Frozen-Inspired Snowflake Sugar Cookies

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-11 · Updated 2026-05-11

Delicate sugar cookies decorated with royal icing in intricate snowflake patterns, perfect for a winter celebration. This general-inspired desserts ready in about 30 minutes layers (227 g), softened 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 150 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 (227 g), softened unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups (for royal icing) powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp meringue powder
• 5 tbsp water
• a few drops (optional) blue food coloring

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, cream 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Step 2: Beat in 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
3. Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until dough forms. Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for 1 hour.
4. Step 4: Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Use snowflake-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
5. Step 5: Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges just begin to turn golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
6. Step 6: For royal icing, whisk 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbsp meringue powder, and 5 tbsp water in a bowl until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Add a few drops of blue food coloring if desired.
7. Step 7: Transfer icing to piping bags and decorate cooled cookies with snowflake patterns. Allow icing to dry completely, at least 2 hours, before serving or storing.