3egg whites or about 3.4 fl oz pasteurized liquid egg whites
4cups powdered sugar450 grams (1 lb)
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, equip the paddle attachment. If using a hand held mixer, equip beaters. Mix the butter on high speed for 30 seconds until creamy.
Add the sugar and beat for 2 minutes on high speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and pinch of salt and mix on medium until just combined.
Add in half of the flour and mix until incorporated, then add the other half. Stop mixing when the flour has incorporated and the dough comes together.
Spread out a piece of plastic wrap onto the counter. Turn out the dough onto the plastic wrap. If the dough is slightly crumbly, gently knead it together. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Once chilled, preheat the oven to 350℉ (177℃). Prepare your baking trays with parchment paper.
Divide the dough into two parts. Lightly flour a clean flat surface and place the dough on top. Gently knead the dough and press flat with your palm. Roll out the dough, turning it as you roll for even thickness. If it's sticky, sprinkle flour on top of the dough. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick.
Cut out your shapes and place on a baking tray, 2 inches apart. 3-4 inch shapes should be baked for 9-10 minutes. Shapes smaller than 3 inches should bake for 7-8 minutes. Shapes larger than 4 inches should bake for 10-11 minutes.
Once the oven goes off, take out the cookies and move to a cooling rack. Don't let them sit on the hot pan or they will keep baking.
Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.
Decorate cookies with royal icing. Let the royal icing air dry before covering. For gifting or mailing, let the icing dry for 12 hours or more.
Plain cookies or decorated cookies can last in an airtight container for 1 week.
Easy Royal Icing Recipe with Egg Whites
Attach the whisk attachment to your stand mixer. If using liquid egg whites, measure out 3.4 fl oz
If using fresh eggs, separate your egg whites from the yolks. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add your egg whites.
Beat the egg whites at low speed until frothy, about 30 seconds.
Add powdered sugar one cup at a time and mix on low speed in-between additions.
After all the sugar is added, set the speed to medium-high and beat until stiff peaks form (5-8 minutes). When removing the whisk attachment, the peaks should stand up without running back into the bowl.
Your icing is ready! Add to the shallow bowl. If making this icing ahead of time or during the dough chilling process, cover with a damp paper towel to avoid crusting over.
Decorating I Like You Berry Much Sugar Cookies
Dye your icing and add to piping bags and tie, rubber-band, or use a chip clip to keep the bag closed.
Start by outlining your medium and mini strawberry shaped cookies with soft pink icing and fill in.
Use the green icing to pipe on the strawberry leaves and yellow icing to make the strawberry seeds on the medium and mini strawberries.
With the electric pink icing, pipe on the phrase, "I like you berry much"
Decorating I Love You A Latte Sugar Cookies
Dye your icing and add to piping bags and tie, rubber-band, or use a chip clip to keep the bag closed.
Outline the mini heart cookies with pink icing and let dry.
For the heart cookies, pipe on white icing and fill in. To make the wet on wet technique, add drops of pink icing while the icing is still wet. Then with a scribe tool, drag it through the center of all the dots.
For variety, pipe on pink icing for some of the heart cookies and dust with luster dust.
Outline and fill in the latte cookie with white icing. Then, pipe on a pink rectangle shape for the "cupholder."
Outline the lid with white icing and and the black oval.
With the electric pink icing, outline the cup holder. Then, use black icing to pipe the phrase, "I love you a latte" Then, pipe a dot of icing and add a mini heart for a 3D effect.
Notes
Making the royal icing during the chilling saves time! Just cover the bowl with a damp paper towel to prevent crusting.
Freezing: You can freeze plain or decorated cookies for 2 months. Let the cookies thaw before serving. Cookie dough can be frozen up to 2 months. Let the dough thaw before rolling but not all the way until room temperature. We can being from step 7 above with slightly chilled dough.
Decorate: Ice cookies with royal icing. See my easy royal icing recipe with egg whites to answer all your royal icing questions.This royal icing recipe was made to pair with these sugar cookies. The cookies are buttery and not overly sweet, so the icing gives it a nice sweetness.