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A plate of four heart-shaped cookies decorated with pink and white gingham icing. The plate is on a white cloth. In the background, there are eggs, a glass of milk, and a jar. The setting is on a white wooden surface.
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Sugar Cookie for Decorating Recipe

After 15 years of baking and sharing recipes online, and having worked in three different bakeries, I can confidently say this is the best sugar cookie recipe for decorating. It’s been my go-to for years—and for good reason! These cookies hold their shape, taste amazing, and are the perfect blank canvas for frosting, sprinkles, and all the creative fun.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Baking
Keyword: Sugar Cookies
Servings: 24 Cookies
Author: Melissa Johnson

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 1/2 cups flour

Instructions

  • To make the sugar cookie dough, first add salt, baking powder, and flour to a medium sized bowl and whisk together; set aside.
  • In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on high speed until fluffy and light in color.
    Butter and sugar in a stand mixer bowl.
  • Add eggs and vanilla to mixer, only mixing until combined.
    Butter and sugar mixture mixed with two raw eggs on top in a stand mixer bowl.
  • Add in dry ingredients in two parts; adding half of the mixture at a time.
    Butter, sugar, and egg mixture with flour on top in a stand mixer bowl.
  • Wrap dough in two packs using plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour to overnight.
    Sugar cookie dough rolled into a ball on top of plastic wrap on a cutting board.
  • When ready to roll out, pull one sugar pack out at a time from the fridge and sprinkle flour on your work bench as needed while rolling to help with stickiness. Roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick and use any cookie cutters you’d like!
    Sugar cookie dough wrapped in plastic wrap on a cutting board.
  • Once cookies are cut into shapes, let chill in fridge for at least 1 hour (I froze mine overnight).
    Sugar cookie dough rolled out into a thin layer on a wooden cutting board with heart shaped cutouts.
  • Bake at 325 degrees for 12-17 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies; you’ll want them slightly golden brown around the edges.
  • Next, to make the royal icing, in a stand mixer with paddle attachment, add powdered sugar, vanilla, and egg whites and beat on low until incorporated, then increase speed to high for 3-5 minutes.
  • Add food gel if desired for different colors.
  • Decorate cookies as you please!