You’d never know it, but these cactus heart cookies have been in my freezer (undecorated) for months. I cut these hearts out with extra dough from a cookie project last fall. Yay me! I was thinking and planning ahead for a change. I gotta tell ya, it was pretty cool to skip the baking step and get right into decorating these cuties for Valentine's Day!

Why I love these cactus cookies

I’m super jazzed about the gumpaste flowers and spines on these cactus cookies. I’ve been practicing gumpaste flowers and I’m really pleased with how these turned out. And they’re so easy! Check out my tips and a handy video below. The spines are gumpaste too. I used a clay extruder (I only use mine for gumpaste, not clay) to make homemade white sprinkles that could double as cactus spines. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it when they stood up in the royal icing. Cool, right?

How to use a clay extruder to make cactus spines

Choose the disc with the smallest holes. Press soft gumpaste through the disc onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Let dry completely. Break into desired pieces. Place spines into wet royal icing.

How to make cactus flowers

I used this video to learn how to make my carnation cactus flowers: Flowerpaste carnations by Zoes Fancy Cakes The only thing I did differently: I hung mine upside down to dry so the petals would stay upright.

When my carnation cactus flowers were completely dry (let them sit overnight), I dusted the edges with dry ChromaDust in Copper/Fleshtone. Using the side of the brush so my dust just hit the edges.

When ready to assemble, snip the wire at the base of the flower. Using a little Royal Icing, fasten a flower to a cactus cookie and let dry completely before serving. REMINDER: These flowers contain wire and are for decoration only!

Supplies

AmeriColor Teal

AmeriColor Avocado

AmeriColor Royal Blue

AmeriColor Navy Blue

Roxy & Rich Fondust Turquoise

Martha Stewart detailing brushes

Clay extruder

Michael Bonne heart cookie cutter (discontinued)

Mini carnation cutter

ChromaDust fleshtone food color