Save Whimsical, buttery sugar cookies shaped like hearts and stars, decorated with sparkling royal icing—perfect for a magical tea party or a royal celebration.
These treats bring back fond memories of festive family gatherings where everyone enjoyed baking together.
Ingredients
- Cookie Dough: 225 g (1 cup) unsalted butter softened
- Cookie Dough: 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- Cookie Dough: 1 large egg
- Cookie Dough: 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Cookie Dough: 350 g (2 ¾ cups) all-purpose flour
- Cookie Dough: ½ tsp baking powder
- Cookie Dough: ¼ tsp salt
- Royal Icing: 250 g (2 cups) powdered sugar sifted
- Royal Icing: 1 large egg white (or 2 tbsp meringue powder + 3 tbsp water)
- Royal Icing: ½ tsp lemon juice
- Royal Icing: Food coloring (pink, yellow, purple, blue, etc.)
- Royal Icing: Edible glitter or sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Step 2:
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Step 3:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Step 4:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.
- Step 5:
- Divide dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 6:
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Step 7:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 6 mm (¼ inch) thickness.
- Step 8:
- Cut out heart and star shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies on prepared trays, spacing them 2.5 cm (1 inch) apart.
- Step 9:
- Bake 8 10 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Step 10:
- For icing: In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, egg white (or meringue powder mixture), and lemon juice until smooth. Divide icing into bowls and tint with desired food colors.
- Step 11:
- Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter as you wish. Let icing set before serving.
Save Our family enjoys these cookies during holidays when everyone gathers for tea and treats.
Required Tools
Mixing bowls, Electric mixer or hand whisk, Measuring cups and spoons, Rolling pin, Heart and star-shaped cookie cutters, Baking sheets, Parchment paper, Wire cooling racks, Small spatulas or piping bags for decorating
Allergen Information
Contains Eggs, Wheat (gluten), Dairy (butter). May contain traces of nuts if sprinkles or decorations are not nut-free. If concerned, double-check all labels for potential allergens.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 140, Total Fat: 6 g, Carbohydrates: 21 g, Protein: 1.5 g per serving
Save These magical cookies make every celebration sweeter and more delightful.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → How do I achieve crisp edges on the cookies?
Chilling the dough before rolling and baking helps maintain the cookies' shape and crisp edges during baking.
- → Can I add flavors to the cookie dough?
Yes, adding finely grated lemon or orange zest to the dough introduces a citrus twist without overpowering the buttery base.
- → What’s the best way to tint the royal icing?
Divide the icing into small bowls and gently mix in food coloring to achieve your desired vibrant hues.
- → How long should I bake the cookies?
Bake them for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges just start turning golden, ensuring a tender yet sturdy texture.
- → How should decorated cookies be stored?
Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container for up to one week to keep them fresh and maintain icing appearance.