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

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These star-spangled sugar cookies are soft yet sturdy with a tender crumb, topped with glossy royal icing perfect for patriotic celebrations like the Fourth of July. The recipe is forgiving, easy, and yields beautifully shaped cookies with a smooth icing finish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 5–6 tablespoons water, room temperature
  • Gel food coloring in red and blue
  • Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract for icing

Instructions

  1. Mix the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using); beat until combined, 1-2 minutes.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing on low speed until dough forms, about 2 minutes. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Divide dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  7. Roll one dough disk on lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Cut star shapes and place 1 inch apart on baking sheets.
  8. Bake 8-10 minutes until edges start to turn golden but centers remain pale. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  9. For royal icing, whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder in a clean bowl. Gradually add water, beating on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 7-8 minutes. Adjust consistency as needed.
  10. Divide icing into bowls, tint with red and blue gel colors. Use piping bags or squeeze bottles to outline and flood cookies, then decorate with stripes, stars, or dots.
  11. Let icing dry completely, ideally overnight, before serving.

Notes

Let chilled dough sit 5 minutes before rolling to prevent cracking. Flour surface lightly to avoid dryness. Press cutters straight down without twisting for sharp edges. Use meringue powder for stable, glossy royal icing. Let each icing color dry before adding another to prevent bleeding. Store cookies in airtight container with parchment paper; avoid refrigeration to prevent icing sweat.

Nutrition

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

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