Small Batch Sugar Cookie Recipe

Small Batch Sugar Cookies. The best sugar cookie recipe when you don’t want to make too many.

This post is in partnership with Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. I’m always thrilled to work with Nielsen-Massey and the holidays are the perfect time because of all the baking we do!

I bake alone a lot for the blog, usually at night when when my daughter has gone to bed but any chance I get to bake with my daughter brings laughter, joy and excitement into the kitchen. Baking with my daughter is a joyful experience and one I hope will bring her memories for years to come. My daughter and I loooove to bake, ice, decorate and eat sugar cookies. Sometimes I only need a small batch though. So I came up with a small batch sugar cookie recipe, it’s My Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe cut in half actually. It’s enough to share with others but not so many that you’ll be be overwhelmed with the quantity.

One of the secrets to a great sugar cookie is the flavoring. You have to flavor the dough right. You can use vanilla beans, vanilla paste, extracts, citrus zest, etc. For these I chose a little Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla and a little Pure Almond Extract both from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. They are my go to company for extracts and flavorings because of their high quality and since I’m especially sentimental this time of year I love that they are family owned. This year they are offering a Nielsen-Massey Holiday Flavors Bundle which includes Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, Pure Almond Extract and Pure Peppermint Extract and you can choose between 2 oz and 4 oz bottles. I will be sending a few of these packs out for holiday gifts this year myself!

I chose to use royal icing on this batch and the same is true regarding the flavoring. Royal icing with no flavoring can be flat. If you’re not sure what flavor to go with you can never go wrong with vanilla or almond extract. For the decorating I used a stiffer icing for the border and then thinned it out with water to make the fill icing. I added sprinkles while the icing was wet so they would stick. For the luster dusting I waited until the icing was dry so I could cleanly paint it on. I took a little luster dust and mixed it into a little lemon extract and am then able to paint it on with a small paint brush.

Buttercream is another great way to decorate sugar cookies and quite tasty as well. That crunchy sweet butter cookie with smooth creamy buttercream is a home run! You can spread it on with a knife or get creative and use some piping tips and make some decorative swirls.

So remember to flavor your cookies and icing/frosting well to make the most of your Small Batch Sugar Cookie Recipe. And most of all have fun in the kitchen with friends and family this season.

Enjoy!

Stacey

(This post is sponsored by Nielsen-Massey Vanilla’s. All opinions are 100% my own. I personally use their products and love them. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Sugar Coated Cottage possible.)

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Small Batch Sugar Cookies

Stacey - The Sugar Coated Cottage

Small Batch Sugar Cookie Recipe. The best sugar cookie recipe when you don't want to make too many. | thesugarcoatedcottage.com cookies, christmas, holidays

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Cookie

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• COOKIE:
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter room temp but not too soft/melty, see Notes
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp egg
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• ROYAL ICING:
• 2 Tbsp meringue powder
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/4 tsp almond extract

Instructions

 

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line baking sheets with parchment.
• Have cookie cutter(s) ready.
• COOKIES:
• In medium bowl add the flour, salt and baking powder, stir to combine, set aside.
• In bowl of mixer start whipping the butter until light and fluffy.
• Add the sugar and mix to combine.
• Add in the egg and extracts. Mix well to combine.
• Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix until cookie dough forms and all is combined.
• Divide dough into two portions.
• Place dough between two sheets of wax paper and roll out, cut out cookies and place on tray.
• Bake for 8-12 minutes.
• Repeat until all cookies are baked.
• Let cool completely.
• ROYAL ICING:
• Pour water into bowl of mixer fitted with whisk attachment.
• Beat meringue powder into cold water until peaks form.
• Beat in the powdered sugar until desire consistency is reached.
• If stiffer icing is desired add more powdered sugar.
• If thinner icing is desired add more water.
• Pour into piping bag with a small round tip, I used Wilton tip #3.
• DECORATING:
• Lay cookies flat on cookie sheets.
• Outline the cookies with royal icing.
• Let set for at least 10 minutes. This outline will be like a fence and will keep the royal icing from running over the sides when its time to fill.
• Next fill each cookie with royal icing (if too stiff add a little water until desired consistency is reached, using the tip or a toothpick to move it around so it covers evenly.
• Sprinkle immediately with sprinkles while icing is wet.
• Let set to dry completely, at least 4 hours but over night is preferable.
• If using luster dust make sure royal icing is completely set.
• Mix a little luster dust with some lemon extract and paint luster dust onto cookies. Let dry.

Notes

This recipe gave me the following counts for the cookies:
3 - Large stars
5 - Medium stars
10 - Small stars
7 - Extra small stars

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!