Easy Sugar Cookies Recipe
From holiday gatherings to everyday indulgence, our irresistible sugar cookies topped with delicate royal icing are sure to be the star of any dessert table.
Servings: 36
Calories: 160kcal
Equipment
- Hand or stand electric mixer
- Mixing bowl
- Baking sheet
- Cookie cutters
- Piping bag and round tip
Ingredients
For the sugar cookies:
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 3 cup all-purpose flour plus addition flour for rolling the dough
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg room temperature
For the royal icing (yields 4 cups):
- 4 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp meringue powder
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- Gel food coloring optional
Instructions
To make the sugar cookies:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, beating well. Stir in the vanilla and almond extract.
- In a separate bowl for your dry ingredients, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the cookie dough to about 1/2 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Place them 2-3 inches apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes, until they're firm enough to move.Tranfser the cookies to cool completely on wire racks.
To make the royal icing:
- In a mixer, combine the meringue powder and powdered sugar on low.
- Slowly add in the water and almond extract on medium speed for about 6 minutes. The icing should be forming small peaks and will be thick when it’s ready.
- Optional: If using food coloring, divide the icing into separate bowls and add a few drops of coloring until you achieve the desired shades.
To decorate the cookies:
- Outline the edges of the cookies with a thicker consistency of royal icing using a piping bag fitted with a fine round tip. Allow the outlines to set.
- Fill in the outlined areas with a thicker icing consistency of the same icing. Typically, you should fill the middle with thinner icing. BUT because you're going to be heavily decorating the cookies, you'll need plenty of extra icing for the toppings to stick.
- Top with your desired garnishes.
Nutrition
Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg