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Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 102 reviews

These Winter Wonderland Sugar Cookies are classic buttery cookies shaped into festive holiday forms like snowflakes and stockings. Soft yet crisp, they are perfect for decorating with royal icing and edible glitter to create a beautiful winter-themed treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

  1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until the texture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add Egg and Extracts: Incorporate the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture, mixing well until fully combined.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing slowly until the dough comes together and no streaks of flour remain.
  5. Chill Dough: Wrap the cookie dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This helps the dough firm up for easier rolling and cleaner cookie shapes.
  6. Preheat Oven and Roll Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to approximately ¼ inch thickness.
  7. Cut Cookie Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into winter-themed shapes such as snowflakes and stockings. Place the cutouts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  8. Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden but the centers are still pale and set.
  9. Cool Completely: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
  10. Decorate: Use royal icing in white and icy blue shades to pipe snowflake designs. Add silver edible pearls, sanding sugar, or edible glitter for a frosted winter look. Allow the icing to set fully before serving or storing.

Notes

  • Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
  • Refrigerating the dough is essential for clean cookie shapes and prevents spreading.
  • Use a light hand when rolling out the dough to maintain even thickness for even baking.
  • Decorate cooled cookies only to prevent icing from melting.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • For a stronger almond flavor, add a few more drops of almond extract, but be cautious not to overpower vanilla.

Keywords: Winter sugar cookies, holiday cookies, decorated sugar cookies, royal icing cookies, Christmas cookies, festive cookies

Find it online: https://hannahdelgado.com/winter-wonderland-sugar-cookies-recipe/