How to Make Valentine Gnome Cookies
Gnomes seemed to be everywhere last holiday season. From the seasonal section at Target to huge displays at Homegoods, I've seen them popping up in practically every retail shop I visited.
I can totally see why though. They are cute, simple, and pack a ton of personality.
For cookie decorating, they are the perfect design. Gnome cookies don't require a face to pipe and the overall design is fairly simple to decorate. I had to jump on the gnome bandwagon and create my own version for Valentines Day. The tutorial below is specifically for Valentine gnome cookies, however the heart it's holding can easily be modified for any holiday.
Gnome Cookie Cutter
Just added to the shop is this new gnome cookie cutter.
Templates for the Gnome Cookies
To help with the decorating process, I made a PDF template of all the new Valentine's Day cookie cutter designs, including this gnome cookie.
Click the link below for the downloadable template PDF file.
If you have a Kopykake or Pico projector, just print it out (or pull it up on your mobile device) and you are good to go. For those without a projector, follow the suggested steps below by cutting out the template and tracing the design onto the cookie with an edible food marker.
The Decorating Process
For the colors used for these gnome cookies, you will need the following suggested colors:
- Flesh Color royal icing (I mixed a Americolor Copper and Americolor Ivory.)
- Brown icing (I mixed Americolor Taupe with a touch of Americolor Warm Brown.)
- Dark Pink icing (I mixed Wilton Rose with a small sampling of the brown icing above to dull down the intensity.)
- Light Pink icing (I mixed a small sampling of the dark pink above with fresh white icing.)
- White icing (I used Americolor Bright White.)
Step 1
For those without a projector, begin by making a guideline for where the center beard section should be. I made a template with template plastic from the PDF file above and used a food marker to draw the guideline on the cookie.
Step 2
Begin by filling in the center beard area with white icing. Let that icing set for about 15 minutes.
Then fill in the hat section with dark pink icing and the lower body section with brown icing. Let all this icing set up and dry for about an hour.
Step 3
Once the base layer of icing had time to set, add the ears and nose with flesh colored icing, as shown.
Next, add a heart in the middle with light pink icing. Let this icing set up for another hour.
Step 4
Next, add the outline details around the hat and pipe middle fingers on both sides of the heart.
Once those fingers are set, add the remaining outer fingers, as shown.
Valentine Gnome Cookie Video Tutorial
The steps above are summarized in the time-lapsed video below.
The best part of these Valentine gnome cookies is how versatile they are when accompanied with puns. For these cookies, I added a punny phrase on this icon plaque cookie.
"There's GNOME one like you!" Pretty cute, right? :)
That's just one example. Other phrases I think would work are "I love you GNOME matter what!" and maybe "You are like GNOME other!" I'm sure the possibilities are endless.
For packaging ideas, here are a two suggestions for cookie sizes along with coordinating gift box options.
REGULAR- This gnome size is 4″ tall and will fit a single 4″ x 4″ gift box. Or pair it with the icon plaque in this classic BRP cookie box (7″ x 4 3/8″ x 1.25″). (Top Box)
LARGE- This gnome size I paired with the icon plaque again. As a pair, they fit in these 7 3/8″ x 5 1/2” boxes from Paper Mart. (Bottom Box)
If you like pun cookie ideas for Valentine's Day, you're in luck. Our collection of pun-related Valentine cookie cutters is always growing. From beginners to experienced bakers, there's ideas for everyone!
