Have you ever thought that there’s nothing more satisfying than eating freshly baked classic chocolate chip cookies, especially when they are made by no one else but yourself? Well, we definitely did.
In fact, we’re here to tell you that you can indeed elevate your cookie experience by adding a tiny bit of creativity and fun to your regular recipe and decorating your favorite cookies for additional flavor or visual appeal - or both.
Read on and find out the 5 best ways to decorate your delicious chocolate chip cookies and impress your guests with beautiful and flavorful homemade cookies.
Sprinkles
Sprinkles are one of the classic cookie decorating ideas that can instantly give your chocolate chip cookies a totally different look, especially if you go for the rainbow sprinkles.
The best method to decorate your cookies with sprinkles is to do it straight after you take the cookies out of the oven. Once you put your cookies on the cooling rack, toss the sprinkles on top of them. The heat from the cookies will let the sprinkles adhere to them nicely.
Creamy Chocolate Frosting
If you’re a complete chocoholic like us, you will certainly love your delicious chocolate chip cookies covered with soft and creamy chocolate frosting.
This indulgent icing requires only 3 ingredients: milk chocolate chips, powdered sugar, and milk. To prepare the chocolate frosting to decorate about 25 cookies, you will need:
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
The first step is to melt the chocolate chips. Place them in the microwave (in a microwave-safe bowl) and melt in 30-second intervals on medium power. Stir between each interval and continue heating until you get a smooth chocolate liquid.
Next, whisk together powdered sugar and milk in a medium mixing bowl until fully combined, and add warm melted chocolate chips. Stir all ingredients thoroughly, and you will see the frosting thicken.
Before you decorate your chocolate chip cookies with the chocolate icing, make sure your cookies are fully cooled to prevent the frosting from sliding off them. Once cooled, put a dollop of the icing on each cookie and spread evenly using a spoon or spatula. You can also sprinkle your frosted cookies with coconut flakes or even chopped almonds for additional crunch!
Top tip: If your chocolate frosting cools down and becomes too thick to spread, simply heat it up in the microwave for a few seconds and continue decorating.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Although chocolate is undoubtedly second to none, there is a range of other divine icings worth experimenting with when decorating your chocolate chip cookies. One of them is creamy vanilla buttercream frosting that will truly elevate the taste of your favorite sweet treats.
One of the biggest advantages of this vanilla buttercream icing - apart from the incredible flavor, of course - is that it’s super quick and easy to prepare. To decorate at least 20 chocolate chip cookies with the frosting, you will need:
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream, half-and-half, or whole milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- a pinch of salt (optional)
Start with beating the butter for about 2 minutes using a handheld or stand mixer. Once the butter forms a creamy paste, add 4 and a half cups of powdered sugar, heavy cream (or alternatives), and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for about 30 seconds, then increase to medium-high speed and continue beating for another 2 minutes. Taste the frosting and optionally add a pinch of salt if it’s too sweet.
Adjust the consistency if needed - you can add another ½ cup of powdered sugar if the icing is too runny or more heavy cream if it’s too thick. Make sure to always add one tablespoon at a time, mix it together, and add more if desired.
Once your vanilla frosting is done, it’s time to decorate your cookies. Similarly to the chocolate frosting mentioned above, the vanilla icing should be used only on cooled cookies to prevent it from melting. You can either use a spoon to place the frosting on each cookie and spread it evenly, or you can help yourself with a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip.
If you have any leftover vanilla frosting, you can store it in the fridge for up to 1 week in an airtight container or keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When it comes to storing frosted chocolate chip cookies, remember not to stack them - place the cookies so they are sitting beside one another.
Candy Eyes
How about adding a bit of laughter to your cookie-decorating mission? Creating tiny cookie faces by putting candy eyes on your chocolate chip cookies can truly be a relaxing and fun way to jazz up your sweet treats visually. If you have kids, then we’re pretty sure they will gladly join you in such a humorous activity!
Now, how do you attach the candy eyes so that they are securely placed on your cookies? It’s way easier than you think. Simply melt about ¼ cup of chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds. Use a toothpick to pick up a tiny amount of melted chocolate and place it on the cookie where you would like the candy eye to be.
Next, place the candy eye on top of the melted chocolate drop and gently press down, so it sticks together. Decorate all your cookies in the same way and let them sit for about 20 to 30 minutes until the chocolate hardens. After that time, your tiny chocolate chip cookie men are ready to be devoured!
Whipped Cream
Classic whipped cream is known to go well with a variety of desserts - from ice cream to cakes and even fruit. Unsurprisingly, it also creates a perfect match with chocolate chip cookies, so it’s worth giving it a try if you’re looking for a unique cookie decoration.
The most important thing about decorating chocolate chip cookies with whipped cream is that you need the cookies to be cooled, otherwise the whipped cream will melt. The best method is to decorate the cookies right before serving so that the topping doesn’t stay on them for too long.
Now, how to decorate your chocolate chip cookies with whipped cream? Simply hold a can of whipped cream upside down in a vertical position right above the cookie and gently place a small amount of cream in the center.
To make your cookies even more delicious and visually appealing, drizzle them with chocolate or caramel sauce, or top them with some sprinkles to finish off the decorated cookies.
The Bottom Line
Slightly textured on the outside and insanely gooey on the inside, classic chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate sweet treat loved by both children and adults.
Is there anything more delicious and beautiful than chocolate chip cookies? The answer is simple - decorated chocolate chip cookies!
Decorating chocolate chip cookies can truly elevate the flavor and visual features of your favorite treats. Besides, it’s also an incredibly relaxing activity that can be enjoyed by all family members.
What are you waiting for? Try out these best 5 chocolate chip cookie decorations and have some fun. Enjoy!
