Description
These beach sugar cookies feature tender centers with golden edges, topped with silky pastel icing and crunchy sanding sugar. Each bite evokes sunlit shores and playful waves, perfect for adding a coastal twist to any gathering.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Blue food coloring
- Yellow food coloring
- Beach-themed sprinkles
- Coarse sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Beat in the egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into desired shapes.
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes or until the edges are just golden.
- Meanwhile, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth to make the icing.
- Divide the icing into two bowls and tint one with blue food coloring and the other with yellow food coloring.
- Once the cookies are cool, spread or pipe the tinted icing on top, then sprinkle with sanding sugar and beach-themed sprinkles. Let set before serving.
Notes
- For crisper edges, chill the shaped dough for 15 minutes before baking.
- Adjust icing thickness by adding more milk for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a stiffer icing.
- Store baked and decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Feel free to experiment with other pastel colors and shell-shaped cutters for a more festive look.