Elsa’s Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Delicate sugar cookies shaped like snowflakes, flavored with vanilla and decorated with royal icing to evoke the magic of ice and snow. This general-inspired desserts ready in about 30 minutes layers all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, softened, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 24, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp meringue powder
- 4 tbsp water
- a few drops blue food coloring
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Step 2: Beat in 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until combined. In another bowl, whisk 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
- Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until a dough forms. Chill dough wrapped in plastic for 1 hour.
- Step 4: Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Use snowflake cookie cutters to cut shapes and place them 1 inch apart on baking sheets.
- Step 5: Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges are just golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Step 6: For royal icing, whisk 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbsp meringue powder, and 4 tbsp water until stiff peaks form. Add a few drops of blue food coloring and mix gently.
- Step 7: Decorate cooled cookies with the blue royal icing using piping bags to create delicate snowflake patterns. Let icing dry for 2 hours before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Elsa’s Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (20 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home bakers find this fits a weekend afternoon; chill or store as the recipe directs before serving.
How do I store leftover Elsa’s Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies?
Cool fully before storing. Most baked desserts keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2–3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cream- or custard-based desserts must go in the fridge within 2 hours; reheat gently or serve cold per the recipe.
Can I substitute ingredients in Elsa’s Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Elsa’s Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 24 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 24). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Elsa’s Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies?
General desserts like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
Related recipes
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
