Best Cookie Decorating Tools to Get Your Business Running
The best cookie decorating tools and equipment give you a competitive advantage when starting a cookie business. But, how much will these items cost you?
Are you wanting a part-time gig or a full-time income producer? That will make a difference in how much you want to invest.
This page shares...
➡️My Supreme Royal Icing Recipe and Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
➡️The best cookie decorating tools to start up your business
➡️Ways to save money before buying products
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"Not everything is a must right from the start. Once you feel you are ready to start selling your cookies at the right price (see my Price for Decorated Sugar Cookies page), then you can begin expanding your tools and equipment collection." |
These are your advantages over competitors...my recipes!
- Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
- My Supreme Royal Icing recipe--there are reasons why it's 'supreme'
- If you need a Sugar Cookie Glaze Recipe
best cookie decorating tools you need to start with
As adding a live link to each product would appear spammy, I will add copy-and-paste links for most.
Best cookie decorating tools:
- Cookie cutters
Get the 108 pc set of Wilton's. I still use them today. I know those cutesy ones on Etsy or tempting, but they are so expensive when you have to add shipping! My suggestion is this set and a set of fancy-shaped metal cutters. Here are both links:
Wilton set:
🔗 https://amzn.to/4n2T2rr
Fancy-shaped cutters:
🔗 https://amzn.to/4hg5uTp
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
For ideas to grow a cookie-cutter collection, see the bottom of my page, Baby Girl Shower Cookies.
Don't forget about cookie-cutter flips! Put in a little brain work or ask on the active fb group, 'Flip that Cookie Cutter', for ideas with the Wilton set.
See my own growing compilations on this page: Cookie Cutter Flips. Did you know I offer 3 flips in each WeCookier's Express Periodical? What? You haven't signed up yet? Be a WeCookier now (opens in new tab) and get a valuable gift!
Cookie-cutter flip: clouds and a rainbow turned into a fall banner with a mischievous squirrel- Baking Sheets
Do not skimp on such an important tool. These pans are the best cookie decorating tools! They were voted the best baking sheets in 2025 and years before for quality...and most affordable!
- Lifetime of durability.
- Foods bake and brown evenly
- Reinforced encapsulated steel rim prevents warping and adds strength.
- Pan exterior dimensions are 17.9 x 12.9 x 1 inches, and interior dimensions are 17.1 x 12.1 x 1 inches.
- Cooling racks
I save a significant amount of time by not using cooling racks. With my sugar cookie recipe and the NordicWare baking sheets. I can bake and cool my cookies without having to remove them from the baking sheet. The baker's racks come in varying sizes. I opted for the largest. The 20-shelf one, due to the number of orders I receive:
🔗 https://amzn.to/4n8kO5V
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can see the process of how I do it, with valuable insights on baking here: How to Bake Sugar Cookies.
- cookie turntable
I love turntables because once the cookie is flooded, it slides off into your hand instead of having to lift it carefully, so it doesn't mess up the icing. See all about flooding with a valuable royal icing hack list to prevent color bleed: Royal Icing Flooding. I've used this one since I began over a decade ago. It's the least expensive one and suits me well with its 5.5" circumference.
🔗 https://amzn.to/43iO2b5
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Scribe
Fortunately, these are also very inexpensive for the cheap ones. It might be tempting to get one that's cute with the beads and dangly, but they are hard to hold on to, and learn cookie decorating techniques for a beginner.
Here is a link for a starting point. They are the least expensive as well. I suggest having a look around, though. Because there are sets with scribes, paintbrushes, and other tools for a smidgeon more than just a set of scribes.
🔗 https://amzn.to/3WGkAIm
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I try to provide how you can set up a cookie business for the least amount of dollars. It can get expensive.
- Piping bags.
Ateco has piping bags. They are good and very thick/durable. I like to tie my bags in a knot, and using real thick ones really doesn't work well for me, nor do bag clips or rubber ties.
I've ordered from a few companies. They were fine. I didn't like spending so much on them, though.
I've ordered from Temu for some years now and have saved myself a small fortune on piping bags! Just avoid the bags with red lettering (very thin). I stick with the clear/opaque ones without red writing (in this photo below). These are fabulous for me! I've never had them burst or leak. These are the large ones, so there's room to tie a knot:
🔗 https://www.temu.com/goods.html?goods_id=601101774945161&sku_id=17601445103124&click_scene=11&_x_msgid=211-20250831-11-B-904215077354106880-427-B3Axaerb&_x_src=mail&_x_sessn_id=6fa5a0x58e&refer_page_name=shopping_cart&refer_page_id=10037_1760895518111_s5dewuo5pw&refer_page_sn=10037
- Metallic luster dust
These are some of the most fun and best decorating tools.
The most beautiful gold and silver you can find is from TMP (Truly Mad Plastics). Very popular with cookiers!
🔗 https://trulymadplastics.com/TMP-Metallic-Highlighter-100-FDA-Compliant-Ingredients-p366397954
- couplers
Inexpensive. This set will get you going nicely. You may think, 'but I don't need that many'. Believe me, you will run right through them with the different colors and consistencies at the same time. For instance, for flowers, flooding, and outlining will constitute many couplers.
🔗 https://amzn.to/499OBrv
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Food markers
These markers will change your cookie world! You need them for fine details, lettering, and drawing (even making PYO Cookie Palettes for PYO Cookies!) These are my absolute favorites.
Why?
These markers have brilliant, bold colors and last for years (literally). I've tried many kinds. See my 7-brand comparison on: Food Color Markers. They come at a great price, too!
Nomeca Food Color Markers:
🔗 https://amzn.to/47aTkXz
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
These are terrific white food color markers, a must for your tool arsenal as well!
🔗 https://amzn.to/4q62mxw
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- food color gels
I suggest, as you're starting, to get a small bottle set. I've yet to find any brand that surpasses Americolor. Their colors are strong and vibrant, often taking less gel, too. The one color I suggest going in for is a large bottle of white. You will need white as you make your royal icing in the bowl.
Why?
It combats color bleed! You'll need 15 drops per batch of icing, then more white as you need a white color for decorating. The small, .75 oz won't last you long.
Set of Americolor food gels: 🔗 https://amzn.to/4nUeSP5
20 oz bottle of white food gel: 🔗 https://amzn.to/4qb39xr
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Cookie boxes/packaging
I've always used the company, brpboxshop. Most cookiers and cake decorators use them. They are a top-quality company with competitive pricing and terrific customer service:
- Impulse Heat Sealer for bagging cookies
This is an important tool and makes your business absolutely professional. I bought the large one as it accommodates larger bags for platter cookies:
No heating or cool-down time is needed. The sealing machine is made of high-quality metal materials.
Read more...
- Cello Bags for heat-sealing
I love TMP's bags; they come in many sizes and are inexpensive. Yes, the same company that I buy the luster dust from.
🔗 https://trulymadplastics.com/TMP-Products-c23175049
I saved the most expensive for last, sigh.
- The mixer
Out of all of the best cookie decorating tools, this one is the most important.
I use it pretty much every day, and it has proved itself worthy over and over again! When I bought mine, colors were not an option. Now there are tons of colors!
The mixer in the back is a Kenmore, an oldie. It doesn't have much guts in it anymore, so I use it solely for royal icing.
-5 Quart Stainless Steel Bowl
-10 speeds
-Choose from a full palette of color options
-Includes coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip, and 1-piece pouring shield.
To sum up in a list what the best cookie decorating tools for a beginner are...
- My recipes
- Cookie cutters
- Baking sheets
- Cooling rack
- Cookie turntable
- Scribe
- Piping bags
- Metallic luster dust
- Couplers
- Food color markers (+ white)
- Food color gels (+ white gel)
- Cookie packaging boxes, waxed paper, and medicine cups
- Impulse heat sealer
- Cello Bags for sealer
- Mixer
Best cookie decorating tools: how to save money
Here are a few ways to keep set-up costs low.
💜Use a napkin on a counter instead of a turntable
💜Use a toothpick instead of a scribe
💜Get second-hand cookie cutters, or hint to others for b-day and Christmas
💜Buy reusable piping bags instead of disposable ones.
💜Buy cookie boxes in small packs instead of by the case. Also, look at Pinterest for cookie packaging ideas.
💜There are little hand-sized, battery-operated heat-sealers that can work.
💜Some cookiers have luck with the little clear treat bags at Walmart to heat seal with. I've never tried them as they are thin and do not look as professional. But hey, it's something you could try to get you started.
💜Look on your local Facebook marketplace for a stand mixer. You could save hundreds of dollars! Keep an eye out for anything else for your business on FB.
That's it for this list. See Stage #2 list for when you are in a groove and taking orders. Coming very soon!
Top of Best Cookie Decorating Tools
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