Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is coming soon.
I think one of the best ways to express your love is baking these sugar cookies and decorating them with royal icing. Royal icing is great for decorating cookies, especially writing and designing your own message. This is a great way to have fun with your kids as well as family during holidays.

INGREDIENTS & EQUIPMENT

Ingredients

3 cups All-Purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Unsalted Butter (softened)
1 cup Sugar
1 Egg (beaten)
1 tablespoon Milk
Powdered Sugar (for rolling out dough)

1 tablespoon Meringue Powder
1/2 cup powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice, plus extra for different consistancies

Equipment

Rolling pin
Cookie cutters
Piping bag & Decorating tips

HOW TO MAKE

1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color.
3. Add egg and milk and beat to combine.
4. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl.
5. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

1. Sprinkle surface with powdered sugar and top of the dough, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick.
2. Cut into desired shape (Of course, heart for Valentine’s Day) by using cookie cutters.
3. Grease your baking sheet with butter or place parchment paper on a baking sheet, and
place cookies. Bake about 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn light brown around the edges.
4. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes and then move to a cooling rack.

5. Mix all the ingredients for royal icing by using a small whisk. Then, pipe a outer line with thick royal icing. Design as you you want – You can either fill out the top of cookies with royal icing, draw lines and heart, or write a note.
6. Then, add more water or lemon juice to royal icing to adjust its consistency and fill out the line. Let royal icing dry at a room temperature.

SERVING & STORING

Serving: Make sure to dry royal icing before you serve.

Storing: Store in a airtight container for 3-4 days at a room temperature.

ALEXA’S TIPS

• Baking sugar cookies: Make sure that you really grease it well. There were parts that was not greased well, and cookies got ugly when I tried to take them off.
• Making royal icing: I have found three different royal icing recipes that use water, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Which one is the best? I think it just depends on your preference!
• Decorating sugar cookies: When you decorate cookies, use the smallest tip (usually #1 or #2). You may think this is too small, but it is the right size to write letters and draw as you want.

TASTE REVIEW

I can only eat one of two of sugar cookies with royal icing. I preferred plain sugar cookies – yes, I am…somewhat boring (per my husband); however everyone else loved these cookies. Some of my friends really loved the lemon flavor from royal icing.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

~ Alexa