Description
Delightful Easter Sugar Cookies dance with royal icing’s elegance, bringing spring’s sweet celebration to life. Festive pastel colors and intricate designs invite you to savor these charming treats that promise pure joy in every delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Icing Ingredients:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 5–6 tablespoons water
- Gel food coloring (yellow, pink, green, orange, white)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the cookie foundation by thoroughly blending softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes airy and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.
- Incorporate the egg along with vanilla and almond extracts, mixing until thoroughly integrated.
- In a separate vessel, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure smooth incorporation.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, creating a cohesive dough without overmixing.
- Encase the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to enhance flavor and texture.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a clean surface with light dusting of flour.
- Roll out the chilled dough to approximately 1/4-inch thickness, utilizing Easter-themed cookie cutters to create festive shapes like bunnies, chicks, eggs, and flowers.
- Transfer cut shapes onto parchment-lined baking sheets, ensuring adequate spacing between cookies.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges display a delicate golden hue, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Prepare royal icing by whipping powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until achieving a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Adjust icing texture by incrementally adding water or powdered sugar to reach desired thickness.
- Divide icing into separate bowls and introduce gel food coloring to create vibrant Easter palette.
- Using piping bags, carefully outline cookie edges with precise, steady strokes.
- Allow initial outline to set briefly, then flood interior with slightly thinned icing.
- Embellish with intricate details using contrasting colors to create expressive designs.
- Allow decorated cookies to dry completely at room temperature before serving or packaging.
Notes
- Soften butter at room temperature for easier creaming and smoother cookie texture.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant, concentrated colors without altering icing consistency.
- Work with chilled dough to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie shapes during baking.
- Allow icing to dry completely between layers to create clean, professional-looking designs.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 164
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 48 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Cholesterol: 17 mg