Description
Create professional bakery-quality holiday treats at home with these buttery, crisp sugar cookies. This recipe features a foolproof dual-chilling method to ensure your cookies maintain sharp, precise edges during baking. Topped with a perfectly smooth, hardened royal icing made with meringue powder, these cookies offer the ideal canvas for your holiday artistry. They deliver a satisfying snap with every bite, making them a festive essential for your Christmas celebrations.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons meringue powder
6 tablespoons warm water
0.25 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the sifted flour and salt.
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed until no dry streaks remain.
Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for 1 hour.
Roll out dough, cut into holiday shapes, and chill the cut shapes again for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350F and bake cookies for 10 minutes.
Prepare royal icing by whipping confectioners sugar, meringue powder, and warm water until stiff peaks form.
Decorate cooled cookies with the icing and allow to set completely.
Notes
Chilling the dough twice is essential to prevent spreading and maintain sharp shapes. Ensure the butter is softened but not melted. If icing is too thick, add water a teaspoon at a time. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 120
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg