Royal icing....and perhaps a tooth pick for the words? Or perhaps settle for less precise and put some frosting in a squeeze bottle.
Linda C

Hi Linda - thank you. I can probably google royal icing - or do you have a specific recipe? Ya know baking is not my thing...yet. :-)

Stacy

Google it....it's pretty straightforward....egg white and powdered sugar and cream of tartar...but I'm too lazy to look it up ;-)
Linda C

I think the words are stenciled on using a dye... I think I remember reading about it a week or so ago on a blog...don't remember which one though.
Maybe use Google Image and type in stenciled cookies?
Here is one I found:

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lc_desserts/article/0,2041,DIY_14000_2269553,00.html

or one of those edible ink pens...
and it certainly looks like royal icing.

Getting the words on that flat is going to be very time consuming. I'd settle for just writing them on with a fine tip. You could try doing the words first with the pastry bag and outlining the cookie with the color you will use to frost the cookie. Let the outline and the words dry. Then flood the cookie with main color. The colors you flood with will need to be more fluid than the icing you write with. And you may lose a letter!

The flooding technique is how you make perfect outlines on the edges of the cookies.

Martha is a master of these things, she probably would make her own stencils!

Here is a link that might be useful: Martha stewart

I'm pretty sure the words are stencils and you can use sprinkles or a color spray.

Many craft stores carry Wilton supplies...even Wally World does.... I'd call around.

Here's a link to the Wilton site, so you know what to look for. Of course any stencils the correct size will work or you could try making your own.

Nancy

Here is a link that might be useful: Wilton

Those are neat, Nancy! I have never seen them.
Stacy if you find them , please let me know where...

These look like what might've been used. There's also a set of larger letters, depending on how big your cookies are going to be.

Here is a link that might be useful: Valentine sayings

I'm also am fairly certain that it is stenciling and I have them as I bought them at Michael's last year.

Stacy,
Those are so cute. My guess is they use a stamp. Sure, you could probably come reasonably close in duplicating them, or you could do what I do:

it's a stencil which is colored by air brushing. if you have the patience and the materials to do it. unless it's something you would get a lot of use out of, i'd pass, and take terri's idea of the edible paint pen.

maryanne

Thanks everyone, that's about what I figured - but I hadn't thought of the paint pens - I'll have to look for some!

Jo, those are beautiful. Great idea.

Again, thanks for all the help! I'll let you know what I come up with.

Stacy

Stacy, just use a Sharpie with a fine point. hahahahah!!!! Can't wait to see your final product! Dont forget to take pix.

HEY! I am soooo proud of myself!

These turned out very cute - even though I'm not a huge fan of the pen I chose. it's tip is really bendy like a paintbrush and hard to write letters that aren't angular.

Oh well, everyone will know I didn't buy them - lol.

Thanks to everyone who gave their input - this was my first experience with royal icing or flooding cookies...

{{gwi:1489338}}

forgot to add, they'd be WAAAAAY easy to make xrated for your honey - lol.

I am adding some that are personalized for each child coming to the house Sat night.

THANK YOU - YET AGAIN!

Very good job Stacy! Glad you could find some edible markers too!

Yes, Terri - thanks - I couldn't have done it without them, that's for sure. It was a pack of 4 colors and from what I can see the writing on the candy hearts is always pink or red. You're a genius. I never would have thought of them.

:-)

Great job stacy! They came out beautiful!

Wow! Good job! Very nice.

Stacy, you're a sweetheart - they're just beautiful!

Fabulous Job Stacy and just in time for Valentine's Day.

What pen did you use?

Michelle

You hand lettered those?!? I'm impressed. There's no way I could write that neatly. I'd have to use stencils. They're beautiful and cute, too.

Sally

Stacy those came out really really good! Great job~

Stacy, those look fantastic! You did a great job and I think that the lettering is exceptional. I certainly couldn't have done it so neatly.
Wow, I love this idea!

Nina

So cute. I love decorating cakes and cookies. They look great until I have to write on them - the point where it goes from a very nice product to looking like I let my kids do the writing, maybe next time I will say just that. Very jealous. I'll bet this is just the beginning for your icing flooding - looks great.

Genius? Moi? lol...nah..I'm just a baking junkie..with less drive then desire..I read alot.. and knew they existed..
I haven't seen any in my "market" area..or I'd be all over them myself..because it's so hard for me to decorate with a pastry bag..Those 12 cupcakes I did the other day..killed my hand!!
I was so happy it was only 12!!!!!
Last time I had alot of cupcakes to pipe..I had the boys take turns...LOL

Well aren't you a smarty pants!!! So cute and lots of fun, you are a great Mom!

So let's see some of the ex-rated...; )

Sharon behave yourself.
Btw Stacy, I'd settle for hieroglyphics.

Did you use food pens or non-toxic pens? I have the edible ink pens, but I've been known to use the non-toxic variety for sugarpaste items that I know wouldn't get consumed, only to ease my paranoia.

The cookies are perfecto!

Sol