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Royal Icing Christmas Cookies

Royal Icing Christmas Cookies Recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 54 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp meringue powder
  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 6 to 8 tbsp warm water
  • 1 tbsp light corn syrup (optional)
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • Gel food coloring (optional)

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in egg and vanilla.
  2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt; mix into butter mixture until dough forms.
  3. Roll between parchment, chill 20 minutes, and cut shapes.
  4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until edges just golden; cool completely.
  5. Whip meringue powder, confectioners' sugar, water, and extract until stiff peaks; adjust consistency.
  6. Tint icing; pipe outlines, flood with thinner icing, and dry at least 6 hours.

Notes

For the crispest, most reliable icing, make sure your cookies are fully cooled and your bowls are grease-free. The drying time depends on humidity; on a rainy day, let them sit overnight. If you skip the corn syrup, the icing will be very hard; add it for a gentler bite.