Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing are a delightful treat, perfect for any occasion. These cookies are soft, chewy, and utterly irresistible, making them a favorite among kids and adults alike. The royal icing adds a stunning finish with its smooth and glossy appearance, elevating each cookie to a work of art. Once you’ve taken a bite, you’ll taste the sweet, buttery flavor, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
How to Make Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing
Storing & Reheating
Chef’s Helpful Tips
Recipe FAQs
Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing

Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing

I remember the first time I baked these Soft Sugar Cookies. It was a chilly winter afternoon, and I was looking for a fun activity to do with my kids while we waited for the holidays to arrive. The dough comes together quickly, and every step is a joy, from rolling out the cookies to decorating them with icing. When I pulled these cookies from the oven, the smell filled our home, and we couldn’t wait to dig in. I’m excited for you to create your memories with this tasty recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple & Quick: Just 90 minutes of prep time, and you’ll have 24 delicious cookies.
Irresistible Flavor: Each bite offers a delightful burst of buttery sweetness complemented by the rich taste of vanilla.
Eye-Catching Appeal: Decorated with royal icing, these cookies are as beautiful as they are delicious.
Flexible Serving: Perfect for holiday gatherings, birthday parties, or just a lovely mid-afternoon snack.
Diet-Friendly Options: Substitutions available for various dietary needs make it easy to share with everyone.

Ingredients You’ll Need

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (65-67ºF): This adds richness and a tender texture. Ensure it’s at the right temperature for best results.
1 cup granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies while creating a soft, tender crumb.
1 large egg, room temperature: This binds the ingredients, giving structure to the dough.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract: Enhances flavor, providing that classic cookie taste.
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour: The main structure of the cookies; don’t skip this!
1 teaspoon baking powder: This gives the cookies their rise and light texture.
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
4 cups powdered sugar (for icing): Creates a smooth, sweet icing that dries well.
3 tablespoons meringue powder (for icing): Stabilizes the royal icing and helps it dry firm.
9 tablespoons warm water (100-110ºF): Adjusts the icing’s consistency for decorating.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing): Adds flavor to the royal icing.

How to Make Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing

Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar on medium-low speed for about 2 minutes. The mixture should be fluffy and pale, signaling it’s well combined.

Add Egg and Vanilla: Next, incorporate 1 large room-temperature egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract into the creamed mixture. Mix on medium-high speed for about 20-30 seconds until the ingredients are fully integrated.

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to your mixer, pulsing until the dough just comes together.

Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1-3 hours. Chilling helps to firm up the dough for easy rolling and cutting later.

Preheat and Prepare: Once the dough is chilled, preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Roll the Dough: Lightly flour your surface, then roll out the chilled dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Keep the surface lightly floured to prevent sticking, making it easier to cut out shapes.

Cut Out Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, placing them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. The cookies will spread slightly, so give them space!

Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-11 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the surfaces are dry but not browned. You want them tender and soft.

Cool the Cookies: After baking, let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. It’s tempting, but patience pays off here!

Whisk Icing Ingredients: For the royal icing, mix 4 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons meringue powder, and 9 tablespoons warm water in a bowl. Start on low speed for about 7 minutes, then increase to medium-low for an additional 2-3 minutes until the icing is fluffy and holds stiff peaks.

Adjust Icing Consistency: If your icing is too thick for outlining, add a little more warm water, a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a smooth yet pipable consistency.

Decorate Cookies: Once the cookies have cooled completely, decorate them with royal icing. Use a piping bag with a fine tip for borders and a larger tip for flooding the cookies. Allow them to dry for 6-8 hours until the icing is completely set and hard.

Storing & Reheating

Store your Soft Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They can also be refrigerated, clearly wrapped, for about a week. If you’d like to freeze them, place uniced cookies in a single layer in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw at room temperature and decorate with icing. Note that freezing may alter texture slightly, but they’ll taste just as good!

Chef’s Helpful Tips

Avoid overmixing after adding the flour; this can make cookies tough.
Ensure your butter is soft enough to cream well, which helps create that light texture.
For the most flavorful cookies, allow the dough to chill longer than 1 hour if you can—8 hours works wonders.
Be patient when letting your cookies cool, as warm cookies can break easily while decorating.
If your royal icing seems too runny, add more powdered sugar until you get your desired consistency.

Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing offer a chance to get creative in the kitchen while producing a treat that’s sure to impress. Enjoy every step of the baking and decorating process, and don’t be afraid to experiment with colors and designs. Happy baking, and I can’t wait for you to taste the joy these cookies bring!

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these Soft Sugar Cookies ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 3 days before rolling and baking. You could also bake the cookies ahead and store them in an airtight container for up to a week, keeping them fresh until you decorate.

What can I substitute for meringue powder in the icing?

If you don’t have meringue powder, consider using pasteurized egg whites as a substitute. Use about 2 tablespoons of egg whites for every tablespoon of meringue powder, but do keep in mind that the texture might vary slightly.

Why are my cookies spreading out too much when baking?

If your cookies spread too much, it may be due to the dough being too warm before baking or insufficient chilling time. Make sure to chill the dough thoroughly before cutting shapes, and consider chilling the cut cookies for a short period before baking if they’re still too soft.

Can I add colors or flavor to the royal icing?

Definitely! You can use gel food coloring for vibrant hues without thinning the royal icing. To flavor your icing, add a touch of extract like almond or lemon for a delightful twist that pairs beautifully with the sweet cookies.

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Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing

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Author: Anna
Prep Time: 90 minutes
Cook Time: 100 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Yield: 24
Category: Desserts & Appetizers
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

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Description

These Soft Sugar Cookies with Professional Royal Icing are delightfully soft and bursting with flavor. Simple ingredients like butter, sugar, and egg come together to create a treat perfect for any occasion. Enjoy homemade cookies that will impress family and friends with their sweetness and beautiful decorations!

Ingredients

unsalted butter, softened (65-67ºf) – 3/4 cup
granulated sugar – 1 cup
large egg, room temperature – 1
vanilla extract – 1/2 teaspoon
all-purpose flour – 2 1/3 cups
baking powder – 1 teaspoon
kosher salt – 1/2 teaspoon
powdered sugar (icing) – 4 cups
meringue powder (icing) – 3 tablespoons
warm water (100-110°f) – 9 tablespoons
vanilla extract (icing) – 1/2 teaspoon

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Instructions

Cream softened butter and sugar on medium-low for 2 minutes.
Add egg and vanilla; mix on medium-high for 20-30 seconds.
Sift dry ingredients and add to mixer; pulse until dough just comes together.
Divide dough, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1-3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350ºF and line sheets with parchment.
Roll dough to 1/4" thickness on a lightly floured surface.
Cut shapes and place 1" apart on baking sheets.
Bake for 10-11 minutes (for 3" cookies) until surface is dry.
Cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then move to wire rack.
Whisk icing ingredients on low for 7 minutes, then medium-low for 2-3 minutes.
Adjust consistency for border and flood icing with water.
Decorate cookies and let dry for 6-8 hours.

Notes

Ensure your butter is at the right temperature for best results.
You can use various cookie cutters for fun shapes.
If icing is too thick, add a small amount of water to achieve desired consistency.