Outlining with Royal Icing

How do you outline your cookie?  I have learned over the course of the years what I like best.  I always use the same consistency of outline as flood.  Here are some different ways to try outlining your cookie!

METHOD 1 - OUTLINE FIRST, LET DRY COMPLETELY, AND THEN FLOOD INSIDE OUTER LINE

This method tends to be one mostly used especially when you have a large amount of cookies to fill.  As you can see above, when you allow your outline to dry completely and then flood on the inside of your line, you will be left with an outline showing.  This method is a safe way to assure your flood does not flow over the sides, and works really well if you do not mind the outer line showing.

METHOD 2 - OUTLINE FIRST, LET DRY COMPLETELY, AND THEN FLOOD SLIGHTLY OVER OUTER LINE

This method works really well to hold in your flood icing and minimize the appearance of the outer line.  It can take a little bit of practice if you have not worked a lot with royal icing, but it is an easy process to achieve fairly quickly.  Rather than safely flooding on top of the cookie inside your outline, you will just slowly and gently squeeze your flood icing up again your outer line so the flood icing just barely flows over it.  The end result is seeing much less of your outer line when all is said and done.

METHOD 3 - OUTLINE FIRST AND THEN IMMEDIATELY FLOOD

While this method certainly did not start out as my first way of doing cookies, it is definitely now my preferred way.  I again use the same consistency for my outline and my flood icing, and filling in the cookie with this method creates an instant seamless vision of a smooth royal icing palette. 

Whatever your preferred way is, there is no right or wrong way.  Feel free to comment below on some of your experiences and preferences.  I would love to hear how you all outline and flood your sugar cookies!