Christmas Santa Suit Sugar Cookie Cutouts
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Royal Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons meringue powder
4-5 tablespoons water adjust for consistency
Red gel food coloring
For Decoration:
Red sanding sugar
White sanding sugar
Pink and black nonpareils for cheeks and eyes
Small red candies or mini M&Ms for Santas nose
Piping bags and small round piping tips
Instructions
1. Make the Sugar Cookies:
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, and mix until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
2. Roll and Cut the Cookies:
Preheat your oven to 350F 175C. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Use a Santa face or round cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
3. Prepare the Royal Icing:
In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Mix on low speed until the icing reaches a smooth, pipeable consistency.
Separate the icing into two portions. Tint one portion with red gel food coloring for Santas hat.
Transfer the white and red icings to piping bags fitted with small round tips.
4. Decorate the Cookies:
Outline and Flood Santas Hat: Use the red icing to outline and fill the top section of each cookie for Santas hat. Immediately sprinkle red sanding sugar over the wet icing to cover the hat completely. Shake off any excess and let it set.
Add Santas Beard and Hat Trim: Use the white icing to outline and fill the bottom half of the cookie for Santas beard and the trim of the hat. While the icing is still wet, sprinkle white sanding sugar on the beard and hat trim. Let it set.
Create Santas Face: Leave a small section between the beard and hat un-iced for Santas face. Once the icing has set, use a small dot of white icing to attach pink nonpareils for cheeks, black nonpareils for eyes, and a red candy or mini M&M for Santas nose.
Add Final Details: If desired, use a small amount of white icing to pipe a smile below the nose. Let the cookies sit until all the icing is completely dry