Indulge in the art of baking with this easy-to-follow recipe for Sugar Cookies Decorated with Royal Icing. Perfect for any occasion, these homemade treats offer a blank canvas for your creativity to sparkle. Whether you are a professional baker or a home cook, this guide will help you create beautifully adorned cookies that taste as wonderful as they look.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Sugar Cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 large egg whites
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Food coloring (optional)
Equipment Required
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutter (any shape you like)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
- Piping bags (or zip-top bags with a corner cut off)
- Piping tips (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making the Sugar Cookies
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat the egg into the butter and sugar mixture, then stir in the vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.
- Chill the Dough: Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat Oven: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll Out Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
- Bake: Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown.
- Cool Cookies: Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Preparing the Royal Icing
- Mix Icing Ingredients: In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites and lemon juice (or cream of tartar) until combined. Gradually add in the sifted confectioners’ sugar and beat on low speed until the mixture is smooth.
- Consistency Check: The icing should be thick enough to hold a line when piped but thin enough to spread within the boundaries. If too thick, add a tiny bit of water; if too thin, add more sifted confectioners’ sugar.
- Color the Icing: If desired, split the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to each, mixing thoroughly until you achieve the desired hues.
Decorating the Cookies
- Prepare Piping Bags: Fill your piping bags with the royal icing, fitted with tips if you’re using them.
- Outline Cookies: Start by outlining the edges of your cookies with a firmer icing consistency to create borders.
- Flood the Cookies: Thin out your icing slightly with water to make it easier to spread within the outlines. Use this thinner icing to fill, or flood, the insides of your outlines.
- Add Details: Allow the base layer of icing to set slightly, then add additional details with firmer icing, if you wish.
- Let Dry: Let the icing dry completely, which can take several hours or even overnight, depending on the thickness of the icing.
Final Tips for Perfect Sugar Cookies
- Ingredient Temperatures: Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature to ensure your dough mixes evenly.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Overmixing can lead to tough cookies. Mix just until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Keep an Eye on Baking: Sugar cookies can go from perfectly golden to overdone quickly, so watch them closely as they bake.
- Plan for Drying Time: Decorated cookies need time to set, so plan accordingly if you need them for a specific event.
Create these Sugar Cookies Decorated with Royal Icing for holidays, celebrations, or just a fun activity with family and friends. Their classic sweetness combined with the smooth, refined look of royal icing is bound to delight anyone who tries them. Happy baking and decorating!
