Description
Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies bring festive cheer straight from grandma’s kitchen, spreading joy with each sweet, buttery bite. Delicate snowflake shapes and sparkling sugar crystals invite you to savor holiday magic in one delightful cookie.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2.75 cups (650 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
Optional Flavor Enhancer:
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the foundation for these festive sugar cookies by preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing vessel, creating a uniform dry ingredient blend.
- In a separate large bowl, whip butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes airy and pale, achieving a light, creamy consistency.
- Incorporate egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract into the butter mixture, stirring until thoroughly integrated.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, gently mixing until a soft, pliable dough emerges.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions, individually wrap in plastic film, and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes to enhance flavor and texture.
- On a lightly dusted surface, roll out the chilled dough to a ¼ inch thickness, using festive cookie cutters to create holiday-themed shapes.
- Carefully transfer cookie shapes onto prepared baking sheets, ensuring even spacing.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as a sign of perfect doneness.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on wire racks before beginning the decorative process.
- Craft royal icing by whisking powdered sugar, egg white (or meringue powder), water, and optional lemon juice in a mixing bowl.
- Beat the mixture at high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, adjusting liquid content for ideal consistency.
- Separate icing into multiple bowls, introducing gel food coloring to create a vibrant palette.
- Develop two icing textures: a thicker version for intricate borders and a thinner variant for smooth flooding.
- Embellish cookies by piping a precise border with thick icing, then flood the interior with thinned icing.
- Utilize a toothpick to eliminate air bubbles and create smooth surfaces.
- Add whimsical details using additional icing, sparkling edible pearls, and festive sprinkles.
- Optional: Dust cookies with edible glitter for an extra touch of holiday magic.
- Allow decorated cookies to dry completely for 2-4 hours before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie shapes during baking.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats for even baking and easy cookie removal without sticking.
- Dust work surface lightly with powdered sugar instead of flour to prevent dough from becoming dry and tough.
- Test oven temperature with a single cookie first to ensure perfect golden edges without burning.
- Make royal icing consistently smooth by sifting powdered sugar and using room temperature egg whites or meringue powder.
- Switch to gel food coloring for vibrant, concentrated colors that won’t thin out icing consistency.
- Store decorated cookies in single layers between parchment paper to prevent design smudging.
- Freeze unbaked cookie cutouts for quick holiday baking and last-minute entertaining.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg