Floral Butter Cookies with Royal Icing
Delightful cookies adorned with intricate floral designs, combining buttery goodness and royal icing for a visually stunning treat.
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour A fine, light-textured flour offering the perfect base for the cookies.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar Adds sweetness and gives the cookies a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened Provides richness and creamy flavor.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Delivers a warm, aromatic essence.
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract Optional nutty undertone that complements the butter.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
- 1 egg white or 3 tablespoons meringue powder Serves as the base for the royal icing.
Royal Icing Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar Essential for thickening and sweetening the icing.
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice Brightens the icing flavor.
- Gel food colors (pink, purple, green, yellow) To bring your floral decorations to life.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, powdered sugar, and salt until well combined.
- In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing well until combined into a soft dough.
- Roll the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Once chilled, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Use a floral cookie cutter to cut out shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
Icing Preparation
- While the cookies cool, prepare the royal icing. If using egg whites, beat until stiff peaks form, then add powdered sugar and lemon juice.
- If using meringue powder, combine it with water according to package instructions before adding powdered sugar and lemon juice.
- Divide the royal icing into small bowls, tinting each with gel food colors.
- Decorate the cooled cookies with floral patterns using the colored royal icing.
- Allow the icing to set before serving or storing.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze undecorated cookies for up to three months.