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Easy Patriotic Sugar Cookies Recipe with Royal Icing Perfect for Holidays

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These easy patriotic sugar cookies with royal icing are soft with slightly crisp edges and decorated with smooth, glossy icing in red, white, and blue. Perfect for holidays and celebrations, they are simple to make and fun to decorate.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Optional: ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 5 to 6 tablespoons warm water
  • Red, blue, and white gel food coloring
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla or lemon juice

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract until fully combined.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture in batches, mixing on low speed just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Divide dough in half, shape into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  7. Roll out one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness. Keep the other disc chilled until ready.
  8. Use star-shaped or circle cookie cutters to cut shapes. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on baking sheets.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges just begin to turn golden. Watch closely to avoid overbaking.
  10. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely before icing.
  11. In a large bowl, combine meringue powder and sifted powdered sugar. Add 5 tablespoons warm water and beat on medium-high until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Add extra water by teaspoon if icing is too thick.
  12. Divide icing into small bowls and add gel food coloring to create red, blue, and white colors. Mix until smooth and vibrant.
  13. Decorate cookies using piping bags or small spatulas with royal icing. Let icing dry completely for 4-6 hours or overnight.

Notes

Chill dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading. Use a non-stick rolling pin and lightly flour surface to avoid sticking. For royal icing, adjust water to get the right consistency for outlining and flooding. Let icing dry completely before stacking or packaging. Store cookies in an airtight container separated by parchment paper for up to 5 days. Dough can be made ahead and chilled or frozen.

Nutrition

Keywords: patriotic sugar cookies, royal icing cookies, holiday cookies, Fourth of July cookies, easy sugar cookies, festive cookies

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/easy-patriotic-sugar-cookies-recipe-with-royal-icing-perfect-for-holidays/