5 from 56 votes
Snowflake Cookies
Snowflake Cookies are all-purpose flour-based sugar cookies cut into snowflake shapes and baked to a light, dry texture, then decorated with royal icing. The dough is rolled thin, shaped carefully, and baked until edges are set, providing a crisp yet tender cookie perfect for decorating. The recipe includes steps to ensure clean shapes and smooth icing lines for festive presentation.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
32
servings
Calories:
137 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour (420g)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 cup butter softened (227g, unsalted
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 1 egg large
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- royal icing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well combined, scraping down the bowl as needed.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually add in the flour beating just until combined. Turn out on a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Shape each half into a square. Roll each square on a sheet of lightly floured parchment paper to 1/8-inch thickness. Carefully remove the top sheet of parchment and cut out the cookies using snowflake cookie cutters. (It may help to dip the cutters in flour before cutting the dough.) Use a spatula to help transfer the cookies to unlined and ungreased baking sheets, placing 1 inch apart on the sheet.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies appear dry and are lightly golden on the bottom. Immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with royal icing and let stand on the wire rack until the icing is hardened. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Customize the cookie dough flavor by adding extracts, citrus zest, or sprinkles as desired before baking.
- To achieve smooth straight icing lines, start the piping bag flow before touching the cookie, then pull steadily for clean lines.
- Use tweezers for precise placement of sprinkles like pearls on the royal icing.
- Cool cookies completely before applying royal icing to prevent melting the decoration.
- Allow several hours for royal icing to harden fully before handling or storing decorated cookies.
- Do not overmix the dough to avoid incorporating excess air, which leads to spreading and loss of cookie shape during baking.
- Measure flour accurately with a scale or fluff and level if using measuring cups to prevent dense cookies.
Nutrition Information
Calories
137kcal
(7%)
Carbohydrates
18g
(6%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
21mg
(7%)
Sodium
51mg
(2%)
Potassium
20mg
(0%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Vitamin A
186IU
(4%)
Calcium
8mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 32 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 137
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 137kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 21mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 51mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 20mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 186IU | 4% |
| Calcium | 8mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.