Description
Delightful holiday cookies shaped like holly, featuring a buttery texture and sweet royal icing decorations, perfect for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp meringue powder
- 5–6 tbsp water
- White gel food coloring
- Gold edible paint or luster dust
- Small gold sugar pearls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until incorporated.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, then gradually mix into the wet ingredients.
- Divide the dough into two portions and roll out between parchment to 1/4-inch thickness.
- Cut out holly shapes and transfer to baking sheets.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are golden and cool completely.
- Whisk powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water for royal icing, adding gel food coloring for color.
- Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing and additional decorations.
- Let the icing dry completely before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding crushed dried chamomile flowers into the dough.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg