These delightful Christmas cookies are perfect for holiday celebrations. Decorated with vibrant royal icing, they make a beautiful addition to any festive gathering.
The recipe is simple and allows for creativity in decorating. You can customize the shapes and colors to match your holiday theme.
Creating the Perfect Holiday Atmosphere
Setting the scene for a festive gathering is essential, and nothing does it quite like a beautifully arranged platter of Christmas cookies.
The rustic wooden platter serves as a charming base, showcasing the vibrant colors of the royal icing.
Surrounding the cookies with twinkling fairy lights adds a magical touch, enhancing the overall warmth of the holiday spirit.
Choosing the Right Cookie Shapes
When it comes to decorating Christmas cookies, the shapes you choose can make a significant impact.
Classic holiday shapes like stars, trees, and snowflakes not only evoke the season but also provide a canvas for creativity.
Each cookie can be adorned with unique designs, allowing for a personal touch that reflects your holiday style.
The Art of Royal Icing Decoration
Royal icing is the key to achieving that glossy finish that makes decorated cookies stand out.
Its versatility allows for intricate designs, from simple outlines to detailed patterns.
Using piping bags for decoration gives you control over the icing application, ensuring each cookie is a work of art.
Gathering Ingredients and Tools
Before diving into the baking process, it’s essential to gather all necessary ingredients and tools.
Having everything on hand streamlines the process, making it more enjoyable.
Key ingredients include flour, sugar, and meringue powder, while piping bags and food coloring are crucial for decoration.
Tips for Baking Success
Achieving the perfect cookie texture requires attention to detail.
Make sure to cream the butter and sugar thoroughly for a light and fluffy dough.
Baking the cookies just until golden ensures they remain soft and chewy, perfect for decorating.
Storing and Sharing Your Cookies
Once your cookies are beautifully decorated and the icing has dried, it’s time to think about storage and sharing.
Store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh, and consider giving them as gifts to friends and family.
A platter of these festive cookies makes for a delightful centerpiece at any holiday gathering, spreading joy and cheer.
Easy Christmas Cookies with Royal Icing
This recipe yields soft and chewy sugar cookies that are perfect for decorating. The royal icing adds a sweet and glossy finish, making these cookies not only delicious but visually appealing. The entire process takes about 2 hours, including cooling time, and makes approximately 24 cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons water (or as needed)
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until fully combined.
- Shape Cookies: Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place them onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass.
- Bake: Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let cool on wire racks.
- Prepare Royal Icing: In a mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Beat until the icing holds stiff peaks. Divide and color as desired.
- Decorate Cookies: Use piping bags to decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing. Allow the icing to dry completely before storing.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Cooling Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 150kcal
- Fat: 6g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 22g