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    Home » Recipes » Decorated Sugar Cookies

    Balloon Sugar Cookies

    By Wendy Sondov · Published: Oct 22, 2017 · Modified: Aug 28, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Balloon Sugar Cookies are undeniably cheerful. A few dots of colored icing quickly and easily transforms sugar cookies into sweet birthday wishes.

    Balloon Sugar Cookies with blue icing background and three circle balloons with black strings.

    (The Monday Box participates in affiliate marketing programs. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Additional affiliate programs may be linked when applicable. If you choose to purchase a product after following a link on this page, I will receive a small commission, at no cost to you, which helps make The Monday Box possible.)

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Balloons are like sprinkles. Their bright and cheerful colors make people smile. Sprinkles and balloons change the ordinary into a celebration.

    When my kids lived at home, they were always greeted on birthday mornings by helium balloons tied to their bedroom door and their chair at the kitchen table. When they were away at college, I sent them helium balloons in a box.

    (It’s important to mark on the outside of the box, not to open with sharp objects. Also, taping the balloon string to the inside bottom of the box prevents an unexpected balloon escape.)

    Closeup of round sugar cookie decorated with light blue icing and three balloons.

    When I found out that my adopted sailor would celebrate her birthday while deployed, I shipped a box or two of sprinkles and balloons. Sprinkle Sugar Cookies get the party started.

    Sending balloons required a bit of creative license.  I couldn’t ship helium balloons by international air, so I opted for Balloon Sugar Cookies. They don’t float, but I think they still communicate happy thoughts and celebration.

    Chocolate and vanilla sugar cookies decorated with blue background and three balloons.

    Instructions

    1. I made two batches of sugar cookies, one vanilla and one chocolate. Each batch made 12-14 (2 ½”) cookies. The recipe can be doubled.
    2. Corn syrup icing is easy to make and to use. No experience or skill is needed. This Balloon Sugar Cookie design is so easy, that kids could definitely help with the decorating. The cookies are covered in a background color. I used Americolor Sky Blue.
    3. After the background has time to set (one hour or longer) colored ovals are added. I used Americolor Super Red, Leaf Green, Violet, and Lemon Yellow.
    4. Immediately after adding the ovals to a cookie, I used a toothpick to gently pull a bit of the colored icing downward to create the balloon tips.
    5. After drying completely (at least overnight, possibly longer depending on humidity) balloon strings are drawn onto each balloon with a food marker. I recently purchased these Americolor Black Food Writers, and I love them. The dark black line glides onto the icing with no pressure at all. I’ve used other brands before, and the difference is huge.
    Icing decorating process: outline blue, flood blue, add three balloon circles, make tie on balloons with toothpick.

    Care package contents

    Usually, my military care package ideas fill up two Monday Box posts. This Birthday Care Package was special (as all birthdays should be) and it took three posts to share all of the contents.

    The Sprinkle Sugar Cookies are the new recipe included. The Birthday Party in a Box post gives directions and printables for shipping a box of 3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake mix with frosting and candy add-ins.

    Balloon Sugar Cookies are the final celebratory treat.

    My care package also included a necklace, a small gift for Sailor A. You can find it on Amazon. I think the message and attached angel wing charm is perfect.

    Necklace with silver colored disc charm with motivational quote.

    More birthday care package ideas

    Birthday Cake Surprise Cookies look like mini birthday cakes with three layers of sugar cookies.

    Celebration Sprinkle Cookies are personalized cookies for the birthday person.

    Sprinkle Sugar Cookies make you smile just looking at all of the colorful sprinkles!

    Funfetti Cookies have the celebration sprinkles baked right into the dough!

    Birthday Mug Cake is the perfect way to send a care package with the ingredients for an instant microwave birthday cake to anyone with access to a microwave.

    Balloon Sugar Cookies

    Balloon Sugar Cookies

    Balloon Sugar Cookies turn any day into a celebration! Delicious cookies with easy balloon icing.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: LilaLoa.com
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 hours
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 24 cookies
    Calories: 211kcal
    Author: Wendy Sondov

    Equipment

    • 2 ½" round cookie cutter
    • Rolling Pin

    Ingredients

    VANILLA COOKIES

    • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour

    CHOCOLATE COOKIES

    • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large eggs
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ plus ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
    • ⅓ cup cocoa
    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

    FAUX ROYAL ICING/CORN SYRUP ICING

    • 4 cups confectioners sugar
    • 3 tablespoons milk plus extra for thinning
    • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Food coloring I use Americolor gel; Sky Blue, Grass Green, Super Red, Lemon Yellow, Violet

    Instructions

    FOR VANILLA SUGAR COOKIES

    • Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar just until combined.
    • Mix in eggs and vanilla. Then mix in baking powder and salt.
    • Gradually add flour. If making the cookies right away, use 2 ¼ cups of flour. If refrigerating dough for use in several hours or several days, use only 2 cups of flour.
    • Between two sheets of wax paper or parchment roll out to slightly less than ½” thick ( about ⅜”). If the dough is sticky, dust lightly with flour.
    • Cut out 2 ½’ circles.
    • Transfer the circles to prepared baking sheet about 1” apart. Bake for 7-8 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

    FOR CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES

    • Pre heat oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar just until combined.
    • Mix in eggs and vanilla. Then mix in salt, baking powder and cocoa.
    • Gradually add flour. If making the cookies right away, use 1 ¾ cups of flour. If refrigerating dough for use in several hours or several days, use only 1 ½ cups of flour.
    • Roll out dough between two sheets of parchment paper to slightly less than ½” thick (about ⅜”)
    • Cut out 2 ½” circles.
    • Transfer to prepared baking sheet about 1” apart and bake for 7-8 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

    TO DECORATE

    • In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the icing ingredients and mix until smooth. The icing should be the consistency of white glue. Add more milk in tiny increments if needed to thin the icing to the desired consistency.
    • Spoon about 3 tablespoons of icing into each of four small bowls. For the balloon design, add one or two drops of food coloring to each small bowl and mix until the color is uniform.
    • Add a 2-3 drops of Sky Blue food coloring to the remaining icing for the background color.
    • Spoon each color of icing into a separate piping bag fitted with a plain round piping tip (#5 for the background color and # 3 for the balloons).
    • Pipe the background color onto each cookie, then allow to dry at least one hour.
    • Working with one cookie at a time, pipe three balloon ovals onto the background. To create the balloon neck opening, use a toothpick to gently pull downward at the bottom of each oval.
    • Let the cookies dry completely (overnight or longer) then use a food writer to draw on the balloon strings.
    • Store in cellophane cookie bags or between wax paper, in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks.

    Notes

    Packing tips

    Stack individually wrapped cookies (using cellophane cookie bags or plastic wrap) in an airtight container or freezer weight ziplock bag. Pad the box carefully to ensure no movement within the box during shipping.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 259IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheMondayBox or tag #themondaybox!

    You might also like:

    Three dimentional Painted Turkey Sugar Cookies with muticolored painted icingPainted Turkey Sugar Cookies Sugar cookies covered with rainbow nonpareil sprinkles.Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Funfetti Sugar Cookies, with rainbow sprinkles, a bowl of sprinkles and cookies wrapped in  clear cellophane bags.Funfetti Sugar Cookies
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    Comments

    1. saltandserenity

      October 24, 2017 at 1:48 pm

      These cookies are adorable but I am obsessed with the idea of sending helium balloons to my kids in a box for their birthdays. Genius. Can't wait to try it.
      You always have the best ideas.

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        October 24, 2017 at 7:08 pm

        Thanks, Cindy! I've sent balloon to Chicago in February, so I know mailing balloons works in cold weather. My daughter's balloons were mailed in May when it wasn't too hot yet. The first time is the big surprise. After that, my kids expect the "balloon box" ! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Chris Scheuer

      October 22, 2017 at 2:43 pm

      Wendy, your cookies just keep getting prettier and prettier. They always make me smile but these do in particular!

      Reply
      • The Monday Box

        October 22, 2017 at 3:27 pm

        Thank you, Chris! Balloons have the same magical smile creating powers as sprinkles. 🙂

        Reply

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    I'm Wendy, a baker, care package maker, and smile creator. On The Monday Box you’ll find care package inspiration and recipes for delicious treats that make it easy for you to share home baked love. Let’s spread happiness, one cookie at a time!

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