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Perfect Star-Spangled Sugar Cookies Recipe Easy Patriotic Royal Icing Tutorial

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These star-spangled sugar cookies are crispy on the edges, tender in the middle, and decorated with glossy royal icing that dries smooth and firm. Perfect for patriotic celebrations like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or summer picnics.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour – sifted for best texture
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4 cups (500g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 5–6 tablespoons water
  • Food coloring gel in red, blue, and a little black or purple
  • Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

Instructions

  1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. (5 minutes)
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy—about 3-4 minutes. (4 minutes)
  3. Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Optionally add a splash of almond extract. (2 minutes)
  4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in thirds, alternating with the milk. Mix on low speed until just combined. (5 minutes)
  5. Chill the Dough: Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. (60 minutes)
  6. Preheat Oven: Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. (10 minutes)
  7. Roll and Cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch (6 mm) thickness. Use star-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Transfer carefully to baking sheets. (15 minutes)
  8. Bake Cookies: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges just start to turn golden. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks. (10 minutes)
  9. Prepare Royal Icing: In a large bowl, mix meringue powder and powdered sugar. Add water gradually until icing reaches stiff peak consistency for outlining and thinner consistency for flooding. Divide and color as needed. (15 minutes)
  10. Decorate: Outline cookies with stiff icing; let set for 10 minutes. Flood with thinner icing and use toothpicks to smooth or add details. Let dry completely (at least 4 hours or overnight) before stacking or storing. (30+ minutes active, plus drying time)

Notes

If icing gets too thick while decorating, add a tiny bit of water and stir well. If too thin, dust in a little more powdered sugar. Chill dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading. Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Let icing dry fully at room temperature to avoid condensation and loss of shine. Dough can be stored in fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. For gluten-free or dairy-free options, substitute flour and dairy accordingly.

Nutrition

Keywords: sugar cookies, star-shaped cookies, royal icing, patriotic cookies, Fourth of July, Independence Day, holiday baking, easy sugar cookies, festive cookies

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/perfect-star-spangled-sugar-cookies-recipe-easy-patriotic-royal-icing-tutorial/