Christmas Sugar Cookies with Icing are the absolute must-have holiday tradition that everyone craves EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Every year, these Christmas sugar cookies wrapped in icing, tempt us to skip dinner and go straight to the dessert. These buttery, soft sugar cookies smothered in velvety royal icing will fill your home with the aroma of Christmas and are an ideal gift for your teachers, neighbors, and loved ones. Originally introduced to America by German settlers, the sugar cookies is synonymous with Christmas around the globe.
This complete guide’s got all you need to make bakery-quality Christmas sugar cookies at home. From creating the ideal dough to learning royal icing stenciling techniques, you’ll learn all the professional secrets that ensure wonderful results every time.
Essential Ingredients
For Sugar Cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
For Royal Icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 5-6 tablespoons warm water
- Gel food coloring
Quality Comes First: Enjoy European-style butter for a more decadently flavored batter & organic vanilla extract for a more nuanced flavor. You will be rewarded for using fresh ingredients in your results (Seriously folks.IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making the Dough
Step 1: Instructions Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Step 2: Cream butter & sugar for about 4 minutes with electric mixer until light & fluffy. This makes for the soft cookie by adding air into the mix.
Step 3: Beat in egg & vanilla until smooth. Then scrape the sides of the bowl really well to ensure it’s all mixed in properly.
Step 4: Beat in flour mixture on low speed until just combined. Gradually mix in milk one tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together.
Step 5: Split dough in two, wrap each tightly in wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Ideally refrigerated so not to spread & to maintain sharp edges.
Baking Process
Step 6: Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 7: Roll chilled dough to a 1/4-inch thickness on floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutters 2 inches apart.
Step 8: Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are SET but not brown. Centers might look a little underbaked — they will continue cooking on the hot pan.
Step 9: Let cookies cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.
Royal Icing Preparation
Step 10: Mix the powdered sugar & meringue powder. Then add water to make a glossy, smooth dough.
Step 11: Test for consistency: stiff icing forms sharp peaks, flood icing settles smooth and is completely disappear into itself in 10 seconds.
Step 12: Divide into bowls & colour with gel colours. Begin with small bits — and remember that colors become more concentrated over time.
Decorating Techniques
Learn the outline and flood technique for perfect looking cookies. For a dam, pipe around the edges of cookie, using stiff icing to hold in flood icing, which is thinner and used to flood the surface of the cookie. Allow outline to dry 15-20 minutes before filling with thin icing thinned to flood consistency and squirt bottles (or use an icing bag).
For wet-on-wet designs, dot contrasting colored dots onto wet base icing and drag toothpick through to make hearts, swirls or marble effect. Work quickly before base sets.
Texture is added through a variety of piping tips, making textures such as grass, start and decorative borders. Press in sprinkles, mini pearls or candies for added shine.
Nutritional Information
Per Cookie (yields 24):
Calories: 185
Fat: 8g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Sugar: 20g
Protein: 2g
Sodium: 95mg
Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 1 decorated cookie (about 3 inches) Amount Per Serving% Daily Value* * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Yes, these are treats, not health foods but they are fast energy & can be included as part of healthy feasting.
Storage & Gifting Tips
Keep decorated cookies in airtight containers, separating with parchment between the layers. They keep fresh 5-7 days at room temperature, and freeze WELL for up to 3 months. When shipping, wrap well with lots of cushioning.
Pack cookies in clear bags with festive ribbon or containers such as decorative tins and boxes with tissue paper. Add in recipe cards for homemade touches that recipients love.
Troubleshooting Guide
Cookies spread too much: Dough too warm or butter over softened. Chill dough more & consider butter temperature.
Cracks in icing: Too thick or dried too fast. Add water little by little & keep damp towel on top when work.
Colors run: Not enough drying time of base color before decorating. Leave 2 hours drying time between coats.
Icing has a rough surface Air bubbles have formed in the icing. Pop bubbles and smooth with scribe tool right after flooding.
Expert Tips for Success
And of course …….. TEMPERATURE IS VERY IMPORTANT ALL THE WAY THRU! Keep any dough not in use refrigerated while working, & make sure cookies are completely cool before decorating.
All of the other tools they are using can be found at ShopBakersNook.com We hope you enjoy these & start making your own fabulous cakes & extraordinay cake designs!
Try your consistency testing with royal icing. The “ribbon test” guarantees good flow – count how many seconds it takes for icing to dissolve on surface (10-15 seconds).
Decide your color combination before you begin. Begin with the lightest colors and don’t return to a light color after using a darker tone, as that could muddy the lighter color if a brush is not thoroughly cleaned.
Conclusion
The perfect royal icing Recipe for all your Christmas cookies and treats.Royal icing is a sweet, hard icing that’s made from a mix of confectioners’ sugar and egg whites or meringue powder. Perfect for the man or woman who has everything, or as a buy one get one gift for yourself!
When done right with good ingredients & practice, you’ll be making GORG cookies as good as professional bakeshops! Begin your Christmas baking tradition now and see these gorgeous cookies form special holiday memories for your family.
And keep in mind, imperfect cookies made with love taste delicious. Just go with it, have fun and get to enjoy gifting these sweet creations to all the people you love this holiday season!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long do decorated cookies keep?
Royal Icing Cookies Storage with proper storage, royal icing cookies last 5-7 days at room temperature.
2. Can you freeze sugar cookie dough?
Yes – wrap tightly & freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before rolling.
3. Why is my icing grainy?
Poor mixture or old powdered sugar. Beat longer until completely smooth.
4. How do I fix bleeding colors?
Allow base layer to dry thoroughly (4+ hours) before applying secondary colors.
