Behind the Icing: What Goes Into a Custom Cookie Order
Introduction: More Than Just a Cookie
If you're planning an aesthetic party, searching for unique gift ideas, or looking to add a personalized touch to your next event, custom decorated sugar cookies might be exactly what you need. These sweet treats aren’t just delicious, they’re also completely customizable to match your theme, color palette, and occasion.
As a local cookie decorator, we specialize in turning your ideas into beautifully detailed cookies that double as décor and dessert. From thoughtful gifts to party favors that wow, custom cookies are made to impress, and every set is handcrafted with care, from start to finish.
In this post, we’re sharing what actually goes into a custom cookie order: the creative process, the prep work, and all the behind-the-scenes steps that turn your vision into edible art. Whether you're planning a baby shower, bridal brunch, birthday party, or corporate event, here's a closer look at how your cookie set comes to life.
Step 1: The Inquiry – How to Start Your Custom Cookie Order
When you're searching for a local custom cookie decorator, the first step is usually a little research, and by research, we mean some friendly stalking! Most people browse a few key places to get a feel for a cookie artist’s style and skill:
Website – This is the best place to view galleries, read FAQs, and submit your custom cookie order request. (We take all of ours right through the site!)
Instagram – Perfect for checking out those beautifully staged cookie photos and seeing recent designs.
Facebook – Great for reviews, local tags, and seeing how customers interact with the baker.
Before placing your order, here are 5 things that help streamline the custom cookie ordering process and ensure you get a perfect set:
Your Event Theme – Whether it’s a boho baby shower or a disco cowgirl birthday, knowing the vibe helps guide the design.
Color Palette – Specific shades or swatches help us match your vision with precision.
Inspiration Photos – Pinterest boards or past sets you love give a great creative jumping-off point.
Your Event Invitation – Invitations say a lot! Fonts, colors, and graphics help us design cookies that feel cohesive with your celebration.
Names, Dates, or Phrases – Personal touches like the guest of honor’s name or a custom message make your cookie set extra special.
Starting with these details helps us turn your ideas into a delicious reality and ensures we’re all on the same page from the very beginning.
Here’s an example of a section of our order form.
Step 2: Design Brainstorming
This is where the fun begins! Now, I can’t speak for every cookie decorating from here on out, but here’s what WE do! Once we have the details of your event, we can provide your custom quote. Once we nail down quantities and price and get that invoice paid, we start dreaming up the cookie designs to match. Whether it's a soft, floral baby shower or a bold, colorful birthday party, we’ll pull inspiration from your theme, invitation, or even party décor. We ROUGHLY sketch out ideas (I’m much better with a piping bag than a pencil), choose coordinating colors, and decide on cookie shapes that will bring your vision to life. Every set is completely custom and we try to make sure every cookie and every color is coordinated to make your cookie set cohesive. It’s all about creating edible art that feels personal, thoughtful, and one-of-a-kind.
When I say rough, I mean ROUGH sketch!
Step 3: Prep Work Begins
Once your custom cookie design is finalized, the real baking magic begins. This is where each set of decorated sugar cookies starts to come to life. Every batch is made from scratch using high-quality ingredients, ensuring your cookies taste just as good as they look. We’ve perfected our recipe and can promise our cookies are buttery and soft!
The dough is rolled out and cut into shapes that match your theme. BUT that’s not always as simple as pulling a cutter from a drawer. Some designs require custom cookie cutters, which means I may design and 3D print them myself, or source the perfect shape by purchasing STL files from existing cookie cutter shops. If I already have the right cutter in my collection, great! But if not, I’ll make sure we find or create exactly what your vision calls for.
From there, the cookies are baked to soft, golden perfection. While they cool, I mix royal icing in just the right colors and consistencies for layering, piping, and all the little details that bring your set to life. Color matching is something I truly pride myself on. Whether it's a specific hue from your event invitation or a palette pulled from your party décor, I work to make sure every detail is cohesive.
This stage may be behind the scenes, but it’s one of the most time-intensive and important parts of the process. It’s where thoughtful design and careful prep come together to create edible art that’s truly one of a kind.
Step 4: Decorating Magic
This is the part everyone loves to see, the decorating! (Fun fact: those cookie decorating videos you see all over social media are sped up at least 10x!) Once the cookies are fully cooled and the icing is prepped, it’s time to bring your custom sugar cookie designs to life with color, detail, and creativity.
Using techniques like piping, flooding, layering, and lettering, I add dimension and personality to each cookie. Depending on the design, a single cookie can take multiple layers of icing and several hours of dry time between steps. From hand-painted details to florals or textured finishes, every element is done with care and precision.
This stage is where all the planning and prep come together. It's also where I get to really let my creativity shine and turn your theme into edible art. Whether it’s a set for a baby shower, birthday party, or corporate event, each cookie is decorated with intention to ensure it looks as beautiful as it tastes.
From our sketch, to the art!
Step 5: Packaging & Delivery
Once the decorating is complete and each cookie has had time to fully dry, it’s time for the final (but just as important) step: packaging. Every cookie is individually heat sealed for freshness and protection (unless you request otherwise). This not only helps lock in flavor but also ensures your cookies arrive in perfect condition, even if they’re being transported or stored for a few days.
We take extra care to package your cookies in a way that matches your event aesthetic whenever possible. From coordinating ribbons to color-matched crinkle paper or boxes, we love tying the whole theme together, literally.
Behind the scenes, we’re also making sure each cookie is placed carefully to prevent any breaks or damage. Whether you're picking them up or having them delivered, your cookies are packed to impress!
Why It’s Worth It
From the first message to the final ribbon-tied box, every custom sugar cookie order is a true labor of love. It’s not just about baking cookies, it’s about creating edible art that reflects your celebration, your style, and your story and . Each step in the process is thoughtfully done with care, creativity, and attention to detail.
Custom cookies take time, planning, and skill, but the joy they bring to your table (and your guests!) makes it all worthwhile. They're also a thoughtful and unique gift that’s sure to impress, whether you’re surprising a friend, thanking a client, or celebrating a milestone. Whether you’re ordering for a birthday, baby shower, wedding, or just because, thank you for trusting us to be a small, sweet part of your special day.
Ready to get started on your own custom cookie order?
