Sugar Cookies and Royal Icing

This will be quick because I should be walking out the door to head to a lunch with my mother in law, sister in law, and adorable nieces. But I started the coffee pot on the "clean" cycle without thinking (it takes forever it seems...), so I have a quick minute to blog you a great sugar cookie recipe and royal icing recipe.

The cookies are divine. I love them. That means a lot because: a.) I'm not big on sugar cookies, and b.) the recipe uses almond extract (a fan of which I am not).

Now, the royal icing... well, it's royal icing. Intensely sweet, but perfect for decorating.

Here goes.

Sugar Cookies

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 4 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 2 teaspoons Almond Extract
• 4 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder 

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add your egg and yolk and beat until well incorporated. Then, add your extracts (I almost left out the almond, because I'm not a huge almond extract fan. DON'T do it! This adds GREAT flavor!).

In a separate bowl, mix together your flour, salt, and baking powder. Add this mixture to yoru "wet" mixture in 3 parts, beating until just combined.

Refrigerate the dough for about an hour (or more if you'd like!). Roll out on a lightly floured surface (PS: I never use a rolling pins, just the palms of my hands), and cut out. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes, until just golden. Cool and frost (or enjoy as they are).


Royal Icing:
I have tried many royal icings, and they are all SO sweet! This one is the same, but it doesn't have that meringue flavor that the egg-using recipes do.

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp clear corn syrup (I know, I know... but it gives the icing a nice shine!)
• 2 Tbsp milk

Combine the above using an electric mixer (60-90 seconds). Add more milk (a tiny bit at a time), and thin to desired consistency. If you want your icing shinier, add more corn syrup. Once mixed to desired consistency, you can use coloring paste to color. If you're using liquid food coloring, make sure you leave out enough milk to balance it out.

*Also, I have heard that adding a drop or 2 of lemon juice will help your icing not get air bubbles. Just saying.

Happy sugar rush!