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EastAuroraCookie Contributes: Making a Wet Palette for Cookie Painting

People ask me all the time about the lettering and painting on my cookies. I use a combination of royal icing effects and colors, and handpainted details.

 

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One of the most important things to me when I'm painting my cookies is my palette. I like using a "wet" palette. Since painting a cookie with food coloring is very much like watercolor painting, striking the right color consistency is key for me. Food colors dry very quickly, and working on a dry surface means you constantly have to re-wet your colors.

 

A wet palette is not wet-wet, instead the surface is cool and damp. This keeps the colors from drying out and crusting up. Since the colors don't dry as quickly this way, I can keep a small pool of slightly diluted color on my palette while I work with a set, which keeps my color consistent. 

Making a wet palette is very easy, and you'll probably already have most of the supplies on hand to make one!

 

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You'll need:

  1. A non-porous plate or surface (this means water can't soak into it). I like using a ceramic plate, but you can even use a styrofoam plate. You'll also want to use something white or light-colored.
  2. A paper towel cut into a square about the size of your plate.
  3. A piece of parchment paper cut about the same size as the paper towel.
  4. Water.

That's really all you need!


You'll want to position the paper towel on your plate and get it wet. I like to wet it, and then pour off any excess water into the sink. The towel should be soaked, but there shouldn't be pools of water on the plate. Then top the towel with the parchment paper, and press down with your hand until the parchment paper sticks to the towel.

 

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That's it! Can you believe it? It's that easy. The parchment paper is slightly water-permeable. You might see a bead or two of water on top. The paper will stay cool and moist for several hours. When you need to, you can peel off the parchment and add some more water to your towel. I'll even spray it with a water bottle.

 

And cleanup couldn't be easier - just throw the parchment and towel away!

 

Happy painting!


~Jenn, EastAuroraCookie

 

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Special thanks to Jenn for "taking the leap" and posting one of her tutorials! I think she did a great job, don't you? If you didn't know, any member can post a tutorial to the blog as long as it conforms to these basic blog posting rules. I edit all blog posts, but usually quite minimally. So if you've got something unique to share, please take the leap as well!]

 

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  • Painted Heart Shower Cookies: Cookies and Photo by EastAuroraCookie
  • Supplies For a Wet Palette: Photo by EastAuroraCookie
  • Wet Palette: Photo by EastAuroraCookie

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Comments (18)

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What a great idea! I've been trying painting a bit more on cookies but haven't really taken the plunge beyond adding little details and highlights - shall definitely be giving this a go!

Hi! I use Ateco's Spectrum Gel food color in bright white. It is almost identical to Americolor Bright White. I find the Wilton's colors to be thicker. Maybe that's why it never dried? I find if I don't dilute my colors a little they stay shiny and sometimes tacky for a day. For my style of painting I like the thinner Ateco and Americolor colors. I also dilute my color with water or alcohol. This allows me to get the flow I like and it dries right away!
 
~Jenn
 
Originally Posted by QT Rican:

Thanks for the info. I have tried painting on cookies in the past. I had a problem with the white never drying. I used Wilton's white, do you use something different?

 

Originally Posted by ea_cookie:
Hi! I use Ateco's Spectrum Gel food color in bright white. It is almost identical to Americolor Bright White. I find the Wilton's colors to be thicker. Maybe that's why it never dried? I find if I don't dilute my colors a little they stay shiny and sometimes tacky for a day. For my style of painting I like the thinner Ateco and Americolor colors. I also dilute my color with water or alcohol. This allows me to get the flow I like and it dries right away!
 
~Jenn
 
Originally Posted by QT Rican:

Thanks for the info. I have tried painting on cookies in the past. I had a problem with the white never drying. I used Wilton's white, do you use something different?

 

Thank you so much for this info Jenn! i look forward to adding it to my things to try  

Hi Jenn, I love to paint on cookies, but have always done it my way - Thank you very much for showing me a different way and I will certainly be using this for getting my cookie painting kits ready from now on.
Question: If I don't dilute Americolor and Wilton gels, they stay tacky for 48 hours, sometimes more. Do you have a quick dry method? I have tried under a heat lamp but as soon as they cool down they are still tacky. Will the alcohol thinner help? Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Kat Rutledge - Ibicci:

Hi Jenn, I love to paint on cookies, but have always done it my way - Thank you very much for showing me a different way and I will certainly be using this for getting my cookie painting kits ready from now on.
Question: If I don't dilute Americolor and Wilton gels, they stay tacky for 48 hours, sometimes more. Do you have a quick dry method? I have tried under a heat lamp but as soon as they cool down they are still tacky. Will the alcohol thinner help? Thanks in advance.

Hi Kat-

 

I almost always thin my color. I find that my flow is much better. The alcohol evaporates almost immediately but even when I thin with water my colors dry right away. It's also my style- I don't use a lot of color on the brush at one time and I'm mostly lettering or creating thin lines. Even on these peacock feathers- the largest area of painted color is the orange area. 

Originally Posted by Liesbet:

I have been wanting to give cookie painting a try, but was too nervous so far. This might help me 'take the leap'!

I gave it a try! I wasn't sure if the water from the paper would stop the paint from drying, and also still used alcohol to thin it. But it came out fine and dried after some minutes.

IMG_5394

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  • sky and grass background: first time painting on a cookie
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