecipesformoms
Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread bowl. This is a great party snack and would be awesome at an upcoming super bowl party. 

-First, cut the top off a round loaf of bread and remove the middle. 
-Cut all of the pieces removed into cubes and set aside. 
-Then take a jalapeno queso block and cut it into cubes. Place in a pan. 
-Then add two cans of drained green chiles and a splash of milk. 
-Heat over medium high heat on the stove stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Trust me nobody wants that cleanup. 
-Then immediately pour into your bread bowl and serve hot with the cubed bread pieces. Enjoy!

Easy, and tasty! Are you having or going to a Super Bowl party this year? What's on the menu?

#partysnacks #partysnack #easyappetizers #easyappetizer #cheesedip #recipereel #superbowlsnacks #superbowlfood
My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! I'm going to be honest, I am exhausted. The emotional toll this week has taken on me has just made me a new level of tired. 

I saw something the other day and it really stuck with me. 

Nobody talks about this when you are thinking about having kids. They talk about the financial piece and the how it's going to change your life piece. But nobody talks about the risk you take by having something you love so much and all the worry that comes with it. 

It's a risk every day to have your whole heart walking around, and going to school and picking up illnesses. There is so much worry and stress that comes with it.

But on the other hand, what a privilege it is to have something you love that much. I have never loved anything the way I love this little boy.

While sometimes the emotions, intrusive thoughts, worry and stress get the best of me, I am grateful every second of every day that I get to be this perfect, beautiful tiny human's mom.

Thanks for all the sweet messages of encouragement this week. It's so nice to know I'm not alone. I'm very grateful for all of you! 

#momthoughts #dailymotherhood #workingmomstruggles #toddlermom
Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holi Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holiday that is all about pink and red. 💕 

Decided to update my little kitchen island tray this year with Valentine's Day decor! ❤️

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

#valentinesdaydecor #valentinesdayideas #valentinesdaydecorations #galentinesdaydecor #galentinesdayparty #valentinesdayparty #holidayhomedecor
  • SHOP
    • INSTAGRAM
    • AMAZON
    • GIFT GUIDES
  • ABOUT
    • FAQ
    • Disclaimer
  • BLOG
  • LET’S WORK TOGETHER
  • HOLIDAY HUB
    • Super Bowl
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • FREEBIES
    • Charcuterie Basics Course
    • 12 Cocktails of Christmas
    • Midsize Style Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact

Helen G. Bailey

  • WEAR
  • PRIMP
  • ENTERTAIN
  • DECORATE
  • DINE
  • FAMILY

Christmas, Food · November 30, 2018

Holiday Tips for Cookie Decorating

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is decorating tacky sweater cookies with my family. We’ve done it for years now. We schedule a whole day devoted just to decorating, pull out all our tools, and spend hours crafting the perfect cookies. It’s been a lot of trial and error for us over the years, and today I want to share my tips for cookie decorating!

Let’s dive right in shall we?

Tip 1: Roll your dough thin. My sister is really the master baker in our family, so she and my mom tend to get this job. I get lazy and don’t roll the dough thin enough then rudolph looks like he’s had one too many holiday fruit cakes. It get real real puffy and that’s hard to decorate. So roll it thin.

Tip 2: Use flour while you’re rolling. However much you think you need, double it. Heck, triple it. If you use flour constantly while you are rolling your dough, you will be able to get the thinness I was talking about. Also it will prevent the dough from sticking to the pin. Oh, and don’t forget to roll your dough on wax paper.

Tip 3: Use metal cookie cutters. Plastic cookie cutters don’t cut the mustard. Metal cookie cutters give you the well defined shape you are looking for and make it easy to cut the dough rather than having to jiggle it over and over to free the shape. Check out a few here, here, here, and here (these are fun because they have sweater vests and v-necks but they are a little smaller than the others.)

Tip 4: Use the proper tools. Just slathering on some icing tastes good, sure, but won’t give you the details you are looking for on your cookie. Bringing other tools to the table will help you create unique effects. Some of my favorite but simple tools are toothpicks, Ziploc bags with the corners cut off, and tweezers. I use toothpicks to create a marbling effect. Ziploc bags are a great cheap alternative (with a super easy clean-up) to piping bags. Tweezers help you with placing the details gently on your cookie.

Tip 5: Have a variety of decorations. Don’t just get red and green sprinkles. Think about the details. How would you make jingle bells, candy canes, Rudolph? One of my favorite cookies last year was the “Mele Kalikimaka” sweater cookie and it’s blue. Get lots of colors, sizes, and varieties of decor. You will probably have to walk down to the baking aisle rather than just park it in the Christmas section at Target. HOWEVER, do stop and get this pack of icing because it’s the best. The nozzle is the jam for cookie decorating. I always recommend white icing and food coloring to achieve the perfect colors.

Bonus tip 6: Have fun and don’t care about perfection. My brother’s cookies are always my favorites. While some of us are concerned with the details, he is having fun and crafting quite the concoctions. His “masterpieces” usually result with us rolling laughing, and simultaneously create my favorite memories.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

| SHOP THE POST |

In: Christmas, Food

You’ll Also Love

Holiday Gift Guide 2019: For the Home
gifts for dad, gifts for husband, gifts for father in law, gifts for brother, gifts for uncle, gifts for granpdaHoliday Gift Guide 2021 – For the Men
Low Calorie Frozen Yogurt Pie

Comments

  1. Cara Owens-Kindly Unspoken says

    November 30, 2018 at 9:21 am

    Oh my gosh you are so talented girl! These are beautiful! Admittedly I’ve never made sugar cookies but would love to try with my boys this year. These tips are super helpful so definitely saving this for later.

  2. Beth_Daily_Dog_Tag says

    November 30, 2018 at 9:57 am

    Your cookies are so cute! I love baking cookies but I’m not good at decorating them. I’ll have to try these tips, but I’m so impatient, I’m not sure I can pull it off.

  3. Ashley Stephenson says

    November 30, 2018 at 10:47 am

    These are so good! My husband and I always make cookies each year but they always look like toddlers did them!

  4. Chloe Hamard says

    November 30, 2018 at 11:07 am

    I was looking at how to make good holiday cookies so this post is actually coming in handy!

  5. Trish says

    November 30, 2018 at 12:08 pm

    Great tips! I love Christmas cookies, have metal cutters here, but have not done this the past few years. I think you have inspired me to do this soon!

  6. Kay R. says

    November 30, 2018 at 1:02 pm

    Great tips girlie and those cookies look so good!

  7. Yulissa Rosario Santiago says

    November 30, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    I love baking cookies with my daughter! She loves using loooooots of flour ? I’m concerned about perfection and her cookies are just masterpieces because she is just having fun.

  8. Amanda K says

    November 30, 2018 at 8:06 pm

    These are all great tips! My mom and I make cookies like this every year!

  9. Indya | TheSmallAdventurer says

    December 1, 2018 at 1:58 am

    Love these tips! Making and decorating cookies is one of my favourite things to do, especially this time of year. I love my cookie cutter collection, I’ve even started making my own and it’s so much fun! Also I couldn’t agree more on the “need more flour” rule ??

  10. Jiawun | Beauty Nerd By Night says

    December 1, 2018 at 9:21 am

    These are such great ideas! I had a lot of fun decorating Gingerbread Men Cookies with my Mom last year. They definitely weren’t as pretty as your cookies, but we had a lot of fun and spent time together, which is all that matters! 🙂 I’m looking forward to doing it with her again this year so these tips are really helpful! Thanks for sharing x

  11. Summer @ Coffee With Summer says

    December 1, 2018 at 11:11 am

    So, so cute! I really want to do some baking this month – these are so fun!

  12. Shana Lee says

    December 1, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    These cookies are too cute! My daughter would have so much fun making theses!

  13. Mar says

    December 1, 2018 at 9:34 pm

    These are great! I can appreciate an ugly Christmas sweater.

  14. Nicole Pharr says

    December 1, 2018 at 11:36 pm

    This is so cool, I know my girls would love to do something like this. Forming traditions like this are so important. I just love how you all make a day out of it.

  15. Jasmine Maria says

    December 2, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    Oh we can’t to decorate gingerbread cookies.

  16. Adriana says

    December 2, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    Love your tips! Cookie decorating is THE best ever!

Next Post >

How to Apply Stick Eye Shadow

hi, i’m helen

About Me
Welcome to Helengbailey.com, a digital lifestyle haven where I share the best in affordable style, beauty, food, DIY, family and home decor. As a former certified event planner, I also offer lots of tips and inspiration to plan the perfect party.

Search This Blog

join the hive

Reader Favorites

trending now

instagram

Follow @helengbailey

Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would b Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would be fun for Valentine's Day dinner with your kids. 

In full transparency, I wanted to make quesadilla uncrustables, but bought the wrong kind of tortilla. If you want to make those definitely get flour tortillas not corn. 

These are easy to make though, just use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut your tortillas, then fill and grill on the stove! 

#easymealsforbusypeople #easyrecipesformoms #valentinesideas #valentinesdinner #recipereel #galentinesbrunch
Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in your closet! Use a magazine! Roll it up and stick it inside for your boots to stand tall! 

After organizing all weekend, I didn't want to purchase ANYTHING else to organize. I wanted something cheap that I already had lying around.

I like the pool noodle hack but did not have time to go acquire a pool noodle in January.

Try the magazine hack and let me know how you like it? What's your favorite organizational hack?

#organizationhacks #closetmakeover #homehacks #closethacks #widecalfboots #organizationideas #homeorganizationtips
A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺 A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺

As a boy mom, I have to work a little harder for matching ensembles, but this little floral wrap dress and button down for spring are just too cute! 

Linking our outfits here: https://liketk.it/40B4p

#ltkfamily #shopltk #ltkunder50 #boymomclub #familymatchingoutfits #familymatching #ltkkids #boyclothes #oldnavybaby #oldnavykids #oldnavystyle #floralsforspring
I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holiday I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holidays and loved it so much I bought one for my sister. The rotating barrel makes getting ready so darn easy! 

Use my code HELENWAVE for 10% off!

#beachwaver #beachwaverpartner #hairstylingtutorial #hairstylingtips #hairstylereels #curlingirons #curlingiron #curltransformation #igotbeached
Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blank Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blanket for your super bowl party. 

-First, roll out crescent dough and slice each of the triangles into thirds. 
-Then spread a little boursin herb and garlic cheese onto each of the triangles. 
-Add a lil smokie and roll it up. 
-Bake for 12-15 minutes on 375. 
-Serve and enjoy!

Do you add anything extra to your pigs in a blanket? 

#superbowlsnacks #superbowlsnack #superbowlappetizers #easyappetizer #easyappetizers #easyrecipeideas #easyrecipesformoms #easyrecipesathome #recipereel
You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen a peanut butter board? 

Today we are making one for Valentine's Day. 

-First take a board and spread peanut butter all over it. 
-Then top with chocolate chips, valentine's day sprinkles, bananas, nutella and strawberries. I cut mine to look like hearts. 
-Then serve with graham crackers, pretzels or fruit and enjoy! 

Are you doing anything fun for Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day? Have you tried the peanut butter board yet?

#valentinesdays #valentinesdaydessert #galentinesparty #butterboard #peanutbutterrecipe #peanutbutterdessert #recipereel #valentinesdayideas #easyrecipesformoms
Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread bowl. This is a great party snack and would be awesome at an upcoming super bowl party. 

-First, cut the top off a round loaf of bread and remove the middle. 
-Cut all of the pieces removed into cubes and set aside. 
-Then take a jalapeno queso block and cut it into cubes. Place in a pan. 
-Then add two cans of drained green chiles and a splash of milk. 
-Heat over medium high heat on the stove stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Trust me nobody wants that cleanup. 
-Then immediately pour into your bread bowl and serve hot with the cubed bread pieces. Enjoy!

Easy, and tasty! Are you having or going to a Super Bowl party this year? What's on the menu?

#partysnacks #partysnack #easyappetizers #easyappetizer #cheesedip #recipereel #superbowlsnacks #superbowlfood
My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! I'm going to be honest, I am exhausted. The emotional toll this week has taken on me has just made me a new level of tired. 

I saw something the other day and it really stuck with me. 

Nobody talks about this when you are thinking about having kids. They talk about the financial piece and the how it's going to change your life piece. But nobody talks about the risk you take by having something you love so much and all the worry that comes with it. 

It's a risk every day to have your whole heart walking around, and going to school and picking up illnesses. There is so much worry and stress that comes with it.

But on the other hand, what a privilege it is to have something you love that much. I have never loved anything the way I love this little boy.

While sometimes the emotions, intrusive thoughts, worry and stress get the best of me, I am grateful every second of every day that I get to be this perfect, beautiful tiny human's mom.

Thanks for all the sweet messages of encouragement this week. It's so nice to know I'm not alone. I'm very grateful for all of you! 

#momthoughts #dailymotherhood #workingmomstruggles #toddlermom
Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holi Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holiday that is all about pink and red. 💕 

Decided to update my little kitchen island tray this year with Valentine's Day decor! ❤️

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

#valentinesdaydecor #valentinesdayideas #valentinesdaydecorations #galentinesdaydecor #galentinesdayparty #valentinesdayparty #holidayhomedecor
Today we are making a Valentine's Day waffle platt Today we are making a Valentine's Day waffle platter with nutella filled uncrustable waffles. I do realize waffles don't have crusts, but it helps keep the Nutella inside! 

How to make them:
-First, mix your batter and dye it pink with a little bit of food coloring. 
-Then make your waffles, I found this cute @bydash mini waffle maker for Valentine's Day!
-Once they are done, spread a little nutella on a waffle.
-Add a second waffle to the top and use a heart shaped uncrustable cutter to make an uncrustable waffle. 
-Arrange these on a cute plate, add some strawberries, serve and enjoy!

What's your vote on Nutella? Delicious or overrated? 

#waffleboard #breakfastboard #valentinesbreakfast #breakfastrecipe #nutellapancakes #nutellawaffle #recipereel #breakfastreels #valentinesdaybreakfast #valentinesstrawberries

Work With Me

  • About
  • Let’s Work Together
  • FAQ
  • Disclaimer

join the hive

Shop My Favorites

Copyright © 2023 Helen G. Bailey · Theme by 17th Avenue