Cookie party: a pastry chef shows that decorating is child's play

Sunset, Dec, 2004 by Linda Lau Anusasananan

To decorate: Gather royal icing (recipe precedes), cake-decorating sugar, jimmies, colored sprinkles, miniature chocolate chips, and/or red-hot candies.

1. Fold down the top edges of a 1-quart heavy zip-lock plastic bag to form a cuff about 3 inches wide.

2. Hold the bag under cuff and scoop in 1 to 2 cups icing. Squeeze the icing down into one corner of the bag. Squeeze all the air out of bag, and seal.

3. When ready to use, cut about 1/16 inch off the filled corner of the plastic bag. Twist bag just above icing. Holding twisted end with one hand, gently press bag from the top to pipe icing onto cookie. Twist bag tighter as it empties. Sprinkle or gently press decorative sugar, candies, or chocolate chips into soft icing.

4. When you're not using the icing bag, fold the opening closed and seal with a paper clip.

5. Let cookies stand until icing is firm, 30 to 45 minutes. Store iced cookies airtight up to 3 days.

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* Make cookie dough several days ahead of time and chill it. Bake all the cookies the day before the party.

* Bake cookies on cooking parchment. After taking them out of oven, slide the parchment off the sheet onto a counter or rack to cool. Even if you run out of sheets, you can keep on rolling cookies and placing on parchment. When a sheet is free and cool, slide cookie-filled parchment onto it.

* Cover the table with a washable tablecloth; cover chairs with garbage bags or towels to protect them.

* Have paper plates available to put cookies on to decorate.

* Provide disposable serving trays to transport cookies home.

* Use meringue powder to make Royal Icing. It's easy and bacteria-safe. Look for it in well-stocked supermarkets, or order from Cake Art Supplies in San Rafael, California (www.cakeartsupplies.com or 415/456-7773). You can also use fresh pasteurized egg whites, available in the refrigerator case of your supermarket.

* For the easiest decorating of all (especially for the younger set), buy tubes or cans of icing. Note, however, that some purchased kinds don't harden.

* Make or buy more icing than you think you'll need--kids pile it on.

* Have wet cloths or disposable wipes available for sticky hands.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTINA SCHMIDHOFER

FOOD STYLING BY RANDY MON