Edible Moss Recipe (For Cookies and Cakes!)

Spruce up your cookies with this realistic edible moss recipe! This easy recipe uses crushed cookies and food coloring for a fun, textured topping. Perfect for nature-themed treats!

cookies decorated in edible moss on parchment up close.

Edible moss is a fun and surprisingly simple cookie decorating technique commonly found on springtime and Easter treats and other nature themed desserts.

While there are a number of different ways to make it, such as adding shredded coconut or matcha leaves, this edible moss recipe is a super simple, straightforward, 5-minute recipe and can be used on everything from cakes, cupcakes, dirt dessert, and of course, cut-out sugar cookies.

Why you'll love it:

Easy: This edible moss uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and requires minimal effort. Just crush cookies and mix with food coloring! It’s perfect for a quick and fun cookie decorating technique or baking project with the kids.
Fun: This is a fun, simple, and creative way to add a touch of whimsy to any nature-themed dessert.
Customizable: While this edible moss is commonly found on nature and springtime cookies, you can also use for all different kinds of themes and desserts. Try adding a touch of brown or black food coloring to the green for graveyard moss (it would be great in place of crushed Oreo cookies in these Halloween Cupcakes) or use it in edible terrariums, or to decorate cakesicles, or even on Halloween candy bark or Halloween pretzel treats!

Ingredients

Graham Crackers: you can also use leftover baked sugar cookies, or other light colored sweet crackers or hard cookies (i.e. animal crackers, vanilla wafers, etc.)
Food Coloring: I personally prefer gel food coloring as it is much more vibrant than liquid food coloring.
Vodka: This is to thin out the gel food coloring. If using liquid food coloring, you do not need to thin it out with vodka, but you probably will need much more of the food coloring to get a nice shade of green.

How to Make

Step 1: Mix Food Coloring

Dilute the food coloring in 1 tablespoon of vodka. The more food coloring you use the darker the moss will be.

Step 2: Add to Crushed Crackers

Add the food coloring mixture to the crushed graham crackers. For a more natural coloring, with touches of light brown showing through, mix in the food coloring into the cracker with a spatula or fork.

For a darker and more uniform green color, mix in the food coloring using a food processor. This will distribute it more evenly and make it much darker.

mixing food coloring into graham crackers for edible moss.

If the color isn't exactly to your liking, you can remix another tablespoon of vodka with more food coloring, and mix it in. Keep doing this until you get the shade you want (I did it twice).

Step 3: Decorate Cookies

There are two mains ways to decorate cookies with this moss, and it depends on how you are decorating them.

For Buttercream Frosted Decorated Cookies: If you're decorating using American buttercream frosting, pipe or spread the frosting onto the cookies and gently press the frosted side of the cookies into a shallow bowl or plate of the edible moss. That’s it! If using American buttercream, the frosting and moss will form a slight crust as they sit out.

adding edible moss to buttercream frosted cookies.

For Royal Icing or Chocolate Decorated Cookies: If you’re decorating your cookies using royal icing, melted chocolate, or powdered sugar icing, flood the cookies with the icing or chocolate, then gently spoon the edible moss on top of the icing. If you try to press the cookies into the edible moss, it will create a big mess! Let the icing or chocolate dry, then gently brush off any excess. Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

If the color isn’t exactly as you want, mix another batch of food coloring/vodka and add it in. You can also add in some other colors like yellow, brown, etc.
You can use liquid food coloring in place of the gel/vodka but it will not be as vibrant of a color.
Edible moss isn’t just for cookies! Use it to decorate cupcakes, woodland cakes, themed trifles, cakesicles, or cake pops.
Store leftover edible moss in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or frozen in an airtight container or freezer ziplock bag for up to two months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will I taste the vodka?

Nope, it evaporates pretty quickly and does not leave any lingering flavor. If you're concerned you can use a clear extract like clear vanilla extract.

Do I need to dilute liquid food coloring?

You do not need to dilute liquid food coloring, but it is much harder to get a vibrant and strong color with liquid colors, which is why I prefer to use gel food coloring.

What happens if I add too much food coloring?

If you make the moss to dark, just add some more crushed cookies or graham crackers to even it out!

How many cookies or desserts can I decorate with this?

This recipe makes about 1.5 cups edible moss and can vary depending on how finely you crush the crackers. The amount of cookies you can decorate with it will also depend on the size and shape of your cookies.

Storing and Making Ahead

Store leftover edible moss in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or frozen in an airtight container for freezer ziplock bag for up to two months.

Looking for more springtime recipes? Check these out!

sugar cookies decorated with edible moss on serving plate.

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