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3D Snow Globe Cookie Tutorial

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Ice Perfect Cakes every time!

Learn Avalon's secret hack for creating perfect iced cakes every time - for free!

Full video and easy buttercream recipe inside!

When I think “winter”, my brain goes straight to the nostalgic feeling of snow globes *sigh*… such magic packed into those little things. Especially as a child, I remember trying to make a snow globe myself... consisting in those little plastic bulbs you’d get with your toy from the 25¢ machines AND, of course, glitter. Which then, of course, resulted in a tragic scene where a glitter bomb water mess left my mom’s kitchen table in temporary ruins.

So NATURALLY, as an "adult"....I still want to snow globe "all the things"… not as easy as one would hope in sugar.

However, Sandie and I came up with a 3D snow globe cookie that finally satisfied my snow globe fix!

I worked on the gelatin globe while Sandie worked the cookie side.

Now, sure, you’re not going to want to EAT the gelatin (even though you can)… but you know how we like to keep as much “edible” on our cakes and cookies as possible. Simply just remove it or eat around it. 😉

It’s great as a “center piece” cookie in a set of Christmas or winter themed cookies.

So, shall we?

Here is a video I did showing the snow globe in action and how to make the globe including tricks and tips:

Here's how to make your own snow-globe cookies!


24 hours before you start your cookies, begin making the globes!

1. First, make a gelatin mixture according to instructions (see recipe at bottom of the page).

Mixture of gelatin in a small bowl

2. As evenly as possible, paint the inside of the dome and work your way over the top to make a lip. QUICKLY flip over your mold onto a drying rack or parchment so that the gelatin does not pool at the bottom of the dome. Wait 20 seconds and then repeat in the other domes.

Silicone mold with gelatin painted over the edge to create a lip

It's important to create a lip around the top edge over the dome, this will give us a way to connect it to the cookie later on! You may want to do a second coat of gelatin.

Allow to dry overnight until no longer sticky and gently pull away from the mold.

Tip: Always make more than you need, some will rip when they come out and some might have holes.

3. Ice your sugar cookie (ours is a 4"x4" square) with royal icing, allow to dry (make sure it's completely dry before adding the gelatin).

Mix some airbrush silver sheen with some blue airbrush color. Then using an airbrush, lightly airbrush a corner of the cookie horizontally across the bottom for the darkest color then spraying lightly as you reach the middle of the cookies to give an ombre effect.

Square cookie with white royal icing and airbrushed blue
4. We used a tiny snowman mold (about 1/2 inch in size) and fondant to make our little snowman. Sandie found this mold at a local cake supply shop but you can also find similar molds on Etsy, etc. Wait until the fondant is dry and snowman hardens so it's easier to handle while painting.
Christmas themed silicone mold with tiny fondant snowman

5. Using a very fine paintbrush and gel food color, paint the details on your snowman. You might need to add a tad bit of water or alcohol to dampen your paintbrush to smoothly paint the details.

paint the details on your snowman

We did the same with our tiny Christmas tree!

6. Next, roll out a piece of white fondant to a thickness that resembles a tortilla. Then using the same square cookie cutter used to make the cookie, cut the fondant.

piece of white fondant

Only the top portion of the square fondant is going to be used, that is why you see the uneven edge on the bottom.

7. Using a 2 " round cutter (or same size as YOUR gelatin dome), cut a hole on the upper corner of the fondant square.

cut a hole on the fondant square

8. Using an X-acto knife, cut a wavy line through the middle of the fondant square.

cut a wavy line

9. Use your cutter as a reference when placing your figurines in your globe!

cutter

10. With a small spoon, add a pile of your favorite sprinkles on top of your figures. We used a mix of Wafer Paper Snow (see below) and non-pariels for our snow effect.

Wafer Paper Snow

11. Place the gelatin dome over your snowman, Christmas tree and snow with no adhesives.  (Please note: Water will instantly melt your gelatin and disform it.)

gelatin dome over your snowman

12. Add your square fondant piece over the gelatin dome making sure the hole in the fondant is positioned correctly. Position it and then paint just around the edges of the fondant to right before the edge of the gelatin globe (being sure NOT to touch the edges gelatin globe with the water) with a little bit of piping gel. Usually I would use shortening when I didn't want to risk the water, however we really want a solid permanent adhering to seal this together, and shortening isnt' permanent.

Tip: I like to dehydrate my piping gel, simply leave it overnight with the lid of and cover it with a paper towel. This allows some of the moisture to evaporate (if in humid climate, 2 nights might be better).

piping gel

13. Using the 2-inch fondant circle we cut out of the square piece earlier, then using a slightly smaller cutter (1.5") to cut inside the 2" circle.

2-inch fondant circle

14. Place the border over the gelatin dome. This time, use vegetable SHORTENING (or white fat) to apply (remember, water or anything containing water will melt and deform the gelatine).

gelatin dome

15. Place a piece of paper towel on the royal icing portion of the cookie, then using piping gel, apply a thin layer over the wavy edge of the fondant.

paper towel on the royal icing

Then apply the wafer paper snow or your favorite sprinkle over the piping gel.

You can brush off the excess snow and leave the cookie as is or follow the next steps for added details.

piping the cookie

Using white royal icing piping consistency, a 1.5 PME tip, and a Pico Pocket Projector (or a template), we piped "baby it's cold outside" on the bottom portion of the cookie.

Then we piped tiny dots along the edge of the bottom portion of the cookie.
adding details to cookie

We added a little snowflake for our final touch! You can achieve this effect using a paper punch and some wafer paper -or- use a lace mat & edible lace-like Sandie did.

painting the cookie

Last, but not least, we painted the lettering with edible silver metallic paint from Edible Art Paints.

How to make Easy Edible Wafer Paper Snow

wafer paper in the coffee grinder

Rip up wafer paper and put it into the coffee grinder, you want to stuff it full so they don’t just fly all-around when you turn it on. Pulsing the grinder also helps break up the larger chunks.

light and fluffy snow

Easy peasy light and fluffy snow!! Images courtesy of the lovely Kara Andretta from Kara’s Couture Cakes!

Gelatin Recipe

This recipes will make a simi-flexiable clear gelatin!
PRINT
KeywordGelatin
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Yield:1 batch

Equipment

  • Mop Paint Brush

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp Cold Water
  • 2 tbsp Gelatin - powdered, or packets of Knox (1 packet = 1 tbls)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Glycerin (vegetable) - Food Grade

Instructions

Microwave Instructions

  • Pour cold water into a microwave safe bowl. With spoon ready and already stirring, add the gelatin. Stir until it becomes thickened and slightly lighter in color.
  • Let sit for 5 minutes. This is so the gelatin absorbed the water and hydrates.
  • Microwave for 15 seconds. Stir. Dip your spoon in to see if any granules are still present (you may see tiny bubbles, don't be confused). If you aren't sure, put a little between your fingers and feel for any left over granules. If they aren't all dissolved, microwave for another 5 seconds. It is EXTREMELY easy to over-heat your gelatin, which will ruin it. Do not over boil. Take it a very little at a time.
  • Let it sit for 5 minutes. This will allow the white foam to come to the surface and separate, allowing us to "clarify" our gelatin.
  • Skim the white foam off the top of the gelatin and discard it.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together glycerin. Mix well until completely incorporated.
  • Pour the glycerin mixture into the gelatin. Mix until smooth.
  • It's ready to start using! See notes for special instructions!

Stove Top Instructions

  • Create a double boiler: using a small saucepan, fill with about an inch of water and place a metal or glass bowl on top (not touching the water). Pour the water into the bowl. With spoon ready and already stirring, add the gelatin. Stir until it becomes thickened and slightly lighter in color.
  • Let sit for 5 minutes. This is so the gelatin absorbed the water and hydrates.
  • Turn stove on medium. Stirring as the granules start to dissolve. When the granules are fully dissolved you are ready to go. You may see tiny bubbles, don't be confused. If you aren't sure, put a little between your fingers and feel for any left over granules. It is EXTREMELY easy to over-heat your gelatin, which will ruin it. Do not over boil. Take it a very little at a time.
  • Take bowl off heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. This will allow the white foam to come to the surface and separate, allowing us to "clarify" our gelatin.
  • Skim the white foam off the top of the gelatin and discard it.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together glycerin. Mix well until completely incorporated.
  • Pour the glycerin mixture into the gelatin. Mix until smooth.
  • It's ready to start using! See notes for special instructions!

Notes

  • Although some bubbles are unavoidable, do not use a whisk or fork when mixing, you want to avoid adding any air to your mixture, bubbles are the enemy. Mix slowly.
  • Storing Leftovers: You can re-warm your gelatin mixture after it has become solid, which means you can also store it for later. Wrap it up in plastic wrap and then put it in a zip lock bag. Can keep in a refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freeze for up to 3 months. 
  • Clean up: Avoid putting mass amounts of gelatin down your drains! It can clog them up. When it comes time to clean up, I put the timer on for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes I know my mixture is now solid enough for me to pull it out of the container with my fingers or a spoon. It releases right from the container, easy peasy.  Discard or save what you don't use.

Ice Perfect Cakes every time!

Learn Avalon's secret hack for creating perfect iced cakes every time - for free!

Full video and easy buttercream recipe inside!

 Published: 12/18/2017

Last modified on January 6th, 2023

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meet the author

Avalon YARNES

Avalon Yarnes is multi-award winning cake artist and educator. Her work has been featured on tv shows, in magazines, books and more. She has been named one of the top 10 Cake Artists in America by Cake Masters Magazine and Dessert Professional Magazine. She's always cooking up something innovative that she can share with her students. Learn with Avalon here inside Avalon Cakes Online School of Sugar Art, where her (and her friends) teach you how to make incredible art with of cakes, cookies and more!

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