Star-Spangled Sugar Cookies: Festive 4th of July Recipe

Step 2. Cream the softened butter and sugar until smooth and not grainy.

Step 3. Add the eggs and mix until incorporated.

Step 4. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 5. Sift the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, and salt—together in a separate bowl.

Step 6. Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.

Step 7. Mix until the dough is smooth and all ingredients are well incorporated.

Step 8. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and chill for about 6 hours or overnight.

Step 9. After chilling, let the dough soften slightly. Lightly flour the surface and rolling pin as needed.

Step 10. Roll the dough to about 1/2 inch thick and use a star cookie cutter to cut shapes.

Step 11. Line baking sheets with parchment and transfer the cut cookies with a metal spatula. Bake 8–10 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Step 12. While cookies cool, prepare the royal icing using a stand mixer or hand mixer.

Step 13. Mix the icing (except food coloring) on medium speed for about 4 minutes. If it’s too soft, add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until it reaches the desired firmness.

Step 14. Aim for a 15-second consistency: when you run a spatula across the icing, the line should disappear in about 15 seconds.

Step 15. Divide the icing into three bowls for coloring.

Step 16. Tint the icings with red, white (leave one plain), and blue gel food coloring.

Step 17. Transfer icing to piping bags for decorating.

Step 18. Flood each cookie with the colored icing and allow it to set. Use the remaining white icing in a bag fitted with a small tip to add final details once the base has set.

Step 19. Decorate with patriotic stripes, dots, or flag designs. Let icing dry completely for 2–3 hours without covering the cookies.

Stored at room temperature in an airtight container, decorated sugar cookies keep about 5–7 days. Make sure the icing is fully set before storing.

If the icing is too thin, it may have too much air from high-speed mixing—try mixing on low and pop any bubbles. If it’s too soft, add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time until you reach the 15-second consistency. If it’s too thick, add small amounts of water until it loosens to the desired consistency.

A glass or mason jar rim works well for cutting round cookies. They won’t be stars but can still be decorated in patriotic colors.

Drying time depends on humidity and temperature. It can take a few hours to up to 24 hours. Plan for at least 2–3 hours before handling decorated cookies.