Print

50+ Beautiful Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing - featured image
Print Recipe

These soft, buttery sugar cookies hold their shape beautifully and are decorated with glossy royal icing in autumn colors. Perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings, cookie exchanges, or a fun decorating activity with family.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 1/2 cups (312g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 6–8 tablespoons warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Gel food coloring (burnt orange, deep red, golden yellow, brown, green)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and sugars: In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape bowl.
  2. Add the egg and extracts: Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract on medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape bowl.
  3. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Add dry to wet: With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture, mixing just until dough comes together. Do not overmix.
  5. Divide and chill: Turn dough onto floured surface, divide in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour (overnight is better).
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
  7. Roll out dough: On floured surface, roll one disc to 1/4-inch thickness. Use rolling pin rings or guides for even thickness.
  8. Cut shapes: Dip cookie cutters in flour, press straight down without twisting. Place cut shapes 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
  9. Chill cut cookies: Place baking sheet in freezer for 10 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
  10. Bake: Bake chilled cookies for 8-10 minutes, rotating pan halfway. Edges should be just barely golden. Centers will look slightly underdone.
  11. Cool completely: Let cookies cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Do not ice until completely cool.
  12. Make royal icing: In mixer bowl, combine sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 6 tablespoons warm water and vanilla. Mix on low, then beat on medium-high for 5-7 minutes until thick and glossy with stiff peaks.
  13. Color icing: Divide icing into bowls for each color. Add gel food coloring and stir until uniform.
  14. Adjust consistency: For outlining, keep stiff. For flooding, thin with water a few drops at a time until it flows like honey and settles within 10 seconds (10-second rule).
  15. Fill piping bags: Put outlining icing in bags with #2 tips. Put flooding icing in squeeze bottles or bags with #3 or #4 tips.
  16. Outline cookies: Pipe a border around each cookie with stiff icing.
  17. Flood cookies: Fill outlined areas with flooding icing. Use toothpick to guide into corners and pop bubbles.
  18. Add details while wet: Pipe leaf veins or other details with stiff icing using #1 tip. For patterns, pipe dots and drag toothpick through.
  19. Dry completely: Let decorated cookies dry uncovered at room temperature for 4-6 hours or overnight until icing is hard.

Notes

Chilling the dough is non-negotiable to prevent spreading. The 10-second rule for royal icing consistency is crucial. Cookies can be baked up to a week ahead and stored unfrosted. Decorated cookies keep for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not refrigerate. For dairy-free, use vegan butter. For gluten-free, use 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thanksgiving sugar cookies, royal icing cookies, autumn cookies, decorated sugar cookies, leaf cookies, holiday baking, Thanksgiving dessert

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/50-plus-beautiful-thanksgiving-sugar-cookies-with-royal-icing/