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Easy Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Leaves

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These soft, chewy sugar cookies feature a crisp edge and are decorated with smooth, tender royal icing autumn leaves. A festive, crowd-pleasing holiday treat that is easier to make than it looks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour (315g)
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter (226g), softened
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar (200g)
  • 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar (60g)
  • 1 large Egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 3 cups Powdered Sugar (360g), sifted (for icing)
  • 2 large Egg Whites (200g), room temperature (for icing)
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (for icing)
  • Gel food coloring (orange, red, yellow, green) (for icing)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar on medium-high speed for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down sides.
  2. Add egg and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed just until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture on low speed until just combined.
  4. Divide dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  6. Roll dough on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into leaf shapes and place on baking sheets, leaving space between cookies.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool on pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. For icing, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar and beat on high for 5-7 minutes until stiff peaks form. Stir in lemon juice.
  9. Divide icing into small bowls and mix in gel food coloring.
  10. Pipe leaves onto completely cooled cookies using a piping bag with tip #2 or #3. Let dry for at least 2 hours.

Notes

Ensure cookies are completely cool before icing to prevent melting. Use gel food coloring for best results as it doesn’t thin the icing. Dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 3 months. Cookies taste better after sitting overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thanksgiving cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, autumn baking, holiday desserts, easy cookies, fall treats

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/easy-thanksgiving-sugar-cookies-with-royal-icing-leaves/