Description
Soft, buttery icing sugar cookies with crisp edges and smooth royal icing. Perfect for Christmas decorating, gifting, or cookie exchanges.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
6 cups all-purpose flour (2 lbs)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
4 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature (1 lb)
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing
16 oz powdered sugar (1 lb)
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon meringue powder
⅓ cup water (plus more for adjusting consistency)
Food coloring (gel-based, Wilton recommended)
Instructions
1. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Beat butter and sugar for 3 minutes until fluffy and pale.
3. Add eggs and vanilla, beating for another minute until smooth.
4. Slowly add dry ingredients with the mixer on low until combined.
5. Knead dough briefly by hand, divide into two portions, and wrap in parchment.
6. Chill for 30 minutes.
7. Roll dough between parchment sheets to ⅛–¼ inch thick.
8. Cut 3-inch cookie shapes without moving them.
9. Transfer parchment directly to baking sheets.
10. Bake at 350°F for 10–13 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
11. Let cookies cool completely before decorating.
12. For icing, beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, and ⅓ cup water on low for 6 minutes.
13. Add 4–5 tablespoons more water for medium consistency (toothpaste-like).
14. Split mixture; thin one half with 1–2 tablespoons water for flooding.
15. Add gel colors as desired.
16. Outline cookies with medium icing, fill with flood icing, and let dry for about 1 hour.
17. Add decorative details once icing has set.
Notes
Do not move cookie shapes after cutting; leave them on parchment.
Flood icing must dry completely before layering designs.
Pipe onto wet icing for a flat look or dry icing for raised texture.
Recipe makes about 20 cookies (3-inch size).
Best tools: piping bags or squeeze bottles.
Store fully dried cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Cookies can be frozen undecorated for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (includes chilling)
- Cook Time: 10–13 minutes
- Category: Christmas Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 484 kcal
- Sugar: 42 g
- Sodium: 441 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: —
- Trans Fat: —
- Carbohydrates: 72 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 67 mg