![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQOzS-Qz19ouXHgW4kxORHAb0F0ufa1-DWLWRZkKG_4RZXRMT_v-y17ZThxsrwTVfNg7LU7ndQh5QAg94c83nMM7UqgZmLnHgNFPI67PAkAvBGTOhMQ4nN5i2ILjibDQR9XE8q0wjslo/s400/wfmwbannerKRISTEN.jpg)
![americolor writers](http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/bridget350/americolorwriters.jpg)
Royal icing is not your only option for decorating cookies. Have you tried food coloring pens?
There are several brands available, but this:
AmeriColor Gourmet Food Writer Set
A few examples of where I've used Gourmet Writers:
![frogs 40 close](http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/bridget350/frogs40close.jpg)
{for eyelashes on frogs...}
![2 peas in a pod 1](http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/bridget350/2peasinapodreallyclose.jpg)
{eyes and ♥-shaped lips on sweet peas...}
![jack's teacher cookies](http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/bridget350/Jackscookies.jpg)
{cookie decorating with the kiddo...}
![teddy bears](http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/bridget350/3bears.jpg)
{teddy bear faces...}
![eggs names karen](http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu101/bridget350/eggsnames2-09.jpg)
{and personalization.}
My tips...
- if using on royal icing, let the icing dry overnight before using the markers. The royal icing might look dry in a few hours, but it's not...trust me. :)
- use a light hand with the markers, or you can poke a hole right through the icing (those are the cookies you get to eat!)
- store the pens in the refrigerator
- have a paper towel nearby to blot the pen tips during use. Once you've decorated several cookies, the food coloring starts flowing a little more.
- BLACK...you'll need the black pen the most. After that, I probably use pink and red most often. I still like to have all of the colors, just in case I need them.