Sugar Cookies + Royal Icing Recipes

Sugar cookie decorating is an absolute must this time of year! There really isn't a sugar cookie that I would turn away but this is my favorite recipe. These are made with powdered sugar instead of granulated. So they have a kind of melt-in-your-mouth quality to them, like butter cookies. I like to make classic vanilla sugar cookies along with chocolate sugar cookies. Everything is better with chocolate, if you ask me.Sugar Cookies, makes around 2 dozen

1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 cup powered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour*
1 teaspoon salt 

Cream together the butter and sugar. Now mix in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Stir in the flour and salt until dough forms. Form a ball from the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (or over night).

Lightly flour your counter top and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thinkness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your shapes. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes until the edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and move to a cooling rack.

*To make chocolate sugar cookies simply replace 1/4 cup of the flour with 1/4 cup cocoa instead.Royal icing is a lot of fun to work with, not to mention delicious. It is very liquid so you use to to flood your cookie shapes, rather than piping or spreading it on. This is done by outlining your cookies with butter cream frosting (do this with a pastry bag and fine tip). Then pour or use a squirt bottle to flood the cookie with royal frosting and the buttercream will keep it from running off the edges. 

I used this recipe for the royal frosting. I made mine with egg whites but there is also an option to use meringue powder in case you don't like the idea of using uncooked egg whites. And my favorite buttercream frosting can be found here. After a few minutes the royal frosting will set, so be sure to add sprinkles or other candy elements as you work. Make sugar cookies with your friends or family this season! xo. Emma

Comments

[The Charley Girl]

I think I'll been referencing this all month! Great post. xo

[Valentina]

yuuuuum!!!

Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/

[melissa]

I love these. So adorable and simple!

Melissa
http://shakeshakee.blogspot.com

[norma diaz]

YUMM! i could use a sugar cookie right now!
Thanks for sharing

http://rainbowsandtress.blogspot.com/

[Becky]

Ah, I love sugar cookies. Thank you for the recipe!

[Lucy]

I wish cookies were healthy. I'd eat them all the time!

[irene wibowo]

i like to make these too.. :) so fun.. we called this snow white princess :) *kue putri salju in Bahasa Indonesia
http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/

[Gina_AcuteDesigns]

yum! I make sugar cookies every year but have never tried chocolate ones. That must go on my holiday baking list this year :).

[Monica]

I lovelovelove sugar cookies! Especially at Christmas time! I've never tried the chocolate kind, but I'm sure it's just as delicious. I love the variety of sprinkles! Gold and white make them look fancy.

[Ladies Clothing Catalog]

love the gingerbread cookies

[Kim]

I really like the idea of royal icing in a squeezy bottle like that! Great tip :)

http://floatingthrufields.blogspot.com/

[Evon]

How funny is it that I see this post after my son and I baked some sugar cookies! We made them with regular sugar but Im tempted to make some more later this week trying your recipe! I need holiday cookie cutters! Great post

[Jennifer]

Yum!

xo Jennifer

http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com

[Chloe Moon]

My decorated sugar cookies never look this good!! =) Love Christmas cookies!

http://chloemoonergo.blogspot.com

[Holli]

Those LOOK melt-in-your mouth wonderful! Might have to try switching to powdered sugar this year and see for myself...because you are right, sugar cookies are a Christmas must!

[Sarah]

Can't wait to make Christmas cookies! Might be my favorite part of the holidays. :)

http://sarahthearchitect.com/

[Sarah Kyle]

Thanks for sharing this! I always butcher sugar cookie recipes, so I'll have to try this one.

[Julia]

i just made sugar cookies last week with lemon icing. i love these!

[Daisy Nguyen]

Sugar cookies are my FAVE - especially during the holidays! These look heavenly!
XOXO
-Daisy Nguyen from the PS BANANAS! fashion blog: http://psbananas.com

[Kate @ Songs Kate Sang]

I absolutely agree! The kids and I always make dozens and decorate. I love to add red hots to the iced sugar cookies.... it makes my mouth happy!