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Every Little Detail with Aproned Artist: Snow Angel

 

With winter now in full effect, I've been thrilled to catch a rare glimpse of snow on the far hills across the valley. Snow angels are an iconic and joyful celebration of the winter season. I imagine happy children thrashing in fresh powder with huge grins on their faces, uncaring of the cold snow that is probably working its way beneath their layers of warm clothing. And when they’re satisfied with the angel-like indentations they’ve left in the snow, maybe they go back inside for a warm mug of cocoa. It sounds pretty fun to me.

Supplies:

  • Snow Angel Design Template (See “Files” in “Attachments” at the end of this post.)
  • Parchment paper
  • Royal icing (I used AmeriColor gel paste coloring to tint the icing.):
    • Stiff-consistency orange (Electric Orange)
    • Stiff-consistency pink (1 part Burgundy/1 part Electric Pink)
    • Stiff-consistency dark gray (Super Black)
    • Stiff-consistency peach (1 part Dusty Rose/1 part Ivory)
    • Stiff-consistency reddish-orange (2 parts Electric Orange/1 part Super Red)
    • Stiff-consistency white
  • Tips:
    • Wilton #12, 8, 44, 4 (or equivalents)
    • PME #1, 0, 25 (or equivalents)
    • Large (2-in/5-cm tall) piping tip, such as Ateco #822
  • Flat paint brush
  • Large (4-in/10.2-cm) round cookie
  • Offset spatula
  • Powdered sugar
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Extra small (1/2-in/1.3-cm diameter) silicone hemisphere mold (optional)

Step 1: Pipe pants of child royal icing transfer

Note: The entirety of the child will be piped as a royal icing transfer, meaning it will be piped separately on parchment paper, dried, and then transferred to the cookie.

a. Print out the Snow Angel Design Template (located in “Files” at the end of this post), and place the image beneath a piece of parchment paper. Using stiff-consistency orange royal icing and a Wilton #12 tip (or equivalent), pipe icing to fill one leg of the pants section of the design. Use the flat side of a damp flat paint brush to smooth the icing. Add a few indentations with the tip of the brush. Repeat with the other pant leg, using the brush to meld the legs together at the top. Allow the pants to dry completely (I waited overnight).

Step 1a - Pipe Pants

Step 2: Pipe pant creases and jacket of child royal icing transfer

a. To create a crease in the pants, use a PME #1 tip (or equivalent) to pipe an angled line on top of the pants with the same icing used in Step 1. Use a damp paint brush to smooth the edges of the crease into the pants so that it looks like bunched fabric. Repeat, adding several creases on each pant leg.

Step 2a - Pipe Creases in Pants

b. Using stiff-consistency pink royal icing and a PME #1 tip (or equivalent), pipe the center seam of the jacket (where the zipper would be). This line just serves as a guide and will ultimately be covered. With the same icing and a Wilton #8 tip (or equivalent), fill one of the bottom sections of the down jacket with icing (see leftmost picture below). Shape the icing with a damp paint brush (see middle picture below). Repeat with the opposite bottom section of the jacket. Once the first section has crusted slightly, pipe the adjacent section and its opposite. Continue until you’ve piped and shaped all of the sections of the jacket (see rightmost picture below). Allow the jacket to dry completely. Once dry, carefully peel the parchment paper away from the royal icing transfer.

Step 2b - Pipe Jacket Sections

Step 3: Pipe shoe and head royal icing transfers

a. Meanwhile, place a small square of parchment paper over the shoes on the design template. Using stiff-consistency dark gray royal icing and a Wilton #8 tip (or equivalent), fill a shoe section. Pipe the shoe just like a bead border, but pull upward at the end rather than trailing into a tail as you release pressure (see leftmost picture below). Shape the icing with a damp paint brush, flattening the peak at the ankle (see rightmost picture below). Repeat to create a second shoe.

Step 3a - Pipe Shoe Transfers

b. Place a clean square of parchment paper over the snow angel design template. Use stiff-consistency peach royal icing and a Wilton #12 tip (or equivalent) to fill the face section of the template. Shape and smooth the icing with a damp paint brush. (The face should not touch the body at this point; I kept the body close to evaluate the proportions, but it can be removed from your workspace for the moment.) Allow the face to dry.

Step 3b - Pipe Face

c. Using stiff-consistency reddish-orange royal icing and a Wilton #12 tip (or equivalent), fill in the hat section of the design, overlapping the top of the face slightly. Shape the icing with a damp paint brush. Allow the hat to crust for a few minutes before proceeding.

Step 3c - Pipe Hat

d. With the same reddish-orange icing and a Wilton #44 tip (or equivalent), pipe a band across the bottom of the hat. Shape the band with a damp paint brush, tucking the ends beneath the sides of the face. Allow the head transfer to dry completely.

Step 3d - Pipe Band on Hat

e. Once dry, pipe two adjacent vertical lines on the rim of the hat with reddish-orange icing and a PME #0 tip (or equivalent). Leave a small gap before piping two more vertical lines. Repeat until the rim is covered with sets of double lines. Add the same effect on the top of the hat.

Step 3e - Add Knit Details to Hat

Step 4: Add mittens, cuff details, scarf, and shoes

a. Place the child transfer on a clean piece of parchment paper on top of the snow angel design template. Using stiff-consistency reddish-orange royal icing and a Wilton #4 tip (or equivalent), fill one mitten section with icing. Shape the mitten with a damp paint brush. Repeat for the other mitten.

Step 4a - Pipe and Shape Mittens

b. Add the finishing details to the jacket with stiff-consistency pink royal icing and a PME #25 tip (or equivalent). Pipe a band across the bottom of the jacket where it meets the pants. Use the tip of a damp paint brush to separate the band in the center. Use the same icing and tip to add a vertical band where the zipper would be. Finally, add a cuff where each arm meets the mitten.

Step 4b - Add Jacket Details

c. Before piping the scarf, place the head transfer (created in Step 3) above the neck. Using stiff-consistency orange royal icing and a Wilton #4 tip (or equivalent), pipe a line of icing that starts from above the right shoulder, covers the neckline of the jacket, and trails off before the left shoulder (see first picture below). Shape the icing with a damp paint brush, flattening it slightly (see second picture below). Allow the icing to crust for a few minutes before proceeding. Using the same orange icing and a Wilton #8 tip (or equivalent), pipe a line of icing that starts from above the left shoulder, slightly overlaps the lower scarf section, and trails off before the right shoulder (see third picture below). Shape the icing with a damp paint brush (see fourth picture below).

Step 4c - Pipe Scarf

d. Attach the ankles of the shoes to the bottom of the pant legs with a dab of stiff-consistency orange royal icing. The flat side of each transfer (the sole of the shoe), which was in contact with the parchment paper when piped, should now stand vertically facing away from the body. With the same icing and a PME #25 tip (or equivalent), pipe a cuff covering the bottom edge of each pant leg. Once the icing has dried completely, carefully peel the parchment paper away from the finished royal icing transfer.

Step 4d - Add Shoes and Pant Cuff

Step 5: Decorate cookie with snow angel indentation

a. Using a Wilton #12 tip (or equivalent), cover a 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) round cookie with stiff-consistency white royal icing. Use an offset spatula to smooth the icing. Sprinkle the top of the wet icing with powdered sugar using a fine mesh strainer.

Step 5a - Pipe Snow and Dust with Powdered Sugar

b. Immediately use one cavity of an extra small (1/2-inch/1.3-centimeter) silicone hemisphere mold to create an indentation for the head of the snow angel. (Don’t fret if you do not have this particular silicone mold; any rounded object, such as a 1/4-teaspoon measuring spoon or even a fingertip, will work just as well.)

Step 5b - Indent Head of Snow Angel

c. Use a small round tip (such as a PME #1 tip) to create the indentation for the snow angel’s wing. Orient the tip so that the small opening is at the neck and the wide opening is at roughly a 45° angle to the head. Keeping the small opening of the tip fixed at the neck, roll the wide opening downward to create the arc of the wing. Repeat on the opposite side to create the indentation for the other wing.

Step 5c - Indent Wings of Snow Angel

d. Use a large 2-inch (5-centimeter) tall tip (I used an Ateco #822 tip) to create the indentation for the snow angel’s skirt. Orient the tip so that the small opening sits at the waist of the snow angel and the wide opening is at one edge of the angel’s skirt. Keeping the small opening of the tip fixed at the waist, roll the wide opening toward the center of the bottom edge of the cookie. For the opposite side, pick up the tip and reorient it at the opposite edge of the skirt. Again, roll the wide opening of the tip toward the center of the bottom edge of the cookie. This will leave a thin triangle in the center of the skirt that is still raised (just as you’d have in real life if you were to sweep your legs back and forth in the snow).

Step 5d - Indent Skirt of Snow Angel

e. Place the child royal icing transfer in the snow angel indentation, nestling it gently into the soft icing.

Step 5e - Place Child Transfer in Snow Angel Indentation

Our little snow angel is finished (and just about ready for her cocoa)!

Final Snow Angel

Final Snow Angle Set

Samantha Yacovetta began cookie decorating in 2013. While working at a local bakery, Samantha became captivated by cookie art when a customer requested princess-themed cookies. Attracted initially to the precision of cookie decorating, Samantha soon found that the limitless design opportunities turned it into her artistic passion. Samantha began regularly stocking the bakery case with decorated cookies and for several years sold cookies through her own company, Aproned Artist, a cottage food operation. Having retired from the business life, Samantha now enjoys making cookies just for fun from her home in San Jose, California, USA. To learn more about Samantha, please check out her Cookie Connection portfolio, her Facebook page, and her past Every Little Detail tutorials here.

Photo and cookie credits: Samantha Yacovetta

Note: Every Little Detail with Aproned Artist is a monthly Cookie Connection blog feature written by Samantha Yacovetta focused on the special little details that make big statements in cookie design. This article expresses the views of the author, and not necessarily those of this site, its owners, its administrators, or its employees. To read all of Samantha's past Every Little Detail tutorials, click here. And to see all of Cookie Connection's tutorials, click here.

Attachments

Images (20)
  • Snow Angel Cookie - Where We're Headed!: Cookies and Photo by Aproned Artist
  • Step 1a - Pipe Pants: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 2a - Pipe Creases in Pants: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 2b - Pipe Jacket Sections: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 3a - Pipe Shoe Transfers: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 3b - Pipe Face: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 3c - Pipe Hat: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 3d - Pipe Band on Hat: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 3e - Add Knit Details to Hat: Photo by Aproned Artist
  • Step 4a - Pipe and Shape Mittens: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 4b - Add Jacket Details: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 4c - Pipe Scarf: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 4d - Add Shoes and Pant Cuffs: Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 5a - Spread Royal Icing and Dust with Powdered Sugar: Cookie and Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 5b - Make Snow Angel Head Indentation: Cookie and Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 5c - Make Snow Angel Wing Indentations: Cookie and Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 5d - Make Snow Angel Skirt Indentation: Cookie and Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Step 5e - Place Child Royal Icing Transfer in Snow Angel Indentation: Cookie and Photos by Aproned Artist
  • Final Snow Angel: Cookie and Photo by Aproned Artist
  • Final Snow Angel Set: Cookies and Photo by Aproned Artist
Files (1)
Design by Aproned Artist

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Comments (36)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

Oooooh Samantha, I'm totally freaking out !!! Yes!!!! Is that gorgeous!!!! All your sooo many detailed pictures!! Thank you sooo much for sharing! I love ecpecially, how you make the hat and the "angelswings" with the nozzle!!! So sooooo clever and creative! Congrats to this amazing work dear Samantha!!! ❤️ @Aproned Artist

Samantha this is so perfect done,creative,awesome project! You amaze me everytime.Thisproect recalls my childood in Slovakia , used to snow a lot and we play this way in very often esecially with my younger sister but also with friends of mine❤️❤️THANK YOU

Oooooh Samantha, I'm totally freaking out !!! Yes!!!! Is that gorgeous!!!! All your sooo many detailed pictures!! Thank you sooo much for sharing! I love ecpecially, how you make the hat and the "angelswings" with the nozzle!!! So sooooo clever and creative! Congrats to this amazing work dear Samantha!!! ❤️ @Aproned Artist

Thank you, Gabi! It took a few different attempts to land on the right technique for the indentations. Thank goodness for icing transfers - I can experiment with the rest of the cookie without messing up the work I’ve already done.

Samantha this is so perfect done,creative,awesome project! You amaze me everytime.Thisproect recalls my childood in Slovakia , used to snow a lot and we play this way in very often esecially with my younger sister but also with friends of mine❤️❤️THANK YOU

Thank you so much, Petra! I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never made a snow angel myself. But they seem like loads of fun.

Wow!!!!! This is so cool!!! I looooove it!! You are amazingly creative, Samantha. Thank you so much for sharing with so much detail.
Merry Christmas, dear♥️

Thank you, Heather! So glad you like the tutorial.

@LisaF posted:

Captivating as always Samantha. Even creases?!! Come on! Simply exquisite. ❤️

Thank you, Lisa! Creases are my new best friend - intentional imperfections to hide any real ones!

@ChristyT posted:

I'm so in awe of this cookie.  How did you come up with the idea for the snow?

Thank you, Christy! It took some experimentation. At first, I tried flooding the cookie and letting it crust before imprinting the angel (like Manu did with the footprints in this project), but I think the indentation was too large for the technique to work. It ended up a gloppy, undefined mess. It occurred to me that the powdered sugar I used in my snowman cookie last month prevented the icing from sticking. Once I landed on the idea of using stiff icing with powdered sugar, it was just a matter of scouring my kitchen to find objects that would make the appropriate shaped indentation.

@telebaker posted:

I am in awe of your talents as well as your organizational skills in laying out all the detailed instructions. You make it doable for those of us less talented. Thank you!

Thank you, Tina!

I can tell you from personal experience that it’s easy to mistake a lack of confidence for a lack of creativity or talent. Don’t sell yourself short!

You are a master of royal icing. Thank you for sharing so many excellent techniques so that we can be masters too. ❤️👏👏👏👏

Thank you, Christine! You are far too kind.

So ingenious Samantha @Aproned Artist!! Such a creative use of RI on a cookie. It's amazing to see the various ways that RI can be used in decorating.  I never would have considered making these "children" out of RI rather than fondant. But it works really well. Beautifully done my dear cookie friend. Love this tutorial! ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Last edited by Cookies Fantastique

So ingenious Samantha @Aproned Artist!! Such a creative use of RI on a cookie. It's amazing to see the various ways that RI can be used in decorating.  I never would have considered making these "children" out of RI rather than fondant. But it works really well. Beautifully done my dear cookie friend. Love this tutorial! ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Thank you, Carol!

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