Royal Icing and Fondant Pine Cones, Holly Leaves, and Berries: A Companion Video

I’m back with a follow-on to my recent 3-D Christmas candelabra cookie! The goal of this “companion” video is to show you exactly how I made the very lifelike, but completely edible decorations on that candelabra, including (1) the curved royal icing and fondant holly leaves; (2) the fondant (or modeling chocolate) holly berries; and (3) the pièce de résistance, the royal icing pine cones! While I’m terribly sorry I didn’t get this video to you in time for Christmas, the good news is: these decorations make great additions to any winter-themed cookie, so you’re sure to get plenty of mileage out of them!
RELATED VIDEOS:
How to Make Royal Icing (with Consistency Adjustments): • How to Make Royal Icin...
How to Make 2-D Royal Icing Transfers: • 2-D Royal Icing Transf...
How to Make a 3-D Christmas Candelabra Cookie: • 3-D Christmas Candelab...
How to Make 3-D Cookie Cauldrons: • How to Make Cookie Cau... (for curved royal icing snakes!)
RELATED TUTORIALS:
Thanks to Aproned Artist and Manu, contributors to my site Cookie Connection, for these other wonderful tutorials about how to make curved royal icing leaves:
Fall Leaves and Acorns by Aproned Artist: tinyurl.com/y7xxggj7
Water Lily and Lily Pad Transfers by Manu: tinyurl.com/y8vzgnq7
RELATED RECIPES:
Royal Icing with Consistency Adjustments: tinyurl.com/zx7a9jk
MY MOST COMMONLY USED TOOLS:
Many are here in my new Amazon store: www.amazon.com/shop/juliamusher
OTHER SPECIALTY TOOLS:
PME Veined Holly Leaf Plunger Cutters: tinyurl.com/ydg94ysq
Fondant Extruder: tinyurl.com/y9stbjej
Rainbow Dust Black Double-Sided Food Marker: tinyurl.com/ycej8q6c
PME Pearl Luster Spray: tinyurl.com/y8xtytbj
NOTES ABOUT LEAF TEMPLATES FOR HOLLY LEAF ROYAL ICING TRANSFERS:
Any free downloadable holly leaf graphics will do! I scaled mine to three different sizes, ranging between ¾ inch to 1 ½ inches in length. Don’t forget to flip the templates and to pipe some mirror images in all sizes, so that you end up with leaves going in different directions.
TO PURCHASE MY STENCILS:
confectioncouturestencils.com
TO PURCHASE MY 4-HOUR VIDEO COOKIE DECORATING COURSE, MY BOOKS, OR APP:
www.juliausher.com/store
TO JOIN COOKIE CONNECTION, MY ONLINE COOKIE DECORATING COMMUNITY:
cookieconnection.juliausher.co...
TO HANG OUT WITH ME ON THE WEB:
My site/blog: www.juliausher.com
Facebook: tinyurl.com/j6nm6te
Instagram: / juliamusher
Twitter: / juliamusher
Pinterest: / juliamusher
Google+: tinyurl.com/ha4huw9
CREDITS:
Music by: Kevin MacLeod, www.incompetech.com
Videography/Editing by: Christian Kirk, Mindframe

[@whisperingcovefarm8421]

I truly thought based on the thumbnail that the pine cones were real! Wow! You did a great job!!!! Bravo 👋👋👋👋

[@kastaylor01]

I am continually stunned by your artistry in this medium. Truly inspirational. Thanks for sharing all your ideas.

[@galkaal9642]

I'm fascinated by gingerbread. It worked. Thank you!

[@rademenes80]

I salute you! You create one of the best masterpieces ever! Such talent! I enjoy watching your every video. Greetings from Cape Town.

[@DebbieZagarit]

Stunning as always Julia. You are so talented and such a pleasure to watch. Happy New Year xxx

[@ellenwood719]

Just lovely! So lifelike!

[@vintagegal7376]

Those pinecones are amazing.

[@amandagodfrey5952]

Stunning. Thank you so much xx

[@snowiejames]

I would have loved it if this video was published before Christmas. So many good ideas.

[@cakes3D777]

There is so much to learn from you. You 've got some amazing skills and talent. Thanks a million for not keeping it for yourself😉😉👍👍👍❤❤❤

[@Vtones25]

You are the best!! I wish you had 10 million subscribers bc you are so talented!!

[@galkaal9642]

Your work is super!

[@ddnz7]

So impressive!!!!

[@amiraelkhoury185]

Wonderful

[@ff-uy1vo]

Vous avez un très beau et superbe travail j'adore 💕 votre travail

[@begonaschulze2829]

Eres la mejor!!! You are the best!!!!

[@JuliaMUsher]

Oh, thanks so much!

[@susansaldias508]

Maravillosas las piñas

[@JuliaMUsher]

Thanks so much!

[@michellepernula872]

I'm gonna try making those pinecones and make a bowl full of them and then sit next to my husband and crunch on them (mouth loaded with peanut brittle to sound crunchy or pop rock candy). I should do the pine branches too. lol

[@cakes3D777]

Can I use cocoa powder to die the icing? Thanks

[@gladyscoronel4396]

Saludos desde Quito Ecuador me encanta todo lo que hace que Dios le bendiga mucho

[@JuliaMUsher]

Thanks you so much, Gladys!

[@galkaal9642]

Hello Julia! Than you water a flower with red flowers? What kind of fertilizer? Thanks.

[@galkaal9642]

@@JuliaMUsher Hi, Julia! Break off new shoots and will bloom for 6 months. Good bye!

[@judithsathianathan7487]

Where can I get petal tip 101s. I tried calling Wilton I’m unable to get it. Please advise. You are an amazing cake/ cookie decorator. You are a great inspiration to me.

[@JuliaMUsher]

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, they seem to be in short supply for some reason. I just googled "101S pastry tip" though and found Ateco ones (which may be a bit larger) on Country Kitchen SweetArt and Wilton ones on Amazon.

[@yvette.3075]

I don't have an airbrush. Would coloring the icing for the leaves and maybe a different green for the vain and then use luster dust for shading or highlighting work?

[@JuliaMUsher]

Yeah, though I would probably use a petal dust rather than a luster dust unless you want your leaves to be shiny.

[@emiliamartucci8291]

Julia, May I have your thoughts on the following. I have invested in Chefmaster gels to do your inspiring projects and need some advise. I cannot achieve the beautiful deep reds, browns and greens that you achieve in your videos. I called Chefmaster yesterday and they helped me with the reds. They said that per cup of glue icing , that I would need 10ml which is half of their small bottles. So that problem was solved. I was surprised that I needed that much and was afraid to use that much for fear of altering the taste and fluidity of the icing. So now my questions are: 1 How much Buckeye brown per cup of glue do you use to get that deep beautiful brown in the cones above? Did you mix in any black? 2. Do you use Forrest Green or Leaf Green to achieve the deep green on the icing leaves on the Woodland Napkin Holder. 3. What did you do to achieve that lovely shade of "sage" on the snowflake cookies on the cover of Cookie Swap? I use a small amount of Leaf Green but it comes out a minty/blue green no matter what i do. Did you use Forrest Green for it? Because of your concise, clear and thorough instructions, my cookie projects come out successfully despite my lack of artistry at mixing gel colors. But, I want to do better. Appreciate any help you can give when you have time. Perhaps you could do a video on achieving deep colors? Thank you for your superb videos and sharing your creativity with us.

[@emiliamartucci8291]

Thank you immensely for your quick reply! I want to also thank you for your Christmas Ball Ornaments project that was a big hit with guests last year. I used them as place cards at my sister's house Christmas day and they were a big hit with guests, The other day I tested making your contoured napkin holders with some leftover dough of your sugar cookie recipe. It worked! Some broke but so what. Yesterday, on a whim I decided to ice it with leftover ivory tinted icing to rework it for Christmas table decor. It worked! Because I had already glued the two sides together, I decided - what the heck, I'll just dip it. Well that worked out just fine too! I suspended it on a rod to dry. It is not perfect but I will work on that between now and Xmas to make white sugar cookie napkin holders. While decorating the Woodland napkin holder, I came up with an idea of my own. I cut down some soft floral foam, scooped out a big divot that is big enough to hold the napkin ring securely while I work on it. Rather proud of myself for that idea. Lastly, I bake the contoured cookies on empty tomato paste cans. I put two 1 1/2 strips on each can. They bake fine the ridges of the can don't show and I can cut them down to size more perfectly, especially while they are still warm. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. Happy Holidays.

[@StellaLovesMusic25]

You have actually made these tiny pine cones?It looks just like the real ones which are on my trees.

[@user-rf2it9uv2p]

Пахнет Новым годом 👋👋👋👋👍👍🤗

[@treff1treff2]

Фея!