Edible Image Size for Sugar Cookies
Print 2.75 inch (70 mm) circles for cookies cut with a 3 inch cutter, and 3.25 inches (83 mm) for a 3.5 inch cutter. Cookies spread in the oven, so the best rule is to measure one baked cookie and print a quarter inch smaller.
Print at2.75 in (70 mm)
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Sizes at a glance
| Use | Print size | Per A4 | Per US Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 in cutter A quarter inch inside the cookie | 2.75 in (70 mm) | 6 | 6 |
| 3.5 in cutter A quarter inch inside the cookie | 3.25 in (83 mm) | 6 | 6 |
| Full cover The size suppliers pre-cut for cookies | 3 in (76 mm) | 6 | 6 |
Why this size
The cutter is only a starting point: sugar cookies spread as they bake, some doughs more than others. Measuring one baked cookie and printing a quarter inch smaller leaves a neat ring of icing round the image and absorbs any spread.
Suppliers pre-cut cookie images at 3 inches — the right choice if your 3 inch cookies spread to 3.25 inches or more.
How to put an edible image on sugar cookies
- 1
Flood with royal icing
Flood the cookie with a smooth base coat. - 2
Apply wet or dry
Sources differ. Some lay the image on the flood icing while it is wet so it sets in; others let the icing dry for 6 to 8 hours and attach the image with a thin layer of corn syrup or piping gel. - 3
Smooth from the centre
Smooth the image outwards from the middle with a dry fingertip, then let it set before packing.
Tips that save a sheet
- Bake a test cookie from each batch of dough and measure it before printing the order.
- Match the flood colour to the image’s background and the border disappears.
- A cookie-and-cupcake set? 2.75 and 2 inch circles can share one sheet in the editor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size edible image for a 3 inch cookie?
2.75 inches (70 mm) — a quarter inch smaller than the cookie. Measure after baking, because cookies spread.
Do you put edible images on wet or dry royal icing?
Both methods are used. On wet flood icing the image sets in; on icing dried for 6 to 8 hours it is attached with a thin layer of corn syrup or piping gel.
How many cookie toppers fit on a sheet?
With a 6 mm cutting gap: at 2.75 inches, 6 per A4 sheet and 6 per US Letter sheet; at 3 inches, 6 per A4 sheet and 6 per US Letter sheet.
Sizes checked against: Cake Art edible image information · BakePress topper size chart · Paper2eat — edible prints on royal icing · Make Bake Celebrate — edible image cookies. Sheet counts come from the CakeyTops editor itself.