Description
Sweet magic happens when Royal Icing Cookies dance with delicate decorations, turning simple sugar cookies into edible art. Crisp, glossy surfaces and intricate designs make these treats perfect for celebrations, letting bakers craft memorable moments with each carefully painted cookie.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Icing Ingredients:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 egg whites or 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or water
Instructions
- Blend softened butter and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until light and airy, creating a smooth base for the cookie dough.
- Incorporate eggs individually, thoroughly mixing after each addition, then fold in fragrant vanilla extract to enhance the flavor profile.
- In a separate container, thoroughly combine flour and baking powder using a whisk, ensuring even distribution of leavening agents.
- Gradually introduce dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Encase the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to firm up and intensify flavors.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) while preparing a clean, flour-dusted work surface for rolling.
- Gently roll the chilled dough to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness, using gentle, even pressure to maintain consistency.
- Utilize cookie cutters to create precise shapes, transferring delicate cut-outs to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges that indicate perfect doneness, then transfer to wire cooling racks.
- Prepare royal icing by sifting powdered sugar and combining with egg whites or meringue powder until achieving a silky, smooth texture.
- Adjust icing consistency using small amounts of lemon juice or water, creating the ideal piping or flooding medium.
- Once cookies have completely cooled, artfully decorate using piping bags with various tips for intricate or simple designs.
Notes
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie shapes during baking.
- Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming and better cookie texture.
- Experiment with different extracts like almond or lemon to enhance flavor profiles without compromising recipe structure.
- Rolling dough between parchment paper prevents sticking and allows more precise cutting of intricate cookie designs.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg