Print

Perfect ABC Alphabet Letter Cookies With Easy Royal Icing Decorating Tips

ABC alphabet letter cookies - featured image
Print Recipe

These ABC alphabet letter cookies feature a buttery cookie base decorated with smooth royal icing, perfect for learning, gifting, and enjoying a quiet baking ritual. The recipe is simple, quick, and yields beautifully shaped cookies with detailed icing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons pasteurized egg whites or meringue powder
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2–3 tablespoons water
  • Gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the Dough (15 minutes prep, 1 hour chill): In a large bowl, cream 1 cup (227 g) softened unsalted butter with 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy—about 3 minutes. Add 1 large room-temperature egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; mix until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low until just combined….
  2. Roll and Cut the Cookies (20 minutes): Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness. Using your alphabet cookie cutters, press firmly into dough and transfer cutouts to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Keep cookies about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Re-roll scraps as needed, but avoid overworking the dough to keep cookies tender.
  3. Bake the Cookies (10-12 minutes): Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges just start to turn golden. The centers should remain pale. Overbaking will make them too crisp. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely before icing.
  4. Prepare the Royal Icing (10 minutes): In a clean bowl, whisk together 4 cups (480 g) sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons pasteurized egg whites (or meringue powder equivalent), 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons water. Beat until glossy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Adjust consistency by adding more water a few drops at a time—stiff enough to hold shape but soft enough to pipe.
  5. Color and Decorate (30-45 minutes): Divide icing into small bowls and tint with gel food coloring as desired. Fill piping bags with the colored icing, snip tips to desired thickness, and pipe outlines and details on each cookie. Use a toothpick to gently spread icing or fix mistakes. Let cookies dry on a cooling rack for several hours or overnight to harden.

Notes

If dough feels sticky, dust hands and rolling pin lightly with flour but avoid adding too much. Watch cookies closely after 8 minutes to avoid overbaking. For icing, if it thickens too much while decorating, add a few drops of water and stir gently. Use gel food coloring to keep icing thick and vibrant. Dough can be chilled up to 3 days before rolling. Store decorated cookies in airtight container up to 5 days or freeze undecorated cookies up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ABC cookies, alphabet cookies, royal icing, cookie decorating, easy cookies, letter cookies, baking with kids, homemade cookies

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/perfect-abc-alphabet-letter-cookies-with-easy-royal-icing-decorating-tips/