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Easy Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Leaves

Thanksgiving sugar cookies with royal icing leaves - featured image
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These quick and easy Thanksgiving sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and decorated with beautiful royal icing leaves. They come together in under two hours and are perfect for holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks, 226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 3–4 tablespoons warm water
  • Green gel food coloring
  • Brown gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add this to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined.
  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  6. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about ¼-inch thickness.
  7. Use leaf-shaped cookie cutters to cut out as many cookies as possible. Re-roll the scraps and repeat. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between them.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. In a medium bowl, combine the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 3 tablespoons of warm water and stir until smooth. Adjust consistency as needed.
  10. Divide the icing into two bowls. Add green gel food coloring to one bowl and brown (if using) to the other. Stir until fully incorporated.
  11. Transfer the green icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe an outline of each leaf shape, then fill it in with a back-and-forth motion. Use a toothpick to spread the icing into the corners if needed.
  12. While the icing is still wet, pipe a thin line of brown icing down the center of each leaf for the vein. Use a toothpick to drag the brown icing outward to create smaller veins.
  13. Allow the cookies to sit at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until the icing is firm to the touch.

Notes

Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading. Test icing consistency before piping. Use a toothpick for detailed leaf veins. Cookies stay fresh for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thanksgiving cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, leaf cookies, easy holiday cookies

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/easy-thanksgiving-sugar-cookies-with-royal-icing-leaves-best-recipe-50-chars/