How to Make Nerdy Apple Cookies

Remember the apple cut-outs from my previous post for spiced apple cookies? Well, I want to share a few ideas on various ways you could decorate them. Mainly, I wanted to focus this post on how you can transform them into nerdy apple cookies (with a slightly hipster look to them, as well).  

The idea of decorating nerdy apple cookies for back-to-school season isn't such a new one. People have been sharing their take on decorated nerdy apples for a while now. For example, Sweet Sugarbelle shared how to use royal icing transfers on her nerdy cookies. Also, The Flour Box Bakery used a wet-on-wet technique to make the eyes on her nerdy apples really pop.

These nerdy apple cookies follow a pretty similar concept. However, I changed things up a bit with the design. For the leaf accent, I thought it might be fun if the leaf was made to look like hair. It adds a little bit more personality, don't ya think?

Apple Cookie Cutter

Added to the shop are a few back-to-school designs, including the mentioned apple cookie cutter.

The apple cookie cutter comes in a few different sizes, but for this tutorial, I'll be decorating the LARGE size.

The LARGE also is made to fit perfectly in a 4"x4" gift box, making it the perfect gift for any teacher.

Template for the Nerdy Apple Cookies

The nerdy apple face design, as well as a few other design ideas (shown near the end of this post) are included in this downloadable PDF template.

You can download the apple cookie template HERE.

If you have a Kopykake or Pico projector, just print it out (or pull it up on your mobile device) and you are good to go. For those without a projector, follow the suggested steps below by tracing the design onto the cookie with an edible food marker.

The Decorating Process

These nerdy apple cookies are fairly quick to whip up because they only require just four easy icing colors. I mixed the following icing colors below:

• Red piping and flood icing. (I used Americolor Tulip Red.)
• Green medium icing. (I used Americolor Leaf Green.)
• Optional: Darker Green piping icing. (I mixed Americolor Leaf Green with Americolor Forest Green.)
• Brown medium icing. (I used Americolor Chocolate Brown.)
• Black medium piping icing. (I used Americolor Super Black.)

Step 1

For those without a projector, mark the guideline where the stem and the leaf should be, as shown. I made a template with template plastic from the PDF file above and used a food marker to draw the guideline on the cookie.

Step 2

Begin by outlining and flooding the main apple section with red icing. Let that set to crust over for about 15 minutes.

Next, outline and fill the leaf section with the leaf green icing. Let this icing dry completely before moving on.

Step 3

Once the cookie had time to dry, fill in the small stem area with brown icing.

Then, with black icing, add the two frames for the glasses. Getting the placement just right might be tricky, so I would rely on the template to help guide me. But for intricate face features like this, I would opt for using a projector to speed things along.

Step 4

The last thing to do is add the finishing touches. Outline the leaf with the darker green icing, as well as outline the top of the stem with brown icing.

Finish the facial features by added the eyes, the eyebrows, and the smile.

Video Tutorial

The steps above are summarized in the time-lapsed video below.

Other Apple Ideas and Gift Tags

Nerdy apple cookies isn't the only design you can apply to this cookie cutter. Here's just a sampling of what I came up with that you might like.

These apples are easy to personalize with a teacher's name, or to illustrate a sincere message.

Apple Gift Tags

To add a nice, finishing touch to these gift ideas, I teamed up with my brother Billy and his new graphic print company, Owl House Co. Billy made beautiful apple-themed favor tags, creating a cute, coordinating presentation any teacher would love.

"I couldn't have PICKED a better TEACHER!"

"Teaching is a work of Heart."

Or, a more general message, "Welcome Back to School!"

These tags are available in two color options: blue or beige. Each design is offered at $3.50 each as an instant download printable. Or, purchase the bundle deal with 5 different designs for $7.50.

This team up of cookies with coordinating printable tags is a new venture for me and my brother. We hope to offer more fun gift ideas as the upcoming holiday seasons approach.