Sugar Cookies and Icing

Indulge in the timeless charm of homemade Sugar Cookies and Icing with this easy, family-friendly recipe! These buttery cookies boast a soft-yet-structured texture, perfect for cutting into fun shapes with cookie cutters. A hint of vanilla enhances their classic flavor, while a simple, glossy royal icing provides the perfect canvas for your creativity—whether you’re decorating for holidays, birthdays, or just because. With a prep time of only 20 minutes, this recipe is ideal for bakers of all skill levels and yields a batch of 24 delightful treats. Customize the icing with your favorite food coloring to make them truly your own. Perfect for special occasions or everyday snacking, these sugar cookies are as fun to decorate as they are to eat!

Nutriscore Rating: 39/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 24

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing)
• 0 food coloring (optional)

Directions

Step 1

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

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 3

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until well combined.

Step 4

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

Step 5

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.

Step 6

Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness.

Step 7

Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.

Step 8

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or just until the edges begin to turn golden. Be careful not to overbake.

Step 9

Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 10

To prepare the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.

Step 11

If using food coloring, divide the icing into separate bowls and add a few drops of food coloring to each, mixing until the colors are evenly distributed.

Step 12

Once the cookies are completely cooled, use a spoon, piping bag, or small spatula to apply the icing, and decorate as desired.

Step 13

Allow the icing to set completely before serving or storing the cookies in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(875.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3931.0

Total Fat 199.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 123.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 702.7mg	0%
Sodium 710.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 498.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 8.2g	0%
Total Sugars 264.1g
Protein 39.3g	0%

Vitamin D 157.7IU	0%
Calcium 121.2mg	0%
Iron 15.1mg	0%
Potassium 449.4mg	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: 45.5%

Protein: 4.0%

Carbs: 50.5%