Frosted Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Snowflake Decoration
Classic buttery sugar cookies topped with smooth royal icing shaped into delicate snowflakes, perfect for festive occasions or winter celebrations. This international-inspired desserts ready in about 30 minutes layers unsalted butter, granulated sugar, large egg 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
- 1 cup (2 sticks), softened unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 cups (for royal icing) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp meringue powder
- 5 tbsp warm water
- 1/4 tsp blue food coloring gel
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar using a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Step 2: Beat in 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
- Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Step 4: Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into snowflake shapes with cookie cutters and place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Step 5: Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges are just golden. Let cool completely on wire racks.
- Step 6: To prepare royal icing, beat together 3 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbsp meringue powder, and 5 tbsp warm water with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
- Step 7: Add 1/4 tsp blue food coloring gel to the royal icing and mix until color is uniform. Fill a piping bag fitted with a fine tip with the icing.
- Step 8: Decorate cooled cookies with snowflake patterns by piping icing carefully. Allow icing to set completely at room temperature, about 2 hours, before serving or packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Frosted Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Snowflake Decoration 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 Frosted Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Snowflake Decoration?
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 Frosted Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Snowflake Decoration?
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 Frosted Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Snowflake Decoration 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 Frosted Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Snowflake Decoration?
International 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.
