3.3 from 141 votes
Holiday Sugar Cookies and DIY Colored Sugar
These quick and easy Holiday Sugar Cookies are such fun to decorate, and a joy to give out to friends and family. I show you how to make your own diy colored sugar, too, so you can get as creative as you want.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
chilling
30 mins
Total Time
54 mins
Servings: 36 cookies
Calories: 140 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
royal icing
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/8 cup meringue powder
- 2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
colored sugar
- raw or granulated sugar
- gel or paste food coloring
Instructions
- To make the colored sugar, measure out 1/4 cup sugar into a small bowl and add a drop or two of gel coloring to it. Stir to combine completely. Spread the sugar out on a paper towel to dry, and then break up any lumps with the back of a spoon before storing the sugar in a small jar.
- To make the cookies, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and extracts.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together to blend. Mix it into the butter and sugar mixture until the dough comes together.
- Turn out on to a floured surface and bring together into a ball. Divide the ball in half and flatten each half into a disk. Wrap the disks in plastic and refrigerate for an hour. (Or overnight)
- Preheat the oven to 350F while the dough is chilling.
- Roll out the dough to about 1/8-1/4 inch thick and cut out the shapes. Put them on a baking sheet lined with silocone or parchment paper and bake for about 7-9 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before removing them to a cooling rack.
- Frost the cookies when completely cool.
- To make the frosting, beat together the water and meringue powder until combined. Beat in the sugar and continue beating until it is glossy and smooth. If the frosting seems too thin, add a little more sugar.
- Spoon the frosting into a large zip lock baggie and zip closed.
- When ready to use, cut a very small snip off one corner. Work with one cookie at a time, and pipe a line of frosting along the outer edge, then pipe more into the inside of the cookie. Take a small paintbrush to gently ease the frosting into corners. Sprinkle on your decorations while the cookie is wet. then set to dry while you work on the other cookies.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- sugar cookie recipe adapted from the kitchn
Nutrition Information
Calories
140kcal
(7%)
Carbohydrates
22g
(7%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
5g
(8%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0.2g
Cholesterol
19mg
(6%)
Sodium
36mg
(2%)
Potassium
32mg
(1%)
Fiber
0.3g
(1%)
Sugar
14g
(28%)
Vitamin A
165IU
(3%)
Calcium
11mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 36cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 140
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 140kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 22g | 7% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 19mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 36mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 32mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0.3g | 1% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 165IU | 3% |
| Calcium | 11mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.