Frozen-Inspired Snowflake Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

Buttery sugar cookies cut into intricate snowflake shapes and decorated with delicate royal icing to mimic the magic of an icy winter wind’s ice creations. This general-inspired desserts ready in about 30 minutes layers (2 sticks), 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 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
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp meringue powder
• 4 tbsp water
• a few drops blue food coloring

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 3/4 cup granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
2. Step 2: Beat in 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until a smooth dough forms. Divide dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
5. Step 5: Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll chilled dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Use snowflake-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
6. Step 6: Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges are just beginning to turn golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
7. Step 7: For royal icing, beat 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons meringue powder, and 4 tablespoons water in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 5-7 minutes until thick and glossy. Tint with a few drops of blue food coloring.
8. Step 8: Transfer icing to piping bags and decorate cooled cookies with snowflake patterns. Let icing harden at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving.