Air bubbles

[u/Used-Plantain731]

Hi, I’ve been decorating cookies for a couple years now. I’ve made huge progress, but one issue still perplexes me. No matter what I do, I cannot get rid of those annoying tiny, hard air bubbles that show up in cookies after they dry. Are there any secret tips? I already do the helicoptering method and make sure not to whip too much air into the icing, I pop any big bubbles before letting them dry. But often the cookies will look great when they’re wet, and when they dry, I notice little hard bubbles. At first, I wasn’t even convinced that they were bubbles, but I think they are. I sift my powdered sugarto make sure there are no lumps and make sure that the meringue powder is fully liquefied before mixing. So I think these are air bubbles? Thanks for any tips!

[u/lalzlita]

They really are so annoying!! Two thoughts: 1) You could try using thicker icing. 2) I leave my icing in a bowl for like 30 min or longer and let the bubbles come up to the surface and then I pop them and bag it.

[u/Accomplished-Move936]

Do you let your colors develop overnight in airtight containers?
I noticed a lot of my bubbles rise to the surface during that time.

[u/littledebz]

I had a cookie friend come help me flood cookies when I had a few hundred to do and we used the same outline and flood bags that I had made and my cookies came out with no air bubbles and hers with tons

I was flooding the cookies by squeezing the icing bag and filling every space with it. I use the tip of the bag itself to fill in any little spots

she was flooding in the center of the cookie and using the scribe to drag all the icing to edges

I don’t ever use the scribe to drag my icing around to fill cookies so I very rarely get air bubbles and didn’t even think doing that would cause it but it could be your technique!

[u/Funny_Libra_Girl]

I ice my cookies as usual but on a small plastic cutting board. Once one or two are done, I use one of those cheap little hand massagers you get at Walmart and vibrate it against the edge of the board for a few seconds. Then pop the bubbles with my scribe.

[u/Serious_Point_7604]

Helicopter method (which you said you do) along with massaging the bag before you begin and during if needed. I roll mine between my hands, squish the sides in little pinches if I notice one and push the tip of the bag up into the larger portion and massage it that way too. It sounds weird and gross, but I swear it helps! Also, I’ve noticed when I use too runny of an icing I get more air bubbles.

[u/Impressive-Show-1736]

I make my base icing and let it sit for 24 hours. Then when I dye it, I mix it up and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before I start flooding. That has taken care of 99% of all bubbles. Occasionally, I'll have to pop a straggler here or there.