01/01/2025
Snowflake Holiday Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing and Berry Design ❄️🍪🎄
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
For the Royal Icing:
4 cups (500g) powdered sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
6 tablespoons water (adjust for desired consistency)
Gel food coloring (red and brown)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Cookie Dough:
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), and beat until fully combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
Divide the dough in half, wrap each portion in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until firm.
2. Roll and Cut the Cookies:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness.
Use a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
3. Prepare the Royal Icing:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar and meringue powder. Gradually add the water, a tablespoon at a time, until the icing reaches a smooth and spreadable consistency (for outlining the cookies). For flooding (filling in the designs), add a little more water to achieve a thinner consistency.
Divide the icing into separate bowls, one for each color you plan to use. Add a few drops of red gel food coloring to one bowl and brown to the other, mixing until the desired colors are achieved.
4. Decorate the Cookies:
Use the red royal icing to outline the edges of the snowflake cookies. Once the edges have set, flood the inner part of the cookies with the thinned royal icing to fill the design.
Use the brown icing to pipe delicate berry designs on top of the cookies, such as tiny dots or little clusters of berries in the center of the snowflakes.
Allow the cookies to dry completely, about 4-6 hours, before storing or serving.