Description
Summer Flower Decorated Cookies are soft and buttery sugar cookies decorated with colorful royal icing flowers and playful summer-inspired designs. These cheerful cookies are perfect for birthdays, garden parties, bridal showers, and seasonal celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons warm water
- Gel food coloring, assorted colors
- 2 tablespoons sanding sugar
- 2 tablespoons nonpareil sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, then mix until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out the chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into flower or round cookie shapes.
- Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Cool completely.
- Prepare the royal icing by mixing powdered sugar, meringue powder, and warm water until smooth and glossy.
- Divide the icing into bowls and tint with gel food coloring as desired.
- Pipe small icing dots onto parchment paper to create flower centers, then decorate with sanding sugar or sprinkles. Let dry completely.
- Outline and flood each cooled cookie with royal icing and allow it to set for at least 1 hour.
- Attach the dried flower centers with a small dot of icing.
- Pipe flower petals and decorative details around the centers using contrasting icing colors.
- Allow the decorated cookies to dry fully before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking.
- Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning the royal icing.
- Allow each icing layer to dry slightly before adding more details.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Royal icing flower centers can be prepared several days in advance.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg