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Eid Small Batch Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing Recipe

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4 from 7 reviews

These Eid Sugar Cookies are a delightful small batch recipe perfect for festive celebrations. Featuring a tender buttery dough enhanced with lemon zest, these cookies are easy to prepare and decorated with classic royal icing, making them visually stunning and delicious. Ideal for sharing during Eid or any special occasion, the recipe yields about 12 medium-sized cookies with a crisp golden edge and a sweet, smooth finish.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 egg yolk (optional, serves as binder)
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)
  • Pinch of salt

Royal Icing (Store-Bought Mix Option)

  • 200 g store-bought royal icing mix

Royal Icing (Homemade)

  • 1 1/2 cup icing sugar
  • 2.5 tbsp milk
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Decorating

  • A few icing colors (small amounts; a few drops go a long way; dilute gel colors with water if needed)
  • Brushes for painting

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking during baking.
  2. Mix Butter, Sugar, and Lemon Zest: In a bowl, mix the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until the mixture is just smooth, ensuring the flavors combine evenly.
  3. Add Egg Yolk: Incorporate the egg yolk to the mixture and beat for 30 seconds until well combined, helping to bind the dough.
  4. Add Dry Ingredients: Add flour and a pinch of salt to the wet mixture and mix. The dough will be crumbly initially but will come together when pressed.
  5. Chill Dough (If Needed): If the environment is warm and the dough feels too soft, chill it for 30 minutes to firm up for easier handling.
  6. Prepare Dough for Rolling: Generously flour your work surface, transfer the dough and press it together, lightly kneading to form a smooth ball. Add small amounts of flour as needed to prevent sticking.
  7. Roll and Cut Cookies: Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes.
  8. Bake Cookies: Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes or until the edges turn golden. Adjust baking time slightly for smaller or larger cookies.
  9. Repeat with Remaining Dough: Gather leftover dough, knead lightly, roll out, and cut more cookies until all dough is used.
  10. Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating to ensure the icing sets properly.
  11. Prepare Royal Icing – Store-Bought Mix: Follow package instructions for mixing a stiff royal icing, then very gradually add water drop by drop until the consistency resembles toothpaste. A drop of icing should disappear within 15 seconds after being dropped back into the bowl. Gently tap the bowl to eliminate air bubbles.
  12. Prepare Royal Icing – Homemade: On low speed, mix icing sugar, milk, salt, and vanilla until just combined. Adjust thickness by adding more icing sugar or milk to reach the toothpaste-like consistency described above.
  13. Decorate Cookies: Use a squeeze bottle or piping bag to apply a smooth white base coat of icing on the cookies, or gently dip the cookie tops into the icing. Use a skewer to pop any air bubbles in the icing.
  14. Allow Icing to Set: Store-bought icing generally sets within a few hours, while homemade royal icing should be left out overnight for full drying.
  15. Paint and Final Touches: Prepare your icing colors by placing them on a palette or plate diluted as needed. Use brushes to paint designs on the cookies. Enjoy this creative step alone or with kids for a fun decorating experience.

Notes

  • The egg yolk can be omitted if you prefer, but it helps to bind the dough for better texture.
  • If using gel food colors for icing, dilute them with a few drops of water for easier painting and smoother application.
  • Alternatively, for decorating, you can simply dip cookie tops into the icing instead of piping, which gives a quick and effective glaze.
  • Chilling the dough is especially helpful in warm climates to keep the dough manageable and ensure crisp cookies.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container once icing has fully set to maintain freshness.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/eid-small-batch-sugar-cookies-with-royal-icing-recipe/