Top Recommended Cookie Decorating Supplies

As a published baking cookbook author, I’ve baked and developed MANY different cookie recipes. One of my all-time favorites is sugar cookies decorated with royal icing. In addition to all of the tested recipes on my website and in my books, I’m happy to share my top cookie decorating supplies that will set you up for success. The list on this page is a great place to start if you’re a cookie decorating novice, or if you’re looking to update your kitchen supplies.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate decorated cookies. If you’ve ever decorated a batch of cookies, you know how much work (and patience!) goes into each and every cookie. Whether you’re adding a simple swipe of vanilla buttercream, or applying fine detail onto snowman sugar cookies, decorating takes time. And while it may seem daunting to jump into the world of cookie decorating, I’m here to assure you that it doesn’t have to be!

With my tried-and-tested recipes for cut-out cookies like gingerbread cookies, chocolate sugar cookies, and sugar cookies, plus my top choices for icing including royal icing and my glaze-style cookie icing, bakers around the world have tackled cookie decorating in their own kitchens.

After many years of practice myself, I’ve acquired a handful of the best cookie decorating supplies and tools to help make cookie decorating a breeze. I’m happy to share a list of these products, all of which I own and love, with you today.

I also have a cookie decorating day guide, if you’re ever hosting a baking party. Around here, we love our fun decorating days!

Best Cookie Decorating Supplies & Tools

All of the cookie decorating tools listed below are items I own. None of this post is sponsored—truly just items I love and am happy to recommend to fellow cookie decorators. A lot of these links are affiliate links. I include many of these items on my Gifts for Bakers page, too, where you’ll find 100+ carefully selected items that any baker (or you!) would love.

Electric Mixer

An electric mixer helps whip your royal icing or decorating buttercream into a perfect consistency. You can use either a hand mixer or stand mixer—your choice. If you make this easy glaze-style cookie icing, you do not need a mixer; just a whisk.

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KitchenAid

Stand Mixer

A classic gift for any baker. The Matte Blue Velvet is a newer shade and gorgeous in person.

KitchenAid

Hand Mixer

One of my most-used kitchen tools. Mine (5-speed) is 13 years old and still running strong.

Meringue Powder & Food Coloring

There are many different ways to prepare royal icing, but my royal icing recipe relies on an ingredient called meringue powder. For food coloring, I always recommend gel. Liquid food coloring adds too much liquid to your batter, icing, dough, etc. This can be especially troublesome in royal icing, where the tiniest bit of extra liquid could throw off consistency. Plus, gel food coloring produces more vibrant, rich colors with just a small drop.

Wilton

Meringue Powder

An essential ingredient in royal icing.

AmeriColor

Gel Food Colors

I recommend these for the most vibrant colors.

Piping Bags

Piping bags come in a variety of sizes, but I prefer the 16-inch bags because they fit a decent amount of icing, but are still easy to handle. You’ll want at least a few bags if you’re working with multiple colors, so grab a box of disposable piping bags or several reusable piping bags to make sure you’re covered.

Wilton

Disposable Piping Bags

Convenient for icing and decorating.

Wilton

Reusable Piping Bags

Use over and over!

Recommended Piping Tips

What I own and love: Wilton Tip #1, Wilton Tip #2, Wilton Tip #3, Wilton Tip #4, Wilton Tip #5

A handful of piping tips are key for making those crisp, precise icing designs. The piping tip numbers reflect their sizes:

If you’re just get starting in cookie decorating, you can get by with Wilton #1 (smallest size), Wilton #3 (medium size), and Wilton #5 (largest size). You can create any basic designs with just these three!

Piping Tip Sets & Couplers

This 55-piece piping tips set includes all 5 icing tips I recommend above, plus many others that you can use for other buttercreams and frostings. Couplers come in handy when you’re using the same icing color but need to switch tips. Or, if you have multiple colors of icing and only 1 tip, and need to move the tip between bags of icing.

Wilton

55-Piece Piping Tips Set

Essential piping tips decorating set.

Ateco

Couplers

Set of 4 couplers to easily switch piping tips.

Bag Clips & Ties

This is optional, but having a few bag clips or bag ties on hand is helpful for closing off the ends of your piping bags. Simply fill your piping bag with royal icing to the fill line, give the top a twist, and secure your bag clip or bag tie. A simple rubber band will work, too. No messy royal icing spillages to worry about, and you can focus completely on your decorating work.

Linden Sweden

Bag Clips

Set of 20 bag clips.

Wilton

Decorating Bag Ties

12-count rubber icing bag ties.

These Wilton Gel Colors work nicely as well, and they’re more readily available in some grocery stores and craft stores.

For Fine Detail: Icing Needle Scriber

An icing needle scriber helps to spread & smooth out your icing, and helps create neater edges. A regular toothpick works just as well! If I’m working with a flooding consistency, the piping tip often gets the job done, too.

Finishing & Transporting

In addition to their functionality for letting baked cookies cool off, a set of cooling racks is also a handy place to let iced cookies dry. You can place them over a baking sheet (helpful if you need to move your cookies around) or right on the countertop. For transporting your decorated cookies, a cupcake carrier is very handy!

Wilton

Cooling Racks

To let your next baking project cool off.

Snapware

Cupcake Carrier

Great for transporting cupcakes, but also for cookies.

Other Tools & Supplies:

I hope this list of cookie decorating supplies is helpful for your next cookie decorating adventure. I also have a complete list of cake decorating supplies, if you’re looking to add to your collection!