Description
Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies bring holiday magic to life with buttery, tender cookies topped with delicate royal icing scenes. Perfect for holiday gatherings, gifting, or a cozy treat by the fire, these cookies combine festive flavors with intricate, frosty designs. Fun to make and even better to enjoy, they’re a must-bake for the season!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tbsp meringue powder
- 4–5 tbsp water (adjust as needed for consistency)
- Gel food coloring in light blue and white
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), then mix until combined. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a dough forms. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. - Cut and Bake:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out cookies, placing them 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. - Prepare the Royal Icing:
In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add water gradually, mixing until smooth and reaching medium-stiff consistency for piping. Divide and tint portions with light blue and white food coloring as desired. - Decorate the Cookies:
Use the light blue icing to flood each cookie, and allow it to dry completely. Once dry, use white icing to add snowy details, snowbanks, trees, and other winter accents. Let each layer dry before adding the next to prevent smudging.
Notes
- Chill the Dough for defined edges.
- Icing Consistency: Adjust with water or powdered sugar for different uses; thicker icing works best for details.
- Storage Tip: Store cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to protect icing designs.
- Optional Touch: Add a dusting of edible glitter or luster dust for a frosty finish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (+ 1 hour chilling time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg