Edible sand is super easy to make and requires a few ingredients. Whether you are looking to make a beach themed cake or a spring dessert, this is one of the easiest edible decorations to make.
I'll show you how I make edible sand from cookies with or without a food processor.
Quick and easy edible sand recipe.
As a mom who loves to cook and bake I've always loved making my kids birthday cakes.
On one of those occasions , when I wanted to make grass for a soccer pitch, was how I discovered how to dye coconut flakes I believe on cake central or YouTube and of course how to make edible sand was my next find.
That info has helped with making Rice Krispies egg nests, these cute Oreo crabs and lots more. So today I'm excited to share this how to guide with you. Spoiler alert! If you make cheesecakes or cookie balls often you probably already know this hack.
What is Edible sand and how is it used?
Edible sand is a food decoration that looks like real sand but is made from edible ingredients like crushed cookies, graham crackers, or brown sugar.
It is common in cake decorating to make beach scenes, playgrounds, cupcakes toppings and more.
It's also used to decorate platters for desserts like cookie balls or used layers in truffles or parfaits.
Ingredients
This is a one ingredient edible sand recipe.
Cookies: this will depend on what type of sand you are looking to make. For beach sand, you can use any light colored cookie like golden Oreos or make graham cracker sand with graham crackers.
If you are making dirt cups you will need chocolate Oreos or any chocolate cookies to make the edible sand.
* Need to print out this try recipe? You’ll find a printable recipe card at the end of this post. Enjoy!
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- Food processor
How to make edible sand
Here's how to make edible sand for cake decorating and all else. Remove the biscuit from the packet, transfer to a food processor and blitz till smooth. Use immediately or store in an air tight container for up to a week.
If you don't have a food processor, a powerful blender like vitamix will work perfectly. Alternatively, put cookies in a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin.
How to store
If you intend to store for more than a week, I recommend you use Graham crackers instead of sandwich cookies this way there is really no moisture in the cookies so it can be stored on the counter in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Other cookies you can use include digestive biscuits and vanilla wafers.
Recipes that use it
- Beach Jell-O shots
- Spring Dirt cups
Helpful Tips
- Make sure your utensils are completely dry especially if you are making it ahead of time.
- If you intend to keep for longer than a week, I recommend you use dry cookies with no filling.
FAQs
You can use brown sugar, blended nuts like almonds, walnuts etc (if you don't have nut allergies), or toasted and blended coconut flakes.
Depending on the ingredients or type of cookie used edible sand can last up to 2 weeks in an air tight container if stored properly meaning no moisture got mixed with it without your knowledge.
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How to make edible sand
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 12 Oreo cookies (remove the filling from half of the cookies to prevent it from being too moist)
Instructions
- Put cookies in a food processor
- Blend till smooth.
- Use immediately or store in an air tight container for up to two weeks (please see note 2)
Notes
- Make sure your utensils are completely dry especially if you are making it ahead of time.
- If you intend to keep for longer than a week, I recommend you remove the filling or use dry cookies with no filling like Graham crackers
