An Unsticky Situation

          I’m sure it has happened to many an amateur baker. You’ve bought some adorable sprinkles from Sprinkle Me This, you sprinkle them on top of some delicious cookies, and when you pick one up to take a bite they fall all over you like a colorful Niagara Falls. You check yourself into the Betty Crocker Clinic to help cope with your baking disaster and wonder what went wrong. 

          It doesn’t make sense for something made mostly of sugar to not stick to something like  a cookie but, this is actually quite normal for sprinkles. The solutions to make your sprinkles stick to cookies are simple and might actually make your cookies taste even better.

          Of course, the most common solution and probably the easiest way to make your sprinkles stick is by either using frosting or icing. But what is the difference between the two?

          Icing is a thinner, more liquid topping made with confectioner’s sugar and milk or cream, sometimes with a bit of vanilla. When it dries, it will have a shiny and smooth finish.

          Frosting, on the other hand, is much thicker and includes the same ingredients as icing but also includes butter. 

          Either one of these two will be perfect for applying sprinkles to your cookies and allow you to add additional flavorings such as vanilla or other extracts to enhance the flavor of your cookies. They’re both easy to make for amateur bakers and easy to spread.

          Another option would be to add a tasteless glaze to the top of your cookies using a mixture of egg whites and some water. After your cookies cool, you will simply brush the top of your cookies with this mixture and then add your sprinkles. The downside to this technique is that your cookies may turn slightly darker with the incorporation of a liquid. Your sprinkles will stick, but if you’re trying to maintain the color of your cookies, this might not be the best option.

          But what if you don’t want to use either icing, frosting, or a glaze? Then it comes down to knowing when is the best time to add your sprinkles. Just before you’re ready to place your cookies into the oven, brush a little water or milk to the surface of your cookies and dust on your sprinkles. This will provide just enough moisture for them to stick and bake into your cookies so they don’t fall off so easily. You may want to create a test batch, however, as some sprinkles like quins can sometimes melt in the oven as they may not hold up to oven temperatures very well.

          Whatever technique you choose, remember there is always a solution to most baking issues and you’re likely not the first person who has run into the issue you’re having. If you’re ever unsure how your cookies will look or taste, always start with a test batch and make adjustments like a pro.