Description
Snowflake-inspired winter wonderland sugar cookies invite sweet memories of chilly evenings and festive cheer. Delicate frosted edges and sparkling sugar crystals promise pure holiday magic you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, whip butter and sugar until they transform into a cloud-like, aerated mixture. Incorporate egg, vanilla, and optional almond extract, blending thoroughly until harmoniously combined.
- Gradually fold in flour, baking powder, and salt, kneading gently until a smooth, cohesive dough emerges without stickiness.
- Encase the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to firm up the texture.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a work surface by dusting with flour.
- Roll out the chilled dough to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness, using gentle, even pressure to maintain consistency.
- Utilize oval-shaped cookie cutters to create delicate frames, transferring each carefully onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for edges to turn a soft golden hue.
- Remove cookies and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack, ensuring they reach room temperature.
- Prepare royal icing, reserving a portion in its pristine white state and tinting the remainder with a whisper of light blue.
- Flood each cookie with the blue icing, creating a serene background, and permit the layer to dry thoroughly.
- Using white icing, meticulously craft winter landscape elements: delicate trees, miniature cottages, and intricate snowflakes.
- Apply additional layers of thicker white icing to generate depth and dimension in the winter scene.
- Allow the decorated cookies to dry completely before handling or packaging, ensuring the intricate details remain pristine.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for smoother, fluffier cookie dough that blends easily without overmixing.
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain intricate cookie shapes during baking.
- Dust rolling pin and surface lightly with flour to prevent sticking without making dough dry or tough.
- Test cookie doneness by checking edges for subtle golden color, avoiding overbaking which creates hard texture.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 156
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 28 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.7 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg