Kitchen Spotlight: PICO Projector
Welcome back to The Nest! If you’ve ever wondered how I manage to get such detailed designs onto my cookies, today I’m welcoming you into my kitchen to share one of my favorite decorating tools.
Over the years of running Little Owls Bakery, I’ve tried all kinds of decorating techniques. One tool that has truly changed the way I decorate is a PICO projector. Now, using a projector might sound a little high-tech for a home bakery, but it’s quickly become one of my most reliable instruments when it comes to creating detailed and intricate cookie designs.
Once my cookies are baked and a base layer of icing is completely dry, I place them under the projector and display the image or design I want to create.
As you can see in the photographs below, the projector shines the picture directly onto the cookie surface, creating almost a stencil made of light. From there, I carefully trace the outlines using royal icing or an edible marker. It’s a simple idea, but it makes a huge difference when working on intricate logos, characters, or lettering!
Now, using a projector doesn’t mean the decorating is easy, in fact, there’s still plenty of patience and practice involved! But it does help me ensure that custom designs look clean and consistent across an entire set of cookies. Below, you can see a variety of cookie sets I’ve used my projector to help decorate.
As a home baker who creates one-of-a-kind orders, this tool has been incredibly helpful in my home bakery journey. This projector allows me to confidently take on more detailed requests while still maintaining the handmade quality that makes Little Owls Bakery’s cookies so special.
In the next few months, I’ll continue to share more of the tools, tricks, and little behind-the-scenes moments that help bring my cookie designs to life. Until then, I’ll be right here in my kitchen, projector on, icing bags ready, and with cookies still waiting to be decorated!
Until next time, keep baking!
Stephanie Barnes
Cookie Tip #4
I use these Keenpioneer bag clips to keep the icing bags closed while working! Of course, you can always knot them but these are definitely easier on your hands.
Click the image to the right to check out these bag clips on my Amazon Storefront.