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    Home » Cookie Decorating

    How to Add Sprinkles and Sanding Sugar to Cookies

    Published: Mar 20, 2023 · Modified: Nov 19, 2024 by Courtney Karl · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    One of the easiest ways to give your sugar cookies a colorful sparkle is by using sanding sugar, edible glitter, sugar pearls, or colorful sprinkles. You can add these additional pops of color either before the cookies go in the oven or when you are decorating them after they are dried. I'll go over some of the best ways to incorporate these decorative sugars.

    bowls full of different sprinkles types

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links at no cost to you.

    Jump to:
    • Types of Decorative Sprinkles
    • Adding Sugar or Sprinkles to Royal Icing
    • Adding Sanding Sugar to Classic Sugar Cookies
    • Applying Edible Glitter to Cookies
    • How to Add Sugar Pearls to Cookies
    • Adding Colorful Sprinkles to Cookies
    • Related
    • Pairing

    Types of Decorative Sprinkles

    1. Sanding Sugar: A large crystal sugar that is often used for decorating because it will not dissolve in heat. It is in between the size of granulated sugar and coarse sugar. It also gives off a great shine and texture.
    2. Edible Glitter: Small edible flakes that come in various sizes and shapes that give off a shimmery shine (similar to that of traditional glitter)
    3. Sugar Pearls: Small round edible spheres that tend to be around the size of a peppercorn or a kernel. They have a soft shimmer, like a pearl.
    4. Colorful Sprinkles: Small edible sugar pieces that come in many colors and shapes, and you can even make your own!
    Examples of Sanding Sugar, Sugar Pearls, Edible Glitter, and Jimmies

    Make sure when purchasing any glitter, sugars, or sprinkles, they are indeed edible. Read the ingredients! Many products will simply say non-toxic and are intended to be removed from any edible goods before consumption.

    Adding Sugar or Sprinkles to Royal Icing

    Sanding sugar is a great way to add a little bit of extra texture to your cut-out cookies. Whether it's adding a sugar rim to margarita-decorated cookies or some flare to your decorated Christmas Cookies, sanding sugar will be a great addition. To learn more about royal icing cookie decorating, check out my ultimate guide!

    Process Shot: Using an edible marker to outline design on sugar cookie

    Cut out your sugar cookies with a cookie cutter and bake as directed. Make the royal icing and set it aside until you're ready to decorate. Use an edible marker to outline the design you want.

    Process Shot: Filling in cookie with royal icing

    Depending on your design for the cookie, decorate the parts of the cookie you do NOT want sanding sugar added. Let these sections dry completely (which takes approximately 8 hours) or to the point where the top has crusted over and if you tough it gently, it will feel smooth and not at all sticky.

    Process Shot: Adding sanding sugar to the royal icing cookie

    Once the first section of royal icing is dry, add flood icing to the remaining sections. Sprinkle the sanding sugar over the wet icing either pouring carefully or with a spoon. Do this over a small bowl and then pour the excess sugar back into the bottle.

    Process Shot: Dust off excess sanding sugar

    Let dry and enjoy your shimmery cookies.

    Adding Sanding Sugar to Classic Sugar Cookies

    There are many sugar cookie recipes that do not require frosting or royal icing such as these soft and chewy sugar cookies. If this is the case for your recipe, yet you want to add a little extra sanding sugar flair, it's easy to do. Simply place the sugar in a small bowl, roll the ball of dough in the sugar, and bake. Some recipes will have you press down the cookie with the bottom of a glass before baking (choose one that is flat on the bottom).

    You can buy sanding sugar at most craft stores or online. You can even make your own sanding sugar!

    sugar cookies being pressed flat by a glass

    Applying Edible Glitter to Cookies

    Just as with traditional glitter, edible glitter is very fine and will get everywhere if not applied carefully. My favorite way to do this is to lay your cookies on a cookie sheet or parchment paper to catch any extra glitter. Use a food-safe brush , dip the brush gently into the glitter, hold it over the cookies, and tap the handle of the brush to lightly sprinkle the glitter over the cookies. If using royal icing, it's best to do this step when they are still wet. With buttercream frosting, the sooner the better for application is best!

    Pro Tip: Many edible glitters are non-toxic, but not technically food safe. Make sure to read the labels!

    adding edible glitter to royal icing

    How to Add Sugar Pearls to Cookies

    Sugar pearls are mainly used as an accent on decorated cookies for either buttercream or royal icing. They are best to apply before the frosting is dry. As they are rather large, I prefer to place them strategically over the cookie so the pearls don't glop together in one spot. I use a tweezer tool with a rubber tip to help spread them out! I really love using sugar pearls for beach-themed cookie sets!

    adding sugar pearls to royal icing cookie

    Fun fact: Don't get sugar pearls confused with pearl sugar! While sugar pearls are edible sprinkles for decorating, pearl sugar is a large, chunky sugar, often used in Belgian waffles.

    Adding Colorful Sprinkles to Cookies

    I love adding sugar sprinkles to cookies! They are so easy to decorate with, they are beautiful, and you can find them in so many different colors and shapes. You can find sprinkles almost anywhere including your local grocery store or craft store, online, and I've even seen them at the dollar store. I love getting different seasonal colors for holiday cookies, valentine's day, etc.

    To save some cleaning hassle, place cookies on a baking sheet when adding sprinkles to catch the ones that miss the cookies themselves. It's easiest to add sprinkles before the icing dries so they will stick to the cookies easier.

    No matter which type of decorative sugar you decide to use, once you decorate your cookies, let them fully dry on a cooling rack at room temperature.

    I hope you have a great time adding fun sprinkles and sugars to your cookie decorating techniques!

    Related

    Looking for other decorating tutorials? Try these:

    • piping bags filled with shades of pink royal icing
      The Ultimate Guide to Royal Icing Cookie Decorating {For Beginners}
    • royal icing drizzling into small bowl
      Simple 3-Ingredient Royal Icing Recipe with Meringue Powder
    • sugar cookies stacked in tupperware container
      How to Transport Frosted Cookies (Royal Icing & Buttercream)
    • royal icing decorated cookies on a tea towel
      How to Dry Royal Icing Cookies Fast

    Pairing

    These are some of my favorite cookie recipes to decorate:

    • stack of cut out sugar cookies with pink piping bags
      The Best No Spread Sugar Cookie Recipe for Cut Outs
    • stack of sugar cookies with one tilted on its side
      The Best Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookie Recipe
    • cookies and cream cut out cookies stacked next to Oreos
      Easy Cookies and Cream No Spread Sugar Cookie Recipe
    • lemon sugar cookies stacked
      Roll-Out Lemon Sugar Cookies (Perfect for Royal Icing)

    More Cookie Decorating

    • Heart cookies on a wire rack with royal icing.
      Valentine's Day Heart Cookie Decorating Ideas (Royal Icing)
    • Airtight containers filled with cookies
      How to Freeze Decorated Sugar Cookies
    • Red velvet and chocolate cake pieces stacked on a plate.
      Red Velvet vs Chocolate: What is the Difference? 
    • Royal icing cookies stored in glass container.
      How to Store Royal Icing and Decorated Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ricky Sanford says

      March 29, 2023 at 7:05 am

      Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.

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    Hi, I'm Courtney! I have been baking and decorating cookies for over 10 years. I love turning sweets into works of art and can't wait to show you all my favorite tips, tricks, and recipes!

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