Description
Delicious sugar cookies decorated with royal icing, perfect for summer picnics and celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1 tablespoon milk, if needed for dough
- For royal icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 to 8 tablespoons water, divided
- Food coloring gels as desired
- Sprinkles or sanding sugar for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and smooth.
- Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
- Slowly add the dry mix until the dough comes together.
- If the dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of milk.
- Divide the dough, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 8 to 11 minutes until the edges are firm and pale.
- Cool the cookies on the sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack.
- Whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder, then add water slowly.
- Stir to a thick but pipeable icing for outlines.
- Thin a small bowl of icing to flood consistency with extra water.
- Tint small amounts of icing with gel colors in separate bowls.
- Outline each cookie with the thick icing and let it set for a few minutes.
- Flood the inside area with thin icing and use a toothpick for even spread.
- Add sprinkles while the icing is wet for best hold.
- Let the cookies dry flat for at least 2 hours, longer for firm royal icing.
Notes
For the best results, chill the dough before rolling to maintain cookie shape. Use room temperature butter for optimal mixing.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: sugar cookies, royal icing, summer cookies, baking, dessert