Shortbread Sugar Cookies with Icing

Delight your taste buds with these buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread Sugar Cookies with Icing—perfect for any occasion! This simple yet elegant recipe features a classic shortbread base made with just a handful of pantry staples, including rich unsalted butter, a hint of vanilla, and a pinch of salt for balance. Each cookie is baked to golden perfection, offering a tender crumb that pairs beautifully with the glossy homemade icing, which can be tinted with food coloring for a festive twist. Whether you’re crafting holiday shapes or everyday treats, these customizable cookies are as fun to decorate as they are delicious to eat. Ready in under 35 minutes and yielding 24 cookies, they’re ideal for party platters, gift-giving, or indulging at home.

Nutriscore Rating: 36/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:12 mins

Total Time:32 mins

Servings: 24

Ingredients

• 226 grams Unsalted butter, softened
• 100 grams Granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
• 300 grams All-purpose flour
• 0.25 teaspoons Salt
• 200 grams Powdered sugar (for icing)
• 2 tablespoons Milk (for icing)
• 0.5 teaspoons Vanilla extract (for icing)
• 1 drop Food coloring (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 3

Add the vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until combined.

Step 4

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing.

Step 5

Divide the dough into two portions and roll each out to about 1/4-inch (6mm) thickness on a lightly floured surface.

Step 6

Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between each cookie.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 8

While the cookies are cooling, prepare the icing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add food coloring, if desired, and mix thoroughly.

Step 9

Once the cookies are completely cooled, use a small butter knife, spoon, or piping bag to spread or drizzle the icing over the cookies. Decorate with sprinkles, if you’d like, before the icing sets.

Step 10

Allow the icing to fully set at room temperature for about 1 hour before serving or storing.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(868.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3918.7

Total Fat 186.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 116.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 495.9mg	0%
Sodium 641.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 531.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 8.2g	0%
Total Sugars 303.2g
Protein 33.9g	0%

Vitamin D 15.6IU	0%
Calcium 130.0mg	0%
Iron 14.3mg	0%
Potassium 437.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 42.6%

Protein: 3.4%

Carbs: 53.9%