LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2024

SMART COOKIES

Pipe Dreams Stiff Royal Icing (p. 206) can be used in a multitude of ways to create different looks. Since it’s inexpensive, quick to make and easy to use, it’s the perfect icing for any novice decorator. To get the feel of the pressure and flow, you can practise piping on a parchment-lined baking tray. Once you’re ready to move to cookies, start with thickly piped beads and stars, making sure not to overfill your bag and tire your hand. In no time, you’ll gain the confidence to add more intricate details into your repertoire.

JUST A SMEAR Rows of roughly piped icing beads that are swooshed with a food-safe paintbrush or popsicle stick give a textured effect on Christmas trees with all the holiday feels. HOT TIP Using multiple tips adds different looks and textures. When piping with small tips, it’s easy to control how much space they fill by adjusting the pressure on the piping bag. See “Tools of the Trade” on page 52 for more tip tips! FINAL FLOURISH It’s important to add decorations such as candy, glitter or sprinkles the moment you’ve finished piping. The icing needs to be wet for them to adhere.

CONE HEAD

A paper cone fashioned from parchment paper is a great alternative to a pastry bag. You can adjust the thickness with a quick snip of the tip, and it makes cleanup a breeze.

Check out seriouseats.com for a step-by step tutorial on how to make a parchment cone.

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———————— HOLIDAY 2024