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Soft Frosted Back to School Sugar Cookies Easy Homemade Royal Icing Recipe

Soft Frosted Back to School Sugar Cookies - featured image
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Soft sugar cookies topped with smooth, glossy royal icing perfect for back-to-school celebrations. These cookies are tender, flavorful, and fun to decorate with a homemade royal icing that sets just right.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp milk (whole or 2%)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 large egg whites (or 5 tbsp pasteurized egg whites)
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (optional, gel colors recommended)

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter with granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract and milk. Mix until combined but avoid overmixing.
  4. Combine wet and dry: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture in batches, mixing on low speed just until incorporated. Dough should be soft but not sticky.
  5. Chill the dough: Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  7. Roll and cut cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes and transfer to baking sheets.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are just golden but centers remain soft.
  9. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  10. Prepare royal icing: Beat powdered sugar with egg whites, lemon juice, and vanilla extract on medium-high until stiff peaks form, about 7-10 minutes. Adjust consistency with water if needed.
  11. Color and decorate: Divide icing into bowls, add gel food coloring if desired, transfer to piping bags, and decorate cookies. Let icing set at room temperature for several hours or overnight.

Notes

Use softened but not melted butter for best texture. Chill dough to prevent spreading. Sift powdered sugar for smooth icing. Practice piping on parchment paper before decorating. Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to avoid sogginess. For longer storage, freeze undecorated cookies and decorate after thawing.

Nutrition

Keywords: sugar cookies, royal icing, back to school, soft cookies, homemade frosting, easy cookies, cookie decorating

Find it online: https://yumbelle.com/soft-frosted-back-to-school-sugar-cookies-easy-homemade-royal-icing-recipe/