Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Perfection
These classic Christmas sugar cookies offer a crisp, buttery texture that provides the perfect canvas for professional-quality royal icing. Designed to hold intricate holiday shapes without spreading, this dough creates a clean, tight crumb structure. Finished with a stable meringue-based icing, these cookies deliver a delightful crunch and a beautiful matte sheen, making them the ideal festive treat for holiday gatherings and seasonal gift-giving.
- Prep Time: 120
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 130
- Yield: 24 Cookies 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
3 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 Large Egg
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
3 tablespoons Meringue Powder
4 cups Powdered Sugar
Water (as needed for icing consistency)
Instructions
Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl using a stand mixer until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture while beating on medium speed.
Mix the flour into the wet ingredients gradually until a cohesive dough forms.
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Roll the dough to a thickness of one-fourth inch on a lightly floured surface.
Cut the shapes using holiday-themed cookie cutters and arrange them on a parchment-lined sheet.
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for ten minutes or until the edges are lightly set.
Whisk together powdered sugar and meringue powder with enough water to reach desired icing consistency.
Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing and allow to dry completely before storing.
Notes
Ensure the dough is properly chilled to prevent spreading during baking. For best results, use pure vanilla extract. If the icing is too thick, add water a few drops at a time; if too thin, add more powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 28mg