Name: Easter Egg Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional); 3 tablespoons milk; 4 cups powdered sugar; 3 tablespoons meringue powder; 6 tablespoons water; gel food coloring in pastel shades

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If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate Easter treat that’s fun for all ages, these Easter Egg Sugar Cookies are about to steal the show. Imagine buttery, tender cookies cut into cheerful egg shapes, covered in festive pastel royal icing that welcomes spring with a smile. Whether you’re baking with little ones or gifting a plate to friends, each cookie is a tiny work of edible art that brings people together (and might just cause a friendly decorating competition at your table).

Easter Egg Sugar Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

These Easter Egg Sugar Cookies only require simple pantry staples, yet each ingredient plays a role in delivering the perfect bite and gorgeous finishing details. A combination of classic sugar cookie dough and easy royal icing means vibrant cookies with incredible taste and irresistible texture.

All-purpose flour: Creates the soft but sturdy structure needed for cut-out cookies.
Baking soda: Gives the cookies subtle lift for a lighter crumb.
Baking powder: Works with baking soda to prevent dense or stodgy cookies.
Salt: Enhances flavors and balances the sweetness in every bite.
Unsalted butter, softened: The backbone of classic sugar cookies for rich, buttery flavor and tenderness.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps achieve a crisp yet soft cookie.
Large egg: Adds richness and binds everything together.
Vanilla extract: Infuses the dough with warm, fragrant notes.
Almond extract (optional): Offers a subtle, nutty nuance if you want a little extra something special.
Milk: Gives the dough just the right amount of moisture for rolling and cutting.
Powdered sugar: Essential for silky-smooth royal icing that sets beautifully.
Meringue powder: Makes the icing stable and easy to pipe without worrying about raw eggs.
Water: Lets you adjust the icing consistency for outlining or flooding with color.
Gel food coloring in pastel shades: Brings your Easter Egg Sugar Cookies to life with bright, joyful colors.

How to Make Easter Egg Sugar Cookies

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Start by whisking the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. In a large mixing bowl, cream your softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy—this is key for cookies that bake up tender, not dense. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and if you’re feeling fancy, a splash of almond extract. Slowly add your dry ingredients, alternating with milk, until everything just comes together to create a soft, pliable dough.

Step 2: Roll and Cut

Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough to a neat 1/4-inch thickness. Grab your egg-shaped cookie cutter (or make a template!) and cut out as many eggs as possible, rerolling scraps if needed. Carefully transfer each egg to a parchment-lined baking sheet, giving a little space between cookies for even baking.

Step 3: Bake the Cookies

Bake the cookies in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 8–10 minutes. Keep a close eye—the edges should look set but not browned, so you get that dreamy soft-center sugar cookie bliss. Cool the cookies completely on wire racks before decorating, so the royal icing won’t melt off.

Step 4: Make and Color the Royal Icing

In a large bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until you have a smooth, thick icing. To achieve different shades, divide the icing into separate bowls and tint each with your favorite pastel gel food colors. Adjust the water a drop at a time: a slightly thicker icing is ideal for outlining, while a thinner version is perfect for flooding the cookie interiors.

Step 5: Decorate Your Easter Egg Sugar Cookies

Now comes the creative fun! Use small piping bags (or zip-top bags snipped at one corner) to outline and flood each cookie with pastel icing. Add dots, swirls, stripes, and zigzags—think classic Easter egg designs or let your imagination run wild. Allow the decorated cookies to dry fully so the icing sets to a gorgeous, glossy finish.

How to Serve Easter Egg Sugar Cookies

Garnishes

Sprinkle your freshly-iced Easter Egg Sugar Cookies with sanding sugar, nonpareils, or edible glitter right after decorating for a sparkly touch. You can also use mini chocolate candies or tiny fondant flowers for even more personality—kids love this extra detail!

Side Dishes

These cookies are perfect on their own but pair beautifully with a springtime afternoon tea, fresh strawberries, or a creamy vanilla milkshake. Arrange alongside other pastel treats for a festive dessert platter, or serve with lemonade for an uplifting Easter brunch spread.

Creative Ways to Present

Try layering your Easter Egg Sugar Cookies in a clear cellophane bag tied with a pastel ribbon for a heartfelt homemade gift. Arrange them in a “nest” of shredded paper in a basket for a stunning centerpiece, or line them up on a tiered stand to create an edible Easter egg hunt right on your dessert table.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your fully decorated Easter Egg Sugar Cookies in a single layer (or with pieces of parchment between stacks) in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh, tender, and oh-so-tasty for up to 5 days, making them perfect for make-ahead celebrations or after-school treats.

Freezing

If you want cookies on demand, freeze the plain (undecorated) cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to a month. Simply thaw at room temperature before icing. You can even freeze the cookie dough itself, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 months—just thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling and baking.

Reheating

There’s no need to reheat the cookies themselves, but if you want to freshen slightly softened cookies, pop them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for just 2–3 minutes. Let cool before adding any additional decorations to avoid melting the icing.

FAQs

Do I really need to use meringue powder for the royal icing?

Meringue powder is what gives royal icing its smooth, sturdy texture and allows it to dry with a crisp finish. If you can’t find it, some people substitute pasteurized egg whites, but this may affect the consistency and holding power of your icing.

Can I make the Easter Egg Sugar Cookies dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough up to three days in advance and chill it in the fridge. This actually helps the flavors develop, and chilled dough is often easier to roll and cut into neat shapes.

How do I get sharp, clean edges on my cut-out cookies?

Make sure your dough is well-chilled before rolling and cutting. If the dough softens as you work, pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes—this will help the cookies maintain crisp, tidy edges during baking.

What’s the trick to using multiple icing colors without them running together?

Let each color of royal icing dry for a few minutes before adding a new design on top. Outlining with a slightly thicker icing first also helps contain the colors for beautifully defined patterns.

Are these cookies suitable for kids to help decorate?

Definitely! Easter Egg Sugar Cookies are absolutely perfect for getting kids involved. Set out several pastel icing colors, a few fun sprinkles, and let creativity take over—the only limit is your imagination (well, and maybe the countertop space)!

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing quite like sharing a batch of homemade Easter Egg Sugar Cookies with the people you care about—every bite is a taste of spring and a sprinkle of fun. Set aside a little decorating time, let your artistic side shine, and watch these cheerful cookies brighten up your holiday table. Trust me, once you try them, they’ll become an annual tradition you look forward to all year long!

Easter Egg Sugar Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These Easter Egg Sugar Cookies are a delightful treat for the holiday season. Soft, buttery cookies decorated with colorful royal icing make for a fun and festive addition to any Easter celebration.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookies:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
3 tablespoons milk

Royal Icing:

4 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
6 tablespoons water
gel food coloring in pastel shades

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Instructions

Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk, mixing just until combined.
Roll and cut dough: Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface, cut into egg shapes with a cookie cutter.
Bake: Place cookies on prepared sheets and bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are set but not browned. Cool completely.
Prepare icing: Whisk powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth. Divide and tint with gel food coloring.
Decorate cookies: Ice cookies with colored icing and let dry completely.