Magical Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe for Winter Sweetness

Sweet winter magic happens when snowflake sugar cookies dance onto your holiday plate, bringing delicate frosted charm to festive gatherings.

Delicate patterns emerge from simple ingredients and careful crafting.

Powdered sugar and intricate designs transform basic cookie dough into elegant edible art.

Crisp edges and soft centers create perfect texture contrasts that delight every sweet tooth.

Decorating becomes a playful experience of creativity and precision.

Guests will marvel at these stunning treats that look almost too beautiful to consume.

Bake these cookies and watch winter wonder unfold right in your kitchen.

Snowflake Cookies That Look as Magical as They Taste

• Effortless Holiday Baking: Whip up these snowflake sugar cookies with simple ingredients and basic baking skills, perfect for bakers of all levels.
• Festive Winter Treat: Create stunning, delicate snowflake-shaped cookies that capture the magical essence of winter celebrations and holiday gatherings.
• Customizable Decorating Fun: Enjoy a creative decorating experience with blue and white royal icing, allowing personal artistic expression and family bonding.
• Make-Ahead Convenience: Prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate, making these cookies an ideal make-ahead dessert for busy schedules and stress-free entertaining.

Snowflake Sugar Cookies What Goes In

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure for the cookies.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor.

• Butter: Creates a rich and tender cookie texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with cookie crispness.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds classic cookie flavor.
• Almond Extract: Gives a subtle nutty undertone.

• Powdered Sugar, Meringue Powder: Forms the base of the royal icing.
• Warm Water: Helps create the right icing consistency.
• Blue Food Coloring: Provides a winter-themed color.
• White Food Coloring or Icing: Creates decorative snowflake details.
• Edible Glitter (Optional): Adds sparkle to the cookies.

Baking Snowflake Sugar Cookies That Sparkle with Style

Step 1: Prepare Cookie Dough Base

Grab a medium bowl and whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until perfectly blended. In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until they transform into a light, fluffy mixture. Drop in the egg, vanilla, and optional almond extract, mixing until everything combines smoothly. Gradually fold in the flour mixture, stirring gently until just incorporated. Split the dough into two equal portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour to firm up.

Step 2: Roll and Shape Delicate Snowflakes

Warm up your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the chilled dough to a delicate quarter-inch thickness. Use a beautiful snowflake-shaped cookie cutter to create intricate shapes. Carefully transfer the cookies to prepared baking sheets, spacing them about an inch apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges turn a gentle golden color. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Step 3: Craft Royal Icing Magic

• Powdered sugar
• Meringue powder

Slowly introduce warm water, mixing until the icing reaches a smooth, pipeable consistency. Divide the icing into two separate bowls. Transform one portion into a soft blue shade using food coloring, leaving the other pristine white.

Step 4: Create Stunning Snowflake Decorations

Begin by outlining each cookie with the blue icing, then flood the center to create a smooth base. Allow the base layer to dry for approximately 15 minutes. Pipe delicate white snowflake patterns across the surface. For an extra touch of winter wonder, add tiny dots or sprinkle edible glitter for a magical finish. Let the decorated cookies dry completely before serving or packaging.

Sugar Cookie Tips for Perfect Snowflake Designs

• Chill the Dough Perfectly: Refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading and maintain crisp snowflake shapes during baking.
• Roll with Precision: Use a light dusting of flour and roll dough to exactly ¼ inch thickness for consistent, even cookies that bake uniformly.
• Control Icing Consistency: Adjust royal icing thickness by adding water drop by drop – too thin means it will run, too thick won't spread smoothly.
• Prevent Cookie Breakage: Let cookies cool completely on wire rack before decorating to ensure delicate snowflake designs remain intact without cracking.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Add a splash of almond extract for a subtle, sophisticated taste that elevates these classic sugar cookies beyond ordinary sweetness.

Store Snowflake Sugar Cookies for Holiday Delight

• Place cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper. Keep fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap undecorated cookies individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.
• Store decorated cookies in a single layer inside a sealed container away from direct sunlight. Maintain freshness for 3-4 days at room temperature.
• Warm cookies gently in the oven at 300°F for 2-3 minutes to restore slight crispness. Allow to cool completely before serving to maintain delicate texture.

Snowflake Cookies Holiday Matches

• Festive Flavor Companions: Snowflake Sugar Cookies
• Brew Warm Winter Mulled Wine: A cozy spiced red wine with cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest perfectly complements the delicate sweetness of snowflake sugar cookies, creating a warming winter dessert experience.
• Pair with Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Rich, creamy hot chocolate topped with crushed candy canes provides a delightful contrast to the crisp, buttery cookie, enhancing the festive winter flavor profile.
• Serve Alongside Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Creamy, smooth vanilla ice cream offers a cold, silky counterpoint to the sweet, intricate snowflake cookie, balancing textures and temperatures for a luxurious dessert combination.
• Complement with Spiced Chai Latte: Aromatic chai tea with its warm spices like cardamom and ginger creates a harmonious match, elevating the cookie's subtle almond and vanilla undertones while adding a comforting warmth.

Snowflake Cookie Decorating Options

• Gluten-Free Snowflake Sugar Cookies: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum for better texture and binding.
• Dairy-Free Winter Wonderland Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, ensuring a similar rich taste and soft cookie consistency.
• Keto Snowflake Cookie Adaptation: Use almond flour and a sugar substitute like erythritol, reducing carbohydrate content while maintaining the classic cookie shape and festive design.
• Low-Sugar Holiday Treat: Decrease sugar quantity and incorporate stevia or monk fruit sweetener for a healthier version that still delivers delightful winter-themed cookies.

FAQs

• What is the purpose of chilling the dough before rolling?

Chilling helps prevent spreading during baking and makes the dough easier to handle. It allows butter to firm up, ensuring cookies maintain their crisp snowflake shape.

• Can I make these cookies without almond extract?

Yes, you can skip almond extract or replace it with vanilla extract. The cookies will still taste delicious and have a classic sugar cookie flavor.

• How do I prevent my royal icing from becoming too runny or too thick?

Add water or powdered sugar gradually while mixing. For a perfect consistency, the icing should flow smoothly but hold its shape when piped. Test by lifting the whisk and observing how the icing falls back into the bowl.

• What type of food coloring works best for royal icing?

Gel food coloring is recommended because it provides vibrant color without changing the icing’s consistency. Liquid food coloring can make the icing too thin and affect its ability to set properly.

Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Sweet holiday magic sparkles in these snowflake sugar cookies, perfectly crafted for winter celebrations. Delicate royal icing designs and crisp, buttery edges make these festive treats irresistible for seasonal gatherings where you’ll delight guests with elegant winter-inspired confections.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups (343 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 ml) vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) almond extract (optional)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the foundational mixture by whisking together dry ingredients in a medium mixing vessel, ensuring even distribution of flour, leavening agent, and seasoning.
2. In a separate larger container, cream butter and sugar until the texture becomes airy and voluminous, creating a smooth, pale base.
3. Incorporate liquid elements including egg, vanilla essence, and optional almond extract, blending thoroughly until the mixture appears uniform and glossy.
4. Gradually fold in the dry ingredient blend, stirring gently to prevent overmixing and maintain a tender cookie texture.
5. Segment the dough into two equal portions, encase each in protective film, and chill within refrigerator for a minimum of 60 minutes to enhance flavor and facilitate easier handling.
6. Heat culinary appliance to 350°F, positioning rack in central position and lining baking surfaces with parchment protection.
7. On a lightly dusted work surface, roll dough to approximately quarter-inch thickness, ensuring consistent evenness.
8. Utilize specialized snowflake-shaped cutting tool to extract delicate cookie silhouettes, positioning shapes with slight separation on prepared trays.
9. Thermal processing requires 8-10 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges indicating perfect doneness. Transfer to cooling platform immediately after extraction.
10. Construct decorative coating by combining powdered sugar with meringue powder, gradually introducing warm liquid to achieve optimal consistency.
11. Separate icing into dual containers, reserving one for pristine white application and tinting alternative portion with azure pigmentation.
12. Apply initial blue layer as precise outline, flooding interior surface for smooth foundation and allowing brief setting period.
13. Embellish with intricate white snowflake detailing, enhancing with optional crystalline accents or delicate dotwork.
14. Permit complete atmospheric drying before presentation or storage to maintain intricate decorative elements.

Notes

• Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain intricate snowflake shapes during baking.
• Use a light hand when rolling out dough to keep cookies tender and prevent tough texture.
• Calibrate oven temperature with an independent thermometer to ensure precise, even baking for delicate cookies.
• Adjust royal icing consistency by adding water drop-by-drop for perfect piping and smooth decorating technique.
• Swap almond extract with vanilla if nut allergies are a concern, maintaining the same delightful flavor profile.
• Store decorated cookies in single layers between parchment paper to preserve delicate snowflake designs.
• Create gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
• Reduce sugar content slightly for a less sweet cookie without compromising overall texture and taste.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 60 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg