If you’re looking to fill your kitchen with the sweet aroma of freshly baked treats and create delightful edible art, then this Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Icing Recipe is exactly what you need. These cookies are not only a joy to bake but also a fantastic canvas for vibrant icing designs, making them perfect for holidays, celebrations, or just a fun weekend project. With a tender, buttery base and smooth, sweet icing, this recipe promises that classic sugar cookie flavor with a soft yet sturdy texture that holds up beautifully to all your creative decorating ideas.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity—just a handful of classic pantry staples that work together to create those perfect soft and sweet cookies. Each ingredient plays an important role, from the flour providing structure to the extracts adding those lovely aromatic notes that bring the cookies to life.
- All-purpose flour (3 cups): The backbone of your cookies, giving structure and a tender crumb.
- Baking powder (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise just enough to be soft but not cakey.
- Salt (1/4 teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Unsalted butter (1 cup, softened): Adds richness and moisture, crucial for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Granulated sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the dough while creating a slight crisp on the edges.
- Large egg (1): Binds the ingredients and adds moisture for softness.
- Vanilla extract (1 1/2 teaspoons): Brings warmth and depth to the flavor.
- Almond extract (1/2 teaspoon, optional): Adds a subtle, nutty dimension for a more complex flavor.
- Powdered sugar (2 cups): Base for the smooth icing that top your cookies.
- Milk (2–3 tablespoons): Adjusts the icing’s consistency for easy spreading or piping.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon for icing): Infuses the icing with a gentle, sweet fragrance.
- Food coloring (optional): Adds a playful pop of color to customize your cookie designs.
How to Make Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Icing Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Start by whisking together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until creamy and light. Then add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until smooth. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, blending just until combined; avoid overmixing to keep the dough tender.
Step 2: Chill the Dough
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it much easier to roll out and cut into those perfect shapes without sticking or stretching.
Step 3: Roll and Cut
Lightly flour your surface and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes, then transfer them carefully to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Keep the cookies spaced about 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading.
Step 4: Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden. Don’t overbake; these cookies should remain soft and pale. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet before moving on to decorating.
Step 5: Make the Icing
While the cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the milk by adding a little more if the icing feels too thick or a bit less if it’s too runny. Divide and tint with food coloring if desired, preparing for your decorating masterpiece.
Step 6: Decorate and Let Set
Spread or pipe the icing onto your cooled cookies. You can keep it simple with a single color or get creative with patterns, sprinkles, or layering different icing colors. Allow the icing to harden at room temperature, usually about one hour, so your designs stay intact when you serve.
How to Serve Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Icing Recipe
Garnishes
Sprinkles, edible glitter, and small candy pearls make wonderful garnishes that add that extra sparkle and crunch to your cookies. Try crushed nuts or coconut flakes for a twist in texture or finely chopped dried fruit for a bit of chewiness that complements the sweet icing beautifully.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a warm cup of tea or a rich, frothy hot chocolate for the ultimate cozy treat. Fresh fruit slices or a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream can also brighten the plate when serving to guests or family for dessert.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange cookies on a festive platter with colorful napkins or stack them in a clear jar for a charming gift. Personalize them by piping names or messages with extra icing, or even assemble cookie sandwiches filled with jam or buttercream to surprise and delight everyone.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. Layer parchment paper between cookies to prevent the icing from sticking. Properly stored, they will stay delicious for up to one week.
Freezing
You can freeze baked sugar cookies, but for the best icing appearance, freeze the plain cookies first. Once cooled, place them in a single layer on a tray to flash freeze, then transfer to an airtight freezer bag. Decorate after thawing for vibrant results. The cookies will keep well for up to three months in the freezer.
Reheating
Sugar cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, but if you prefer them warm, pop them in a microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. Avoid reheating too long to prevent the icing from melting too much or the cookies from drying out.
FAQs
Can I use other extracts instead of vanilla and almond?
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with lemon, peppermint, or even coconut extracts to give your cookies a unique twist. Just start with smaller amounts since some extracts are more potent than vanilla.
How do I prevent my sugar cookies from spreading too much?
Make sure your dough is well chilled before rolling and cutting. Also, avoid using too much butter or sugar, and try not to overmix the dough, as excess warmth can cause spreading during baking.
What’s the best way to get smooth icing on these cookies?
Use powdered sugar with just enough milk to make a thick but spreadable consistency. You can thin the icing with additional milk if needed. For ultra-smooth results, sift the powdered sugar before mixing and use an offset spatula to spread the icing evenly.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, by substituting all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend designed for baking, you can create delicious gluten-free sugar cookies. You might need to adjust the flour amount slightly depending on the blend’s absorbency.
How long does the icing take to dry fully?
Typically, the icing should harden within one to two hours at room temperature. For best results, avoid stacking cookies until the icing is completely set to prevent smudging.
Final Thoughts
Baking this Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Icing Recipe is a heartwarming, satisfying experience perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Whether you’re decorating with kids or preparing a beautiful batch for a gathering, these cookies are sure to bring smiles and sweet memories. Give this recipe a try and watch as simple ingredients transform into charming, delicious works of art you’ll want to make again and again!
Print
Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Icing Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes plus 1 hour chilling
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Icing are a classic treat perfect for any occasion. Soft, buttery, and lightly sweetened, these cookies hold their shape well for decorating with colorful icing. The recipe includes a simple homemade icing that can be tinted with food coloring to add a festive touch. Ideal for holidays, parties, or anytime you want a delightful homemade cookie experience.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
For the Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk (adjust for desired consistency)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until creamy and light, about 3-4 minutes.
- Mix wet ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until well combined and smooth.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix just until incorporated to form a soft dough. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Chill the dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This helps the dough firm up for easier rolling and better cookie shape retention.
- Roll out dough and cut shapes: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disc to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, then transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with the second disc.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the icing: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk (start with 2 tablespoons and add more if needed), and vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable. Adjust milk quantity to achieve desired icing consistency for decorating.
- Decorate the cookies: Divide icing into bowls and tint with food coloring if desired. Use a spoon or piping bags to decorate the cooled cookies. Let the icing set completely before storing or serving.
Notes
- For best results, chill the dough thoroughly before rolling to prevent cookie spreading.
- If you do not want almond flavor, simply omit the almond extract.
- Soften butter to room temperature to ensure proper mixing and a tender texture.
- The icing consistency can be adjusted by adding more powdered sugar to thicken or more milk to thin.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- These cookies freeze well, both before and after baking, for up to 3 months.
