How To Paint Springerle Cookies

There are two different techniques to paint the Springerle Cookies. One is BEFORE baking, and another AFTER baking. I like AFTER technique better, the colors don’t run while baking.

Equipment Needed:

• Soft brushes, narrow to medium widths
• Food coloring, including white (the edible version of white-out!). –or– Luster Dust
• Plastic palette
• Triple Sec or Vodka to make the coloring dry fast and to dilute the color.
• Paper towel
• Mug of water

BEFORE baking technique:

• make Springerle Dough (find the recipe here)
• mold Springerle Cookies
• dry Springerle Cookies
• paint Springerle Cookies
• bake Springerle Cookies

Paint cookies after drying overnight but BEFORE baking. Use paste food colors available in cake decorating shops. Mix 1 egg yolk with 1/4 teaspoon of cold water and mix well with a fork. Divide this into as many small containers as you wish to have colors. To these containers (you may use plastic bottle caps) add some paste food colors and mix with toothpicks.
Keep in mind that the yolk is yellow and will change the hue of the pastel colors. The colors also change slightly as the cookies bake. Use narrow artist’s paintbrushes that are new or are only used for working with food.

AFTER baking technique:

• make Springerle Dough (find the recipe here)
• mold Springerle Cookies
• dry Springerle Cookies
• bake Springerle Cookies
• paint Springerle Cookies

Use diluted colors (10 drops or more of Triple Sec or Vodka to one drop food coloring). The alcohol will evaporate in your palette rapidly so add more from time to time. Stir with a toothpick or your brush.
If using Luster Dusts, put about 1/16 teaspoon in a palette well. Add 6-10 drops Triple Sec or Vodka. Stir with a toothpick or your brush. Luster dust is not water-soluble, so don’t substitute water.
To make pastel shades, mix your colors with white.
Rinse your brush between colors and blot with a paper towel.
Don’t paint the whole cookie; just do highlights (the raised portions) because the eye will naturally fill in the details. Think of what you’re doing as an impressionist painting.
When you make a mistake, use white food coloring full strength to cover.
If you don’t like your paint job, destroy the evidence: Eat the cookie!
Get children involved in painting. They love it!
Have fun!