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Perfect Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookies Recipe Easy Homemade Icing Tutorial

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Festive sugar cookies decorated with royal icing in stars and stripes design, perfect for patriotic holidays. Soft yet crisp cookies with smooth, glossy icing that holds detailed piping beautifully.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk (any kind or dairy-free alternative)
  • 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 large egg whites or 4 tablespoons meringue powder + 5 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vanilla extract
  • Gel food coloring in red and blue

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients: whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy and pale, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add wet ingredients: beat in egg and vanilla extract until combined, then add milk and mix just until incorporated.
  4. Combine dry and wet: gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing on low speed until just combined; chill dough 10-15 minutes if too sticky.
  5. Chill dough: divide dough into two disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  7. Roll and cut: roll dough to ¼-inch thickness on floured surface; cut stars and stripes shapes and transfer to baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges start to turn golden; avoid overbaking.
  9. Cool cookies on baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  10. Prepare royal icing: beat egg whites (or meringue powder and water) with powdered sugar and lemon juice until stiff peaks form; divide and tint with gel colors.
  11. Decorate: outline shapes with thicker icing, flood inside with thinner icing; use toothpicks to smooth and pop bubbles; let dry 4-6 hours or overnight.

Notes

Chill dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading and maintain sharp shapes. Sift powdered sugar for smooth royal icing. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning icing. Let icing dry completely for best results. Store cookies in airtight container with parchment layers; freeze undecorated dough or cookies for longer storage.

Nutrition

Keywords: sugar cookies, royal icing, patriotic cookies, stars and stripes, holiday cookies, easy sugar cookies, homemade icing, 4th of July cookies

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/perfect-stars-and-stripes-sugar-cookies-recipe-easy-homemade-icing-tutorial/