Soft Sugar Cookies with Icing

Introduction

Soft Sugar Cookies with Icing are a delightful classic that bring back memories of childhood, holidays, and cozy afternoons spent in the kitchen. Unlike crisp sugar cookies, these are pillowy soft, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Their buttery vanilla flavor pairs beautifully with the sweet, glossy icing on top, making them as pretty as they are tasty.

These cookies are versatile—perfect for holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Easter, but also just as lovely for birthdays, parties, or an everyday treat. You can customize the icing colors, add sprinkles, or even pipe designs to match any occasion.

If you want a cookie that is soft, sweet, and fun to decorate, this recipe is for you.

Why I Love This Recipe

I love this recipe because it combines the comfort of a soft, cake-like cookie with the creativity of decorating. The cookies themselves are buttery and lightly sweetened, so the icing adds just the right touch without being overwhelming.

I also love how fun and versatile these cookies are. You can make them with kids, let everyone decorate their own, or bake them ahead for holiday cookie swaps. They’re as beautiful as they are delicious.

The balance of softness, flavor, and endless decorating possibilities makes these sugar cookies a favorite in my kitchen.

Why It’s a Must-Try Dish

This recipe is a must-try because:

• It’s beginner-friendly yet bakery-quality.
• The cookies are soft, chewy, and flavorful (not bland or hard).
• It’s perfect for holidays and celebrations.
• The icing hardens slightly for stacking but still tastes delicious.
• You can personalize them endlessly with colors, designs, and sprinkles.

Recipe Information

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Chilling Time (dough): 1 hour
• Cooking Time: 8–10 minutes per batch
• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Servings: About 24 cookies
• Calories per Cookie (with icing): ~180 kcal
• Course: Dessert, Snack
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract for a different flavor)
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt

For the Icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk (adjust for consistency)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles (optional)

Cooking Directions (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in eggs one at a time.
3. Stir in vanilla extract.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

1. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.

Step 3: Chill the Dough

1. Divide dough into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
   (Chilling helps the dough firm up and prevents cookies from spreading too much.)

Step 4: Shape and Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness.
3. Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes.
4. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
5. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are set but not browned.
6. Cool completely on wire racks before icing.

Step 5: Make the Icing

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Adjust consistency: add more milk for a thinner glaze, more sugar for thicker icing.
3. Divide and add food coloring if desired.

Step 6: Decorate

1. Spread or pipe icing onto cooled cookies.
2. Add sprinkles immediately before icing sets.
3. Allow icing to dry for at least 1 hour before stacking.

How to Serve

• Serve as a sweet treat with tea, coffee, or milk.
• Decorate seasonally (red/green for Christmas, pink/white for Valentine’s, pastel for Easter).
• Wrap individually in bags for party favors.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t skip chilling the dough—it makes the cookies soft but not overly spread.
• Roll evenly for consistent baking.
• Use powdered sugar when rolling instead of flour if you want to avoid adding too much extra flour.
• Let cookies cool completely before icing, or the icing will melt.

Variations

• Lemon Sugar Cookies: Add 1 tbsp lemon zest to the dough and replace vanilla with lemon extract.
• Chocolate Sugar Cookies: Replace ½ cup flour with unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Funfetti Cookies: Mix sprinkles directly into the dough for colorful cookies.
• Spiced Sugar Cookies: Add 1 tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp nutmeg for a warm flavor.
• Royal Icing Alternative: Use royal icing for sharper, longer-lasting decorations.

Freezing and Storage

• Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
• Freezing Dough: Wrap dough tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in fridge before rolling and baking.
• Freezing Baked Cookies (without icing): Freeze for up to 2 months. Ice after thawing.
• Freezing Decorated Cookies: Can be frozen, but icing may not look as fresh after thawing.

Special Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer (hand or stand)
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper or silicone mat
• Wire cooling rack
• Small piping bags or squeeze bottles for icing (optional)

Conclusion

Soft Sugar Cookies with Icing are more than just cookies—they’re a canvas for creativity and a sweet treat that everyone loves. With their tender texture, buttery flavor, and beautifully decorated tops, they’re perfect for holidays, birthdays, or just a little baking fun. This recipe is simple, reliable, and endlessly customizable, making it one you’ll want to bake again and again.

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Soft Sugar Cookies with Icing

Author: admin Cuisine: American Courses: Desserts

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 80 mins Total Time 1 hr 40 mins

Calories: 180 kcal per Cookie

Description

Soft Sugar Cookies with Icing are a delightful classic that bring back memories of childhood, holidays, and cozy afternoons spent in the kitchen. Unlike crisp sugar cookies, these are pillowy soft, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

For the Sugar Cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract for a different flavor)
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt

For the Icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp 2–3 milk (adjust for consistency)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla extract.
2. Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
3. Step 3: Chill the Dough: Divide dough into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (Chilling helps the dough firm up and prevents cookies from spreading too much.)
4. Step 4: Shape and Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are set but not browned. Cool completely on wire racks before icing.
5. Step 5: Make the Icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust consistency: add more milk for a thinner glaze, more sugar for thicker icing. Divide and add food coloring if desired.
6. Step 6: Decorate: Spread or pipe icing onto cooled cookies. Add sprinkles immediately before icing sets. Allow icing to dry for at least 1 hour before stacking.

Keywords: Soft Sugar Cookies with Icing