Sugar Cookies - Pixie Dust & Posies

I grew up on our family’s farm and was lucky enough to live near my grandma. Every day after school I would head down the long driveway to her house to visit and help her with whatever baking project she was working on. Grandma was an incredible baker and taught me how to make cookies, breads, rolls, cakes, pies, and more. Her recipes are so precious to me and this sugar cookie recipe is her very own. We’ve featured her sugar cookies on many of our Disney dinners. Below is a gallery of some of our cookie creations. I hope baking these cookies fills your homes and hearts with joy and sweet memories!

Our Favorite Sugar Cookies

Makes 2 dozen cookies

COOKIE INGREDIENTS

1 cup (2 sticks butter), room temperature
1 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon cream or milk
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder

COOKIE INSTRUCTIONS

Make cookie batter – In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla extract and milk or cream. Cream well. Sift all-purpose flour and baking powder. Add to the creamed mixture. Shape mixture into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour.

2. Bake cookies – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove dough from refrigerator, unwrap, and place on a floured surface. Roll to ½ inch thickness and cut out shapes. Place cookies on a prepared baking sheet 3 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

3. Decorate – After cookies are completely cooled, decorate with your favorite frosting. Our favorite recipes for buttercream and royal icing are below.

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
16 oz. confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream

Make Buttercream – To prepare frosting, cream butter in a medium bowl using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. When light and fluffy, add confectioners sugar and salt bit by bit until fully combined. Add vanilla and cream or milk until completely combined. If buttercream seems too thick, you may add another tablespoon of milk or cream. If it seems runny, you may add more confectioners sugar. If desired, add food coloring and mix until thoroughly combined.

ROYAL ICING

4 cups confectioner’s sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
6-8 tablespoons warm water

Make Royal Icing – Combine confectioner’s sugar, meringue powder, and 6 tablespoons of warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on high speed for approximately 2 minutes. When you lift up the whisk attachment, the royal icing should drizzle down. Add more water 1/2 tablespoon at a time to achieve desired consistency. If icing is too thin, add more confectioner’s sugar. If desired, add food coloring and mix until thoroughly combined.