Sugar Cookie Recipe

What you'll need:

For the dough:

• 1/2 cup butter - softened

• 2/3 cup powdered sugar

• 1 egg - room-temperature

• 1 1/2teaspoons vanilla

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

For the royal icing:

• 2-pound bag of powdered sugar

• 5 tablespoons meringue powder

• About 2/3 cup of cold water

• Food coloring - optional

What you'll do:

For the dough:

1. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth.

2. Add the egg and the vanilla.

3. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and stop just as the dough comes together.

4. Knead the dough until it's smooth, place it between two pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap, and roll it until it's about 1/4 of an inch thick.

5. Place on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes.

6. Remove dough from freezer and cut into desired shapes.

7. Preheat the oven to 340 degrees Fahrenheit and put the cut cookies back into the freezer for 10-15 minutes.

8. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

9. When they come out of the oven, flatten them with a fondant smoother and place them onto a wire cooling rack.

10. Cool cookies completely before icing.

For the royal icing:

1. Add the powdered sugar and meringue powder to the mixing bowl and whisk together.

2. Once whisked, add the water to the mix. Mix for about 5 minutes, or until icing is thick, shiny, glossy, and white.

3. Portion icing out and color as desired. Happy icing!

Sugar cookies are fairly easy, just a little time-consuming, and it takes plenty of practice to get the decorating part down! There are a few different consistencies of royal icing, as well. You can make one that's rather thick and use it purely for outlining, and make a thinner consistency for flooding; or you can make a medium consistency to use both for outlining and flooding. I like to make a medium consistency to use one color for both outlining and flooding. I find it easier and less confusing. The first time I ever made sugar cookies and icing, I made the two different consistencies, and I found myself mixing the bags up. And I didn't get the same color for the different icings; it was all just a mess. But hey, you live, and you learn. This was my second time ever making and decorating cookies, and I am quite proud of how they turned out! Here's the story.

As always, thank you so much for being here. I hope you try these cookies and have the best time decorating them! It can be a little stressful at first, but once you figure it out and remember to leave worry at the door, you will have so much fun decorating these cookies! I actually made some for my family on Valentine's Day, and we all decorated cookies together. It's safe to say everyone had fun and enjoyed decorating! It was such a great family activity, and I highly recommend it! Check out and follow my social media pages for the making of these sugar cookies. Make these and leave pictures of your decorated cookies! Take care, and happy baking! <3