Description
Delight in these festive Iced Sugar Holiday Lights Cookies, perfect for celebrating the season with vibrant colors and sweet flavors. Soft, buttery sugar cookies are baked to golden perfection, then decorated with brightly colored icing to mimic holiday lights, making them as fun to create as they are to enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Icing
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- Food coloring (red, green, yellow, blue, etc.)
- Sprinkles or edible decorative glitter (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line several baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure the cookies do not stick during baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream butter and sugar: Using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter and white sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This step ensures a light texture in the cookies.
- Add flavorings and egg: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until all components are well combined, adding moisture and flavor.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, mixing just until incorporated to avoid overworking the dough which could make the cookies tough.
- Form cookie dough balls: Roll the dough into small balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart to allow spreading. Flatten each ball slightly with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass.
- Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges turn lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare icing: While the cookies cool, mix powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of milk in a medium bowl until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding milk gradually if the icing is too thick, aiming for a pourable texture.
- Create colored icing: Divide the icing into small bowls and add food coloring drops to each to create your preferred colors for decorating.
- Decorate cookies: When cookies are fully cooled, use a piping bag or small spatula to decorate them with the colored icing, crafting designs that resemble holiday lights.
- Add sparkle: Optionally, sprinkle edible glitter or colored sprinkles on top of the icing to add festive sparkle and texture.
- Dry and store: Allow the decorated cookies to dry completely before storing them in an airtight container to preserve freshness and prevent smudging.
Notes
- Ensure the cookies are completely cooled before icing to prevent melting.
- Adjust the thickness of icing depending on your preferred decorating technique; thicker for piping, thinner for flooding.
- Use parchment paper for easier cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Decorate with edible glitter or sprinkles to add festive appeal and texture.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
