My Main Squeeze . . .Works For Me Wednesday

Flooding* cookies with icing can be a messy affair. That's why I love squeeze bottles!

*{Flooding is just a fancy term for filling in a cookie with thinned icing.}
For piping outlines and details in royal icing, I use pastry bags. When I'm ready to fill in the cookie outline, I thin the icing and transfer the (flood) icing into squeeze bottles.
Why not use a pastry bag? Using a pastry bag for flood icing can lead to this:
Not pretty! Plus, those drips out of the top of the bag can plop down right on an already decorated cookie!!!
{I know, I used to do it this way!}
Now, I use these...(they come in a larger size, too)
...and I'm left with this....I like that. Much less messy!
Squeeze bottles can be found in the candy making section of most craft stores and sometimes in the craft section of WalMart.
Spend a few minutes (or an hour or two) checking out all of the great Works For Me Wednesday tips at We Are THAT Family.
My previous WFMW posts:
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43 comments

  1. BeaMarch 24, 2009 at 9:52 PM

    I LOVE-LOVE squeeze bottles... I never use pastry bags... small squeeze bottles that you can change tips to are great, too... Have you tried them, Bridget?

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  2. DorciMarch 24, 2009 at 9:55 PM

    Dontcha just love Wilton?

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  3. bridget {bake at 350}March 24, 2009 at 9:55 PM

    Yes, I have one of those, too. Actually, the bottle is not all that small, but the tip can be changed. I like it for getting into those tiny areas. :)

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  4. IreneMarch 24, 2009 at 10:46 PM

    What a wonderful idea!!! I'm completely in awe of your amazing cookies! I'm a total dunce with cookies, unfortunately. :)

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  5. JennyMarch 24, 2009 at 11:15 PM

    Great idea! I only make sugar cookies once per year, because they are such a pain to frost. Now I will have to try this!

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  6. LaVonneMarch 25, 2009 at 1:56 AM

    Thanks for the great tip. I linked to this post in my WFMW blog post. visit anytime.

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  7. UnknownMarch 25, 2009 at 4:06 AM

    Sqeeze bottles are great. I've even seen them used to make epoxy jewelery lately.

    Great tip, no more doing it the hard way for me.

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  8. MelissaMarch 25, 2009 at 6:35 AM

    Bridget, do you use a funnel to transfer the icing from a bowl to the squeeze bottle?

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  9. bridget {bake at 350}March 25, 2009 at 7:17 AM

    Melissa...

    I just pour it from the container I mixed it in....very slowly! ;) Sometimes I miss and have to wipe down the bottle with a damp papertowel.

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  10. TidyMomMarch 25, 2009 at 7:32 AM

    Oh what a PERFECT idea!! I'll have to pick some up!!

    ~TidyMom

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  11. SarahMarch 25, 2009 at 7:38 AM

    I do this too! I've never actually used them for melted chocolate...I am scared that they would be hard to clean. Icing is easy to clean out!

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  12. BetsyMarch 25, 2009 at 8:01 AM

    I have been decorating cookies for awhile and love to use squeeze bottles too. Love your cookies. You do amazing work. I would love to get involve in the baking for the troops. Let me know how.

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  13. JenniferMarch 25, 2009 at 8:21 AM

    Thanks for the great tip! I'm going to have to try it out next time.

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  14. Jen @ My Kitchen AddictionMarch 25, 2009 at 8:36 AM

    Great tip... I often still try to use the pastry bag, although I often cheat and use one of those twisty-ties to secure the top of the bag so it doesn't leak. I'll have to find some of these bottles!

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  15. bridget {bake at 350}March 25, 2009 at 8:41 AM

    Hey Betsy!

    Check with "Operation Baking Gals." :)

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  16. Sonya --Dime Store ThriftMarch 25, 2009 at 9:02 AM

    LOVING This Idea! Not that I am a great or frequent baker, I just drool over all your photos and pretend we are eating them:) But I am SO writing down this tip!

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  17. KateMarch 25, 2009 at 9:05 AM

    Love this idea! Especially since I seem to be pastry-bag-challenged.

    ~Kate
    "Which Proverbs 14:1 Woman?"
    http://proverbs14-1.blogspot.com

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  18. AnonymousMarch 25, 2009 at 9:22 AM

    Cool, thanks for the tip!

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  19. ThenaMarch 25, 2009 at 9:36 AM

    Wow! Now we know how you make beautifully, perfect cookies. What a wonderful idea.

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  20. AnonymousMarch 25, 2009 at 10:47 AM

    These look good and easy for little hands to use too.

    Thanks!

    Jamie

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  21. Julia from Dozen FloursMarch 25, 2009 at 10:51 AM

    At least the green icing matched your tablecloth :)

    I love me some plastic bottles. I like to use them to zig-zag warm chocolate over cakes, cookies, and especially caramel apples. It just gives you better control over the medium.

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  22. KaraMarch 25, 2009 at 10:57 AM

    Buying squeeze bottles this weekend, and making the flood icing! :) Thanks for the tip yesterday too!

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  23. MichaelaMarch 25, 2009 at 11:35 AM

    SUCH A SMART TIP :)!

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  24. HollyMarch 25, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    What a good idea! Of course, I don't decorate many cookies...yours are gorgeous though!
    Thanks for visiting my blog :)

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  25. AnonymousMarch 25, 2009 at 2:14 PM

    These are great! I was recently using a pastry bag for some plating decorations while taking pictures in our dining room and it was pretty messy :) I would love to get one of those bottles!

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  26. MonteeMarch 25, 2009 at 3:38 PM

    Yes, squeeze bottles are a lifesaver!

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  27. MollyMarch 25, 2009 at 7:12 PM

    Mac asked if you were painting!!!

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  28. Kristin - The GoatMarch 25, 2009 at 8:29 PM

    I love love love love this tip. I could never get the hang of those pastry bags and avoided them like the plague and now, I may be able to actually ice something!

    Thank you, thank you!

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  29. KristenMarch 25, 2009 at 10:37 PM

    I had no idea there was such a thing. I need to move on from cut and bake. At some point :D

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  30. adozeneggsMarch 26, 2009 at 7:01 AM

    I can't believe that you can get such great detail on your cookies with a squeeze bottle!
    I'm used to the bags and found a source for sturdier, cheaper and larger bags than the Wilton ones.
    I find that after 6 years and about 100,000 cookies made using pastry bags, I don't have the messy spill issue.
    Try using a wet cloth at the bottom of your cup too, it prevents the tip from drying out AND stops the icing from flowing out of the bag.

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  31. bridget {bake at 350}March 26, 2009 at 7:55 AM

    Laura (adozeneggs)...now I am even more amazed with your work! You used those bags and don't make a mess?!?! Wow! Do you have to fish out the couplers from all of them? Thanks for the tip about the paper towels! I never thought about using them for the flood icing.

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  32. Ingrid_3BsMarch 26, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    I have a bunch of those squeeze bottles. They're great for all kinds of things. I use tiny ones filled with melted candy for filling molds.
    ~ingrid

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  33. AnonymousMarch 26, 2009 at 6:27 PM

    Thanks - I've tried the bags and they have never worked.

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  34. adozeneggsMarch 27, 2009 at 10:15 PM

    Of course I had to open my big mouth about the no-mess bags.
    Today, while filling a bag with thin purple, I looked away for a second and started pouring the icing on the table!!
    Ugh.

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  35. bridget {bake at 350}March 28, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    Laura (ADE)...you were probably cursing me for jinxing you! ;)

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  36. Tess1960April 15, 2009 at 10:51 AM

    Oh great idea, thanks!!

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  37. AnonymousMay 5, 2009 at 9:03 AM

    Thanks for the tip. When you are finished with "a flood", do you toss the bottle or is there an easy way to clean it for future use?

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  38. bridget {bake at 350}May 5, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    Hi saj....oh yes, I wash them and use them over and over and over again! Just dump out what you can, add some dish soap and water and shake, pour it out and do the same thing again until all of the icing is gone. Now rinse with plain water until completely rinsed. :)

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  39. Sweet Baker BeckyJanuary 20, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    FYI - I bought a dozen squeeze bottles at Sam's Club for about $2.00. They are red (for ketchup) and larger than the Wilton ones, but are a great value and work the same!

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  40. Janine416January 15, 2012 at 4:38 PM

    Do you know where you can get the squeeze bottles that the couplers fit? Are these good for outlining or is there an advantage to sticking with the bags for outlining? Thanks!

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