Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Ingredients
Directions / Instructions
Why You'll Love These Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Few homemade treats are as timeless and versatile as classic sugar cookies decorated with royal icing. These cookies have crisp edges, soft buttery centers, and hold their shape beautifully during baking, making them ideal for cookie cutters of every size and design. The smooth royal icing dries to a glossy finish, allowing you to create stunning decorations that won't smudge once set. Whether you're baking Christmas cookies, birthday favors, wedding cookies, baby shower treats, Valentine's Day hearts, Easter eggs, or Halloween shapes, this foolproof recipe delivers bakery-quality results every time.
The dough is easy to work with, can be prepared ahead of time, and bakes evenly without excessive spreading. Meanwhile, the royal icing comes together in minutes and can be colored with gel food coloring to create endless decorating possibilities. This recipe is perfect for holiday baking, family cookie decorating parties, edible gifts, or simply enjoying with a glass of milk.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
For the Royal Icing
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 to 8 tablespoons warm water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until fully combined.
2. Combine the Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing, which can make the cookies tough.
3. Chill the Dough
Divide the dough into two discs, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least one hour. Chilling prevents spreading and makes rolling easier.
4. Roll and Cut
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
5. Bake
Transfer the cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are just beginning to turn lightly golden. Do not overbake if you prefer soft cookies.
6. Cool Completely
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They must be completely cool before decorating.
7. Make the Royal Icing
Beat together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, vanilla extract, and warm water until smooth and glossy. Continue beating for 5 to 7 minutes until stiff peaks form. Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint with gel food coloring if desired.
8. Decorate the Cookies
Use thicker icing to pipe borders around each cookie. Thin a portion of the icing with a few drops of water to create flood icing, then fill the centers. Decorate with sprinkles, edible glitter, sanding sugar, or additional icing details while the icing is still wet.
9. Allow the Icing to Dry
Leave the decorated cookies uncovered at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours until the icing hardens completely. Once dry, the cookies can be stacked and packaged without smudging.
Storage Tips
Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Separate layers with parchment paper to protect the icing. Undecorated cookies can be frozen for up to three months, while decorated cookies can also be frozen after the icing has completely hardened.
Decorating Ideas
Create festive Christmas trees, snowflakes, ornaments, Easter eggs, pumpkins, hearts, flowers, stars, and birthday-themed cookies using colorful royal icing. Add edible pearls, gold dust, metallic food paint, or personalized names for elegant party favors and holiday gifts.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these decorated sugar cookies with hot chocolate, coffee, tea, eggnog, milk, or holiday punch. They also make beautiful edible gifts when packaged in decorative boxes or cellophane bags tied with ribbon.
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