How to Decorate Hanukkah Candle Cookies

How to Decorate Hanukkah Candle Cookies

If you’re looking for a clean, elegant Hanukkah cookie design that always looks polished, this tutorial is for you. We’ll create two coordinating cookie styles using the Jewish Candles Cookie Stencil and Cutter Set by Designer Stencils—one with a blue airbrushed ombré and one with a raised white stencil overlay on a soft blue background.

Featured Product

Jewish Candles Cookie Stencil & Cutter Set
Includes a matching cutter plus two stencil designs to create the looks shown in this tutorial.

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Skill level: Beginner-friendly
Techniques: Flooding, stenciling, airbrushing (optional), piped dot details

Pro tip: Crisp stenciling starts with a fully dried base flood—plan to dry several hours or overnight.

What You’ll Need

Tools & Supplies

  • Jewish Candles Cookie Stencil & Cutter Set (Designer Stencils)
  • Baked and fully cooled cookies (cut with the matching cutter)
  • Royal icing (white + light blue)
  • Piping bags + small round tip (#1–#2 recommended for dot “pearls”)
  • Scribe tool or toothpick (optional but helpful)
  • Stencil holder, or magnets + metal board, or painter’s tape
  • Airbrush machine + blue airbrush color (for Cookie #1)
  • Small scraper/spatula/card (for applying icing through stencil on Cookie #2)
Stencil Success Tip Secure your stencil firmly so there are no gaps—this prevents bleed/overspray and keeps the design crisp.

Royal Icing Consistency Guide

Consistency is the secret to clean stenciling and pretty dot details. Use this quick guide:

  • Flood icing: smooth and fluid; should settle flat within ~10–15 seconds
  • Piping/dot icing: stiff enough to hold a rounded dot (minimal settling)
  • Stencil-through-icing (overlay): medium-stiff; spreads cleanly and holds detail

This cookie starts with a white base flood, then uses the first stencil design with blue airbrushing concentrated around the outside edges for a soft ombré effect. Finish with piped dot accents for a dimensional, boutique-style look.

Step 1: Flood the Cookie in White

  1. Outline the cookie with white royal icing (slightly thicker than flood).
  2. Flood the entire cookie with white flood icing.
  3. Smooth with a scribe if needed.
  4. Allow icing to dry until the surface is completely firm.
Why this matters: A fully dried base is the key to crisp airbrushing and preventing smudges.

Step 2: Stencil & Airbrush in Blue (Stencil #1)

  1. Secure the stencil firmly on the fully dried cookie.
  2. Airbrush blue in light passes, building color gradually.
  3. Concentrate color more heavily along the outside edges and lighter toward the center.
  4. Lift the stencil straight up.
Pro Tip: Ombré Shading Edge first (closer distance), then lightly mist the center from a slightly farther distance to keep it soft without over-darkening.

Step 3: Finish with Piped White Dot Details

  1. Once the airbrushed layer is dry to the touch, pipe a border of white dots around the outer edge.
  2. Add dot accents to highlight key bands, curves, or circular details.
  3. Keep dot size and spacing consistent for the most professional finish.
Dot technique: Hold the bag straight up-and-down → squeeze → stop pressure → lift.

This design uses a light blue flood as the base, then a raised white royal icing stencil overlay. It’s classic, clean, and looks amazing as part of a coordinated set.

Step 1: Flood the Cookie in Light Blue

  1. Tint your flood icing a soft/light blue.
  2. Outline the cookie, then flood the full surface.
  3. Smooth with a scribe if needed.
  4. Allow the surface to dry until completely firm before stenciling.
Important If the base icing is even slightly soft, the stencil can stick and smear. Fully dry is best.

Step 2: Apply White Royal Icing Through the Stencil (Stencil #2)

  1. Secure the stencil on the fully dried cookie.
  2. Use white royal icing in a medium-stiff consistency.
  3. Place a small amount of icing on the stencil and spread smoothly with a scraper.
  4. Use one or two confident passes—avoid overworking.
  5. Lift the stencil straight up.
Clean edge tip: One smooth scrape usually looks sharper than several light passes.

Step 3: Finish with White Dot Embellishments

  1. Once the stenciled layer has set slightly, pipe dot borders along the cookie edges and/or base accent area.
  2. Add decorative dot “pearls” anywhere you’d like extra dimension or symmetry.

Drying Tips for Best Results

  • For the crispest stenciling, stencil on cookies that have dried several hours or overnight.
  • A small fan can help with crusting (avoid direct heat).
  • Let stencil overlays and dot details dry thoroughly before stacking or packaging.

Optional Variations (Fun to Try!)

  • Brush pearl luster dust over dry dots for extra shine
  • Swap medium blue for deep navy for a bolder look
  • Add edible gold paint accents to selected dots after drying
  • Try a darker blue flood background with white stencil overlay for extra contrast

Ready to Make This Set?

Grab the Jewish Candles Cookie Stencil & Cutter Set and follow this tutorial anytime you want a clean, coordinated Hanukkah cookie design.

Shop the Stencil & Cutter Set

Note: Drying times vary by humidity and icing thickness. For best results, allow base floods to dry thoroughly before stenciling.

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