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Tender Spring Sugar Cookies with Delicate Floral Icing

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These tender spring sugar cookies feature a melt-in-your-mouth texture paired with light, airy floral icing infused with subtle notes like lavender or rose water. Perfect for spring occasions and gifting, they offer nostalgic comfort with a fresh twist.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (344g) all-purpose flour (sifted for lightness)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk (or almond milk for dairy-free)
  • 2 cups (250g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4 tablespoons water (adjust to desired consistency)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon edible floral water (rose or lavender, optional)
  • Food coloring gels in pastel shades (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in the egg, then the vanilla extract and milk until fully combined.
  5. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
  6. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough to about ¼ inch (6 mm) thickness.
  8. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and transfer onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges start to turn golden but centers remain soft.
  10. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
  11. In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth. Mix in vanilla or almond extract and floral water. Add food coloring if desired. Adjust water for piping consistency.
  12. Using piping bags fitted with small round and leaf tips, outline and fill cookies with icing. Let icing dry completely, ideally overnight.

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and maintain shape. Use fresh baking powder for best results. For icing, meringue powder helps achieve a smooth, stable finish but can be substituted with powdered sugar mixed with milk or water and vanilla. Let icing dry overnight for best decoration results. Store cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to avoid smudging. Freeze uniced cookies for longer storage.

Nutrition

Keywords: spring sugar cookies, floral icing, vanilla sugar cookies, tender cookies, easy sugar cookies, spring dessert, floral cookies, baking tutorial

Find it online: https://wigglebite.com/tender-spring-sugar-cookies-recipe-easy-step-by-step-floral-icing-tutorial/