Description
Delight your holiday guests with these festive Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies. These beautifully decorated cookies are perfect for spreading Christmas cheer and indulging in sweet treats.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
For the Royal Icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons warm water (more as needed)
- gel food coloring (black for wire, multiple colors for lights)
- mini round piping tips or squeeze bottles
Instructions
- Prepare the Sugar Cookies: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a smooth dough forms. Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Bake the Cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out dough on a floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness and cut into desired shapes. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are just golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make the Royal Icing: Beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, and warm water together until stiff peaks form. Divide into bowls and tint with food coloring. Thin icing with water for flooding consistency.
- Decorate the Cookies: Outline and flood cookies with white icing. Let dry completely. Pipe a black icing string to resemble a wire. Use brightly colored icing to dot on ‘light bulbs’ along the wire.
Notes
- Let each layer of icing dry fully before adding the next to prevent colors from bleeding.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus chilling and decorating time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
