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Perfect Patriotic Star-Shaped Cookies with Royal Icing

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These star-shaped cookies are buttery, crisp, and decorated with smooth, colorful royal icing perfect for 4th of July celebrations. They are quick, easy, and a crowd-pleaser for any patriotic party.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large egg whites (pasteurized if preferred)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • Gel food coloring in red and blue

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of your mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
  4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until the dough forms and pulls away from the sides. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about ¼ inch (6 mm) thickness.
  7. Use star-shaped cookie cutters to cut the dough. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are just golden. Avoid over-baking.
  9. Transfer cookies to cooling racks and cool completely before icing, about 30 minutes.
  10. In a clean bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar while mixing on low. Add lemon juice and continue beating on high until stiff peaks form, about 7-8 minutes.
  11. Divide icing into three bowls. Leave one white, tint one red, and one blue using gel food coloring. Mix gently.
  12. Fill piping bags with each color. Outline cookies with thicker icing, then flood centers with thinned icing. Use toothpicks to smooth and shape icing.
  13. Allow cookies to dry uncovered at room temperature for several hours or overnight for a hard, glossy finish.

Notes

If royal icing cracks or is too stiff, add a few drops of water and stir gently. Keep a damp cloth over unused icing to prevent drying. Chill dough between batches if it becomes soft. For vegan royal icing, substitute egg whites with aquafaba but expect longer drying times. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: 4th of July cookies, patriotic cookies, star-shaped cookies, royal icing cookies, holiday cookies, easy cookie recipe

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/perfect-patriotic-star-shaped-cookies-easy-royal-icing-recipe-for-4th-of-july/