These hand-painted butterfly cookies are surprisingly easy and simple to create. Perfect to give as gifts to family and friends on special occasions or as party favors at the end of an event. And, my step by step tutorial for these butterfly cookies will make you a pro in no time.
Table of Content
Recently, I was asked my Satin Ice to share a tutorial for their blog. And, I thought since many of you ask me often how I do my painting, this would be a good project.
In addition, you can find my hand painted butterfly cookies on Satin Ice tutorial section.
About these cookies
These are so versatile and surprisingly easy to make. And, the best part is that they are so delicious. And, if you have not tried my sugar cookies recipe, you must. They are light, fluffy and do not spread when baking.
Also, the technique for painting is very basic and you do not need any painting experience. So, grab a clean brush and surprise everyone with hand-painted cookies that you won't believe you made them yourself.
List of supplies
- Sugar Cookies - Best sugar cookies recipe here
- Butterfly Shaped Cookie Cutter (in multiple sizes)
- Satin Ice Fondant: White, Black
- CMC
- Rolling Pin
- Plastic Wrap
- Piping Gel / Sugar Syrup
- Corn Flour
- Dry Powder / Gel Colors
- Vodka / Lemon Extract
Step by step instructions
Let's get started
- First, bake your favorite sugar cookie recipe with your desired size of butterfly cookie cutters. Once baked, cool them completely.
Decorating the cookies
- Next, roll some white sugar paste about ⅓ inch thick.
- Then, place a plastic wrap over the paste and cut with a cookie cutter. Using plastic wrap over the paste will give you a beveled edge that looks much nicer than the usual square edges.
- Use piping gel, or sugar syrup, to adhere the paste to the cookies.
- Then, run your finger around edges to smooth the sides.
- And, use your cornflour pouch to buff the surface of the cookies. This will give you a nice, smooth surface.
- Let the finished fondant topped cookies dry for about an hour.
Now, give your cookies a color wash. You can do this in two ways:
- First Option: Dry powder colors - which gives the cookie a lighter base.
- Second Option: Gel colors mixed with vodka or lemon extract.
- And, use brush strokes from the outer edges to the center of the cookie.
- You can add the first color, leave to dry for a few minutes, then add a second color to add more depth. In fact, uneven color patches look nicer on the finished cookie.
Adding the butterfly body
- Use Satin Ice Black fondant with CMC (added so that the fondant dries harder, and won't be squashed when stacked).
- Next, roll into sausage-shaped pieces tapering towards one end, as shown below.
- Then, make an indent for the head with the knife and eyes with a pin. And, add some lines for the body if you choose.
Adding the black details on the wings
- First, print a few butterfly designs for inspiration. Also, you can be original and creative in your design of the wings, but it is important to maintain symmetry between both sides.
- Ensure the color wash is dried on the cookie.
- Then, create an outline of the butterfly's wings. Top two and bottom two.
- In addition, you can make the black outline as thin or thick as you desire, beginning with a black line in the center of the body may help achieve symmetry.
- Once you have the divisions made, start adding the veins of the wings.
- For example, below, you can see the progression of lines from the 3rd to the 5th images.
- Lastly, I added some yellow dots to create highlights.
A few more inspiration for hand-painted cookies
This technique can be used with many colors and slight variations. In fact, if you use your imagination these butterfly designs are never-ending. For example, here are a few more hand-painted butterflies that I made using the same technique
Frequently asked questions
Sugar cookies for decorating need to be crisp, not soft. And, with a flat, not puffy top. Also, you want sharply defined edges, not round edges. This recipe gives you just that, crips, flat and well-defined sugar cookies. As a result, these will make the most beautiful decorated sugar cookies.
This is extremely important. The flow of your brush is what will give you those brush strokes. And, it is also important that your brush be soft so you do not ruin your fondant.
Most importantly, you must have good quality paint brushes that will not have the bristles(hair) falling off.
In addition, you want to ensure your brushes are not used for anything other than food. So they are food safe.
And, you want to ensure your brushes are soft bristles as the fondant is soft so you will be working on a soft canvas.
Gel colors or powder colors. In fact, I use edible gel colors, and sometimes powder colors mixed with vodka. And, if you need lighter shades, it’s best to use white food powder color instead of liquid.
For example, add white powder instead of more vodka.
Also, you will find you have great success with painting if you use less on your brush and use more layers rather than try to do it all in one go.
I use vodka or lemon extract as my base. However, lemon will leave a lemon flavor so do keep that in mind. Often, I do not need much, just enough to moisten my brush. And, every painting requires a different thickness. So, find the right balance of how much you need to add.
If you have no experience with free-hand painting, try to trace a design on the white canvas first. Go to google and look for the image you want. Then, copy and paste it on powerpoint or word document. Next, resize it to the size that is right for your cakes. Then trace it on both sides of a parchment paper.
After which, you can then trace it on the cake with an edible pencil.
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Hand-Painted Butterfly Cookies
Print Pin RateDescription
Recipe Video
Materials
- 12 Vanilla Sugar Cookies
- 200 grams Fondant store-bought or
- 200 grams Marshmallow Fondant
- ¼ cup Piping Gel
- 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Lemon extract or alcohol
- Gel Food Colors
- CMC (edible gum) or Tylose
Conversions - Switch between Metric & US for other measurement options
Instructions
- Bake your favorite sugar cookie recipe with your desired size of Butterfly cookie cutters. Once baked, cool them completely.
DECORATING THE COOKIES
- Roll some white sugar paste about ⅓ inch thick.
- Place plastic wrap over the paste and cut with a cookie cutter. Using plastic wrap over the paste will give you a beveled edge that looks much nicer than the usual square edges.
- Use piping gel or sugar syrup to adhere the paste to the cookies.
- Run your finger around edges to smooth the sides.
- Use your cornflour pouch to buff the surface of the cookies. This will give you a nice, smooth surface.
- Let the finished fondant topped cookies dry for about an hour.
NOW, GIVE YOUR COOKIES A COLOR WASYOU CAN DO THIS IN TWO WAYS:
- First Option: Dry powder colors – which gives the cookie a lighter base.
- Second Option: Gel colors mixed with vodka or lemon extract.
- Use brush strokes from the outer edges to the center of the cookie.
- You can add the first color, leave to dry for a few minutes, then add a second color to add more depth. Uneven color patches look nicer on the finished cookie.
ADDING THE BUTTERFLY BODY:
- Use Satin Ice Black fondant with CMC (added so that the fondant dries harder, and won’t be squashed when stacked).
- Roll into sausage-shaped pieces tapering towards one end, as shown below.
- Make an indent for the head with the knife and eyes with a pin. Add some lines for the body if you choose.
ADDING THE BLACK DETAILS ON THE WINGS:
- Print a few butterfly designs for inspiration. You can be organic and creative in your design of the wings, but it is important to maintain symmetry between both sides.
- Ensure the color wash is dried on the cookie.
- Create an outline of the butterfly’s wings. Top two and bottom two.
- You can make the black outline as thin or thick as you desire, beginning with a black line in the center of the body may help achieve symmetry.
- Once you have the divisions made, start adding the veins of the wings.
- You can see the graduation of lines from the 3rd to the 5th images.
- Lastly, I added some yellow dots to create highlights
Did you try my recipe? Leave a feedback. Have a question about the recipe? Happy to answer.