Print

Easy Festive Graduation Cap Sugar Cookies Recipe with Royal Icing Tutorial

graduation cap sugar cookies - featured image
Print Recipe

These festive graduation cap sugar cookies are quick and easy to make, featuring a tender sugar cookie base decorated with smooth royal icing. Perfect for graduation parties, they combine simple ingredients with a fun decorating process suitable for all skill levels.

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
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4 to 5 tablespoons warm water
  • Gel food coloring (black and gold recommended)
  • Optional: edible gold glitter or sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: Using an electric mixer, beat softened butter with granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add egg and flavor: Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and sour cream or Greek yogurt until just combined.
  4. Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until dough comes together without being sticky.
  5. Chill the dough: Shape dough into two discs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  7. Roll and cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about ¼ inch (6 mm) thickness. Use a graduation cap cookie cutter to cut shapes and transfer to lined baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart.
  8. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until edges just start to turn golden. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft.
  9. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely before decorating.
  10. Prepare royal icing: In a bowl, combine powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 4 tablespoons warm water and beat until stiff peaks form, about 5-7 minutes. Adjust consistency with more water or sugar as needed.
  11. Color and decorate: Divide icing into small bowls. Tint with gel colors—black for the cap, gold for the tassel. Pipe outlines first, then flood areas. Use a toothpick to spread icing evenly and pop air bubbles.
  12. Dry decorated cookies at room temperature for at least 4 hours or overnight for best finish.

Notes

Chill the dough to prevent spreading and ensure clean shapes. Adjust royal icing consistency for outlining (stiff) and flooding (thin). Let icing dry completely before stacking or packaging to avoid smudges. Dough can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 3 months. Use gel food coloring for best results. Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, avoid refrigeration to protect icing.

Nutrition

Keywords: graduation cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, festive cookies, easy cookie recipe, party cookies, decorated cookies

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/easy-festive-graduation-cap-sugar-cookies-recipe-with-royal-icing-tutorial/