Easter Inspired Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

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For those who don't know me too well, I work in a school as a paraprofessional to autistic elementary students. Tomorrow, we are having a little Easter party for them and I decided to make some cookies for the party. I purchased Easter cookie cutters (bunny face, profile of bunny, Easter egg, carrot, and chick) and used my sugar cookie recipe. On a few, I just sprinkled them with Spring themed sprinkles while the other ones were iced with royal icing (first time making it!!). 

It being my first time making royal icing, I needed to do some research. I knew the basics: powdered sugar, some part of eggs, and vanilla extract. But I didn't know how to combine it or which part of the eggs I needed to use. Royal icing needs egg whites, so I knew I would have a fun time with making this icing. It took me two tries to get it right but I eventually got there! As my favorite YouTubers say "Keep Trying!" And that's exactly what I did.  



“Even Better” Sugar Cookie Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

  1. 3 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  3. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  4. 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  5. 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  6. 1 cup granulated sugar
  7. 1 large egg
  8. 1 ½ tablespoons of milk
  9. Powdered sugar (for rolling out the dough)
  10. Sprinkles

Instructions: 

  1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt combined. 
  2. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together the butter and granulated sugar until it's light and fluffy. Then beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla. 
  3. Once the butter and sugar mixture is combined, slowly mix in the dry ingredients until dough starts to form and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  4. Separate the dough into two even balls, wrap them in cling wrap, and refrigerate for an hour and a half.
  5. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cover whatever surface you plan on using with powdered sugar (I learned this trick from Alton Brown – it bakes a lot nicer than flour does) and roll out one ball of dough. Once rolled out, cut out any shapes you want (I went with circles and used a cup for the cutter). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (or if you use silicone mats, those work too. I use mats so I don't have to waste parchment paper). 
  6. Bake for 6-8 minutes until the cookies are a little brown around the edges. Let cookies cool on cookie sheet for about three minutes before moving them to a cooling rack. 
  7. While the cookies cool, start making the glaze 
  8. Make sure the cookies are all the way cool or the glaze will melt right off the cookies. 

Easy Royal Icing

Ingredients: 
  1. 6 ounces of pasteurized egg whites
  2. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  3. 8 cups powdered sugar
  4. Gel food coloring
Instructions: 
  1. In a large bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, combine the egg whites and the vanilla until foamy. 
  2. Add powdered sugar slowly and mix on low speed (so the sugar doesn't fly out) until sugar is incorporated and shiny. 
  3. Turn speed up to high and beat until stiff peaks form. This will take 4-8 minutes. 
  4. Add gel food coloring. 
  5. Transfer icing into piping bad and decorate! 

As my first time working with royal icing, I think my icing skills were decent. I know decorated cookies with royal icing will get better over time when I practice more and more. And I intend to practice more. I think baking cookies and decorating them is relaxing and so much fun. Your imagination can run free and create anything to your hearts desire. I'm sure you'll see more decorated cookies from me in the near future! 

Come back Saturday for  Lemon Raspberry Bunny Cupcake recipe!

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Want to suggest a recipe for me to try or have any questions? Email me!

Instagram page: @theonewherecarolinebakes 
Twitter page: @OneWhereCDBakes
Email address: theonewherecarolinebakes@gmail.com

  

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