Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe
If you’re searching for a festive treat that dazzles as much as any twinkling Christmas tree, look no further than the Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe. These cookies capture the warmth of the holiday season with buttery, soft sugar cookies adorned with vibrant, glossy royal icing that resembles glowing Christmas lights. Whether you’re baking for a party or gifting something homemade, this recipe is a joyful way to bring sparkle and sweetness together in every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe calls for simple, pantry-staple ingredients that come together to create a perfect balance of flavor and texture. Each ingredient plays a key role whether it’s providing structure, sweetness, or that irresistible buttery flavor that makes these cookies unforgettable.
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy base for tender cookies that hold their shape well when cut and baked.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: Adds a subtle lift making the cookies light and soft instead of dense.
- ½ teaspoon salt: Enhances flavor and balances sweetness seamlessly.
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened): Brings richness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture to every bite.
- 1 cup granulated sugar: The perfect level of sweetness to complement the butter without overpowering.
- 1 large egg: Acts as a binder and helps the cookie dough come together beautifully.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Infuses a warm, fragrant note that elevates the flavor profile.
- 4 cups powdered sugar: Essential for creating the smooth, glossy royal icing that makes these cookies shine.
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder: Helps ensure your royal icing sets up perfectly with a sturdy yet smooth finish.
- 5–6 tablespoons warm water: Adjusts the icing’s consistency for piping and flooding.
- Gel food coloring: Adds bright, vivid colors like red, green, blue, yellow, and black for that authentic string of Christmas lights look.
- Small round piping tips or squeeze bottles: For precise decorating and creating those delicate light bulb shapes.
- Toothpicks or scribe tool: Handy tools for shaping and perfecting the light designs on each cookie.
How to Make Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt—this ensures even distribution of these dry ingredients. In a larger bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, which usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes. This step is critical as it adds air to your dough, creating a tender crumb. Next, blend in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, then gradually add the dry ingredients. Mixing until just combined will help prevent tough cookies.
Step 2: Shape and Bake the Cookies
On a floured surface, roll your dough out to about a quarter-inch thickness—a perfect thickness for sturdy cookies that won’t break when decorating. Use rectangle or bulb-shaped cookie cutters (or a knife to cut shapes) that mimic the Christmas light strand. Place your cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, which prevents sticking and easy cleanup. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, watching for lightly golden edges—this sign means they are perfectly baked with a soft center. Allow them to cool completely before moving on to decorating, as warm cookies can cause icing to melt and run.
Step 3: Make the Royal Icing
In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, and start with 5 tablespoons of warm water. Beat this mixture with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until you get stiff peaks, indicating the icing is properly aerated. Adjust with a few more drops of water for a flooding consistency ideal for filling cookie surfaces, or leave it thick if you’re outlining designs. Divide the icing into bowls and add gel colors—black for the string line and assorted colors for the light bulbs. Transfer each color to piping bags or squeeze bottles for easier control during decorating.
Step 4: Decorate Your Cookies
Start by outlining and flooding the cookies with white icing to create a clean base that lets your colorful lights pop. Give the base 1 to 2 hours to dry so it will not blend into additional layers. Next, use the black icing to pipe the string of lights across each cookie, carefully curving it to mimic a real light string. Add small dots or tear-drop shapes of colored icing along the black line to make the bulbs. A toothpick or scribe tool helps create perfect bulb shapes and smooth out any imperfections. Allow your masterpieces to dry completely, preferably overnight, before stacking or gifting.
How to Serve Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Though these cookies are stunning on their own, consider sprinkling a tiny pinch of edible glitter or pearl dust over the royal icing before it dries for an extra magical shimmer. A few white nonpareils around the edges can also give the illusion of sparkling snow, making your Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe even more enchanting on your holiday platter.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with warm drinks like rich hot cocoa topped with whipped cream or a spiced eggnog for a classic holiday feel. They also go wonderfully alongside a platter of fresh fruit or nuts, offering a balance in textures and flavors that keeps guests coming back for more.
Creative Ways to Present
Display your cookies on a festive tiered stand or in a clear jar decorated with a bright ribbon to show off the colorful designs. For gifting, stack them in airtight tins separated by parchment paper, tied with twine and a personalized tag. You could also arrange them in holiday-themed boxes alongside homemade treats for a charming edible gift set that feels heartfelt and special.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent the icing from sticking and preserve the delicate decorations. Avoid humid environments that might soften the royal icing.
Freezing
You can freeze the baked, un-iced cookies for up to three months by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container. Once thawed, decorate with your royal icing as usual. Alternatively, iced cookies can also be frozen, but ensure they are completely dry before freezing and use airtight packaging to avoid moisture damage.
Reheating
These cookies are best enjoyed fresh or at room temperature, so reheating is not necessary. However, if you prefer a softer bite, let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Avoid microwaving as it can melt the royal icing and ruin the decoration.
FAQs
Can I use powdered egg whites instead of meringue powder?
Yes, powdered egg whites can substitute meringue powder in royal icing recipes; however, be mindful of the proportions and ensure your icing is properly sanitized for safe consumption.
How do I fix royal icing that is too thick?
Add water a few drops at a time while mixing until you reach the desired consistency—thicker for outlining, thinner for flooding. Patience is key to not over-thin the icing.
Why do my royal icing decorations crack after drying?
Cracking usually happens if the icing is too thick or dries too quickly in a dry environment. Try adding a bit more water to your icing and dry your cookies in a moderately humid area to help prevent cracks.
Can I make these cookies vegan?
This recipe uses butter and egg, so to make a vegan version, you will need to substitute with vegan butter and an egg replacer, but keep in mind texture differences might occur.
How long should I let the decorated cookies dry before stacking?
It’s best to allow decorated cookies to dry overnight—about 8 hours—to ensure the royal icing fully hardens and will not smudge or stick when stacking or packaging.
Final Thoughts
The Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe is one of those festive treasures that turns baking into instant holiday joy. The sweet, buttery cookies paired with bright, glossy icing are bound to delight family and friends and create lasting memories. So roll up your sleeves and bring a little sparkle to your kitchen this season—you’ll love the smiles these cookies bring as much as their irresistible taste.
Print
Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 40 minutes (plus overnight drying time)
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These festive Christmas Lights Royal Icing Sugar Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring soft sugar cookies decorated with colorful royal icing to resemble glowing Christmas lights. Perfect for holiday parties, gifting, or adding a merry touch to your cookie tray.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 5–6 tablespoons warm water
- Gel food coloring (black, red, green, blue, yellow, etc.)
For Decorating:
- Small round piping tips or squeeze bottles
- Toothpicks or scribe tool
Instructions
- Make the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a smooth dough forms.
- Shape and Bake: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes, such as rectangles or bulb shapes, ideal for creating Christmas light strand designs. Place the cutouts onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes until the edges are just lightly golden. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
- Prepare the Royal Icing: In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, and 5 tablespoons of warm water. Using an electric mixer on medium-high, beat the mixture for 7–10 minutes until stiff peaks form. Add additional water a few drops at a time to reach desired flooding consistency or keep thicker for outlining. Divide the icing into separate bowls and color with gel food coloring as desired. Transfer the colored icings to piping bags or squeeze bottles for decorating.
- Decorate the Cookies: Begin by outlining and flooding each cookie with white icing to create a smooth base. Allow the cookies to dry for 1–2 hours or until the surface sets. Using black icing, pipe a string line across each cookie to mimic the light wire. Then, add small dots or teardrop shapes in bright colors along the string to represent Christmas lights. Use toothpicks or a scribe tool to shape the bulbs precisely. Let the decorated cookies dry completely, preferably overnight, before stacking or packaging them.
Notes
- Royal icing consistency is crucial: use thicker icing for outlines and thinner icing for flooding.
- Allow each layer of icing to dry completely before adding more colors or details to prevent bleeding.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- If you want a quicker setup, use a fan or low heat to speed royal icing drying time, but be careful not to melt or blur the colors.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
