Description
Snowflake Sugar Cookies are the ultimate festive treat! Delicate, buttery cookies topped with beautiful royal icing snowflake designs make these perfect for holiday gatherings, gift-giving, or just enjoying with a cozy drink. This easy recipe includes tips for decorating, creating the most stunning holiday cookies every time!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 5–6 tablespoons warm water
- Blue gel food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Make the Dough
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using), and mix until well combined.
- Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated.
- Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Cut and Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness.
- Use a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Place cookies on baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the Royal Icing
- In a bowl, combine powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- Slowly add warm water, mixing until icing is smooth and thick but pipeable. Divide into two bowls.
- Tint one bowl with blue food coloring, leaving the other white.
- Decorate the Cookies
- Outline each cookie with blue icing, then flood the center for a smooth base. Allow to dry for about 15 minutes.
- Pipe white snowflake patterns on top. Add small dots or edible glitter for extra detail.
- Let decorated cookies dry completely before serving or packaging.
Notes
- Chilling the dough ensures cookies hold their shape during baking.
- Letting the base icing layer set prevents color bleeding when adding details.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze undecorated cookies for up to three months.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (includes chilling time)8-10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg