Description
Delightful sugar cookies with soft, crisp edges and a smooth top, perfect for any design.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream or whole milk
- For royal icing: 4 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons meringue powder, 5 to 7 tablespoons water, gel food color as needed
- For finishing: sprinkles, sanding sugar, small cutters, edible markers
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a mixer.
- Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Add the dry mix in two parts and fold with the mixer on low.
- Add the cream and mix until the dough comes together.
- Chill the dough wrapped in plastic for 30 to 60 minutes.
- Lightly flour a board and roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut shapes or a large round for a cookie cake and set them on the sheet.
- Bake small cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and large cookie cakes for 12 to 15 minutes.
- Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes then move to a rack to cool completely.
- Mix the royal icing to a thick peak for outlines and a thinner flood for filling.
- Color your icing with gel color and fill piping bags for work.
- Pipe an outline on each cookie, then flood the center with thinner icing.
- Use a toothpick to nudge any air bubbles and to help spread the icing.
- Add sprinkles before the icing sets and create layers for cakes as needed.
- Let the iced cookies dry for at least 4 hours or overnight for best finish.
Notes
For a lighter treat, consider substituting half the butter with Greek yogurt or adding a teaspoon of lemon zest for a bright flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: sugar cookies, decorated cookies, royal icing, summer treats, baking