Sweet Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Looking for a sweet treat to share this Valentine’s Day? Sugar cookies with royal icing are a timeless, delicious choice. Not only are they easy to make, but decorating them can be a fun and creative activity to do with your loved ones. Whether you’re crafting heart shapes or experimenting with colorful designs, these cookies are the perfect way to spread some love.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls (large and medium)
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Rolling Pin
- Heart-shaped cookie cutters (various sizes)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Small piping bags and tips
- Thin spatula or butter knife
Ingredients
- For Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- For Royal Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk or water
- ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract
- Food coloring optional
Instructions
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two portions, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Step 2: Roll and Cut the Cookies
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness.
- Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out your cookies, placing them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Step 3: Bake the Cookies
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Step 4: Prepare the Royal Icing
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk for thinner icing or more sugar for thicker icing.
- Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring as desired.
- Step 5: Decorate the Cookies
- Transfer the icing to small piping bags with fine tips for detailed designs.
- Decorate your cookies with swirls, dots, or personalized messages. Let the icing dry completely (about 24 hours) before stacking or storing.
Notes
Additional Tips
- Dough Tips: If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle in a little extra flour while rolling it out.
- Icing Consistency: For flood icing (base layer), make it thinner. Use thicker icing for detailed designs.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Cleanup Tip: Use parchment paper to make rolling and cutting easier while reducing mess.
- Extra Flavors: Try almond extract in the dough or icing for a unique twist.
Variations to Try
- Add cocoa powder to the dough for chocolate sugar cookies.
- Sprinkle freeze-dried strawberry powder on wet icing for a tangy touch.
- Experiment with cookie shapes like stars or flowers for variety.