December Cutter Club-Check In for Love

Some cookie sets come together quickly, and others take a little longer to fully reveal themselves. Check In for Love was one of those designs that slowly unfolded as I leaned into the feeling I wanted the set to evoke. I knew I wanted something romantic, but not the typical hearts-and-flowers Valentine’s theme. I wanted a story, something playful, nostalgic, and a little unexpected.

The idea started with the concept of travel. Hotels have such a cozy, romantic energy: the excitement of checking in, the little details that make a stay feel special, and the sense of escaping everyday life, even if just for a night. I loved the idea of tying that feeling to Valentine’s Day, where love feels like a destination all its own. From there, the theme grew into a boutique-hotel-inspired set where love is always waiting at the front desk.

Each cookie plays a role in telling that story. The suitcases represent arriving with anticipation, packed full of excitement. The heart slippers add a soft, cozy touch, because what’s more romantic than slowing down and getting comfortable together? The hotel key and keychain bring in that classic, timeless hotel vibe, while the hotel tray grounds the set with a familiar detail that makes the theme feel complete. And of course, the plaque with the button that says “Press for Love” is the playful centerpiece a little wink that invites interaction and reminds us that love is always just a moment away.

For the colors, I kept things intentionally simple and classic. Red, pink, and white felt like the perfect trio to support the theme without overpowering it. Red brings in the bold romance, pink softens the set with sweetness, and white ties everything together with a clean, polished look. This combination allowed the shapes and details to shine while keeping the overall set cohesive and elegant.

Once the icing dried, I added an extra layer of interest by painting the white details in gold and silver. This step elevated the entire set and really leaned into that upscale hotel feel. The metallic accents catch the light beautifully and add just enough contrast to make the details pop without stealing focus from the design.

For this set, I used hybrid icing consistency for everything, and it worked beautifully across all the cookies. Hybrid consistency gave me the control I needed for clean outlines and smooth fills, while still allowing for soft, dimensional details. It’s a great middle ground that keeps the decorating process efficient and consistent, especially when working on a cohesive set like this.

Using the same consistency throughout also helped maintain uniform texture and finish across all the cookies. From the larger suitcase surfaces to the finer details on the key and plaque, the icing held its shape well and dried smoothly, making it easy to come back later for metallic painting without any issues.

For a better understanding of icing consistencies refer to this blog here. We also have a very thorough online class here.

If you are comfortable cutting and piping/flooding with tipless bags, go for it! If you prefer tips I would recommend a #1 or #1.5 tip for details and outlines , and a #2 or 2.5 for flooding.

I used this beige marker for sketching out the sections and designs of the cookies. This is very helpful to keep everything straight and spatially correct. You can always use a mini projector to do this as well.

Below you will find step by step instructions for all the cookies. Followed by a video on how to decorate the hotel keys and another one on how to decorate the Heart Slippers one. Feel free to have fun! Use different colors, or different techniques. Let your creativity shine if you want!

Check In for Love ended up being more than just a Valentine’s cookie set, it became a reminder of how much storytelling can elevate cookie decorating. Each element, from the suitcases to the “Press for Love” plaque, worked together to create a moment rather than just a design. That’s something I’m always striving for with my sets: cookies that feel intentional, connected, and full of personality.

This set also reminded me how powerful simplicity can be. By limiting the color palette to red, pink, and white, and sticking with a single hybrid icing consistency, the decorating process felt smooth and cohesive from start to finish. Adding the gold and silver painted details after the icing dried was the perfect finishing touch, proof that sometimes the smallest details make the biggest impact. Those metallic accents gave the cookies a polished, boutique-hotel feel and helped the designs feel elevated without being overcomplicated.

Most of all, this set was a joy to create. It allowed me to step slightly outside the traditional Valentine’s box while still honoring the heart of the holiday: connection, warmth, and a little bit of magic. Whether you’re recreating this set or simply pulling inspiration from it, I hope it encourages you to think about how your own cookie designs can tell a story and invite people in, just like checking into a place where love is always waiting.

Now I’d love to hear from you. Your ideas and feedback play a huge role in shaping what comes next, and I truly value being able to create alongside this community. So let’s look ahead together.

Happy Baking!

xo Hillary