Description
These Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies are a festive and fun treat perfect for the holiday season. The buttery cookies are topped with colorful royal icing ‘lights’ and make a beautiful addition to any Christmas gathering.
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
For the royal icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons water (plus more as needed)
- gel food coloring (various colors for lights)
- black food coloring or edible marker for the string
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dough: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together. Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg and extracts, then mix in dry ingredients to form dough. Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
- Roll and bake: Roll out chilled dough, cut into shapes, and bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are golden. Cool completely.
- Make royal icing: Beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until stiff peaks form. Thin as needed and color with gel food coloring.
- Decorate cookies: Outline and flood cookies with white icing, let dry. Add black string, then dot colored icing along the string. Let dry before serving.
Notes
- Royal icing needs time to dry fully for best results, preferably several hours or overnight.
- For better decorating control, use squeeze bottles or piping bags with fine tips.
