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Soft Sugar Cookies with Orange Royal Icing

Delightfully soft sugar cookies adorned with vibrant orange royal icing, perfect for any gathering or special occasion.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 100
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Ingredients
  • 3 cups flour All-purpose flour is preferred.
  • 1 cup butter (softened) Can be substituted with margarine or coconut oil for a vegan option.
  • 1 cup sugar Consider substituting with honey or agave for a different flavor.
  • 1 large egg For vegan, substitute with a flax egg or egg replacer.
  • 1 tsp vanilla Can be replaced with almond extract for a flavor twist.
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
Royal Icing Ingredients
  • 3 cups powdered sugar Used for royal icing.
  • 2 large egg whites Ensure they are whipped to stiff peaks for the icing.
  • to taste orange food coloring For tinting the royal icing.
  • as needed black gel icing For piping details on the cookies.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cream softened butter and sugar together until fluffy.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients
  1. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture, being careful not to overmix.
Chill the Dough
  1. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
Roll Out and Cut Shapes
  1. Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
  2. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on a lined baking sheet.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are just set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Prepare the Royal Icing
  1. Beat egg whites and powdered sugar together until stiff peaks form.
  2. Tint the icing with orange food coloring to your desired shade.
Decorate the Cookies
  1. Once cooled, ice the cookies generously with royal icing and allow to set for 30 minutes.
  2. Use black gel icing to pipe details for decoration.

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for a few minutes if desired.