Butter Sugar Cookies & Royal Icing

Prep Time
60 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings
8

Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 4 cups of flour sifted
  • 3 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups of butter room temperature not melted
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup of milk

For the Icing

  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder found in the baking decor aisle of target/ walmart/ etc
  • 1/4 cup water plus more for thinning
  • 4 cups of powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional GEL food coloring if you want to make it colorful

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Instructions

For the Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Mix flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.
  3. In a stand mixer, blend sugar, butter, vanilla bean paste, and eggs until creamy.
  4. Slowly pour in flour mixture to the sugar while the mixer beats on low.
  5. Add milk one tablespoon at a time, and mix until blended.
  6. Divide into two equal sized dough balls and let rest in the fridge for up to one hour (or the night before).
  7. When you are ready to roll them out, lightly flour a pastry slab and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Store back in the freezer for 5 minutes before popping in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

For the royal icing

  1. In a stand mixer, whisk together the water and meringue powder until a slight foam forms. Reduce speed to low and add in powdered sugar and vanilla until icing becomes light and airy, about 2 minutes. If not thin enough, add in 1 teaspoon of water at a time until it has the consistency of pancake batter.

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