Christmas Sugar Cookies
Honestly, there's no better time of the year to make sugar cookies than during the holidays. These light and airy cookies are made with a bit of citrus, which is perfect for winter. And when topped with a royal icing, they're a festive treat!
Servings: 30 cookies (approx.)
Ingredients
For the cookies
- 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For the royal icing
- 3 ounces egg whites (about 3 egg whites)
- 4 cups sifted powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla powder (or vanilla extract)
Instructions
- Make the dough: In an electric mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Add the sugar and mix until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Mix in the egg, orange zest, orange juice, vanilla, and almond extract. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well and scrape the bowl to ensure everything is incorporated. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 30 minutes or overnight.16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, 2 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, 2 teaspoons orange zest, 1 ½ tablespoons fresh orange juice, 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut: Once well chilled, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼- to ½-inch thick and cut with desired cookie cutters. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated 350°F oven until slightly puffed and just beginning to turn golden, 10-14 minutes. Once baked, remove from the oven and cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks and cool completely.
- Make the royal icing: Mix the egg whites, 3 ½ cups powdered sugar, and vanilla powder together until smooth. Add the remaining ½ cup of powdered sugar until the frosting is thick and ribbon-like when poured. Separate the icing into bowls and color with food coloring.3 ounces egg whites (about 3 egg whites), 4 cups sifted powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla powder (or vanilla extract)
- Decorate: Use pastry bags or a plastic cookie decorating bottle to decorate the cookies.
The dough may also be frozen for up to 1 month.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 190kcal