Bring a touch of artisanal charm to your next celebration with these Professional Royal Icing Sugar Cookies. Whether you are looking to create personalized wedding favors or festive holiday treats, the secret lies in a reliable cookie base that holds its shape perfectly and a silky, vibrant icing. As a pastry chef, I’ve refined this recipe to ensure a flat, non-spreading surface—the perfect canvas for your edible art. Our Royal Icing guide provides the ideal consistency for both intricate detailing and smooth flooding. With just a few simple pantry staples, you can transform basic biscuits into stunning, customized gifts that taste as good as they look. Get ready to master the art of cookie decorating with this comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide.

Icing Sugar Cookies

Icing Sugar Cookie are the perfect combination of baking and creativity. These buttery, tender cookies are made with a simple sugar cookie base and decorated with colorful royal icing to match any occasion — from holidays to birthdays, baby showers, or just a fun afternoon in the kitchen.

What makes these cookies extra special is how customizable they are. You can use your favorite cookie cutters, colors, and piping styles to create one-of-a-kind treats that are as fun to make as they are to eat.

Whether you're baking with kids, preparing festive party favors, or trying your hand at cookie art, these icing sugar cookies are a sweet and joyful project anyone can enjoy.

Servings 25 cookies

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 25

Resting Time 30

Total Time 1 35

Equipment

Oven
Gel Food Color
Cookie Cutter
Decorating Tip
Pastry Bag

Ingredients

Cookies

100 g unsalted butter
70 g icing sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg (around 40g)
200 g cake flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Icing

45 g egg white
200 g icing sugar
Gel Food Color (optional)

Instructions

Soften the butter, and add the sugar and the salt in a bowl. Beat together until combined. Add the egg, the vanilla extract and the flour, beat until completely combined.
Flat the dough and cover it with plastic wrap and place into the fridge about 30 mins until ready to bake.
Take the dough out from the fridge, and roll into a 5mm thick circle. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter.
Bake in the preheated oven 340°F (170°C) for 10~12 mins, remove from oven and place aside.
Beat the egg whites with a whisk in a bowl until frothy. Then add the sugar and mix on low speed until sugar is completely mixed and shiny. (Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days)
Separate the icing into individual bowls for how many colors you need, add gel food coloring and decorate your cookies. (Decorate your sugar cookies by first outlining the border, then fill in the middle with flood icing)
After decorating your cookies, dry the cookies.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven 210°F (100°C) for 10 mins, remove from oven and place aside to cool completely.
Finish and enjoy your time.

Calories: 75kcal

Course: Cookie

Cuisine: Western

Keyword: royal icing cookies, decorated sugar cookies, holiday cookies, giftable treats, Decorated Cookies for Weddings

Cooking & Storage Tips

When making the icing for ‘flooding’ (filling in large areas), look for the 10-second consistency. This means when you drag a knife through the icing, the line should disappear and the surface should become smooth again in exactly 10 seconds. If it’s too thick, add a drop of water; if too thin, add a bit more icing sugar
Allow each color of icing to dry completely (usually 4-6 hours or overnight in a cool, dry place) before adding a different color next to it. This prevents the colors from ‘bleeding’ into each other and keeps your designs crisp and professional.
Let the icing dry completely before storing. Once dry, cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week — great for gifting and party prep.