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Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 127 reviews

Classic sugar cookies with a soft, buttery texture decorated with smooth royal icing. Perfect for holidays and special occasions, these cookies are simple to make and fun to decorate using your favorite shapes and vibrant icing colors.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 ⅓ cups butter (softened)
  • 2 cups white sugar (granulated)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

Royal Icing

  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 5–6 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract until just combined.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder to ensure even distribution before adding to the wet ingredients.
  3. Form the Dough: Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a dough forms. It should be soft but pliable and not crumbly.
  4. Roll and Cut Shapes: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your preferred shapes. Arrange the shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 6-8 minutes. The centers may still look slightly undercooked but the edges should start to turn golden. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack; the cookies will firm up as they cool.
  6. Prepare Royal Icing: Whisk together the meringue powder, powdered sugar, and 5 tablespoons of water in a bowl. Add additional water as needed to achieve a thick ribbon-like consistency – flowy but not runny.
  7. Decorate Cookies: Use a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off to pipe the royal icing onto the fully cooled cookies. Create any designs or patterns desired.
  8. Set the Icing: For best results, allow the decorated cookies to set overnight so the icing hardens completely, making them easier to transport and handle.

Notes

  • Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
  • Do not over-bake; cookies will firm up as they cool.
  • The royal icing consistency is key: too thin and it will run, too thick and it won’t pipe smoothly.
  • Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container once icing is fully set.
  • Color the icing with food coloring if desired for festive decorations.

Keywords: Sugar cookies, royal icing, holiday cookies, cut-out cookies, cookie decorating

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/sugar-cookies-with-royal-icing-recipe/