Ultimate Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe for Delicious Decorated Cookies

Sugar cookies are a snack lots of people really like, and you can find them almost everywhere. They taste sweet and buttery, feels soft and chewy when you bite them. You can bake them for birthdays or just when you hang out with friends, since the recipe is pretty easy. You can also change the flavor or cut them in to cool shapes for different seasons, so kids and grown-ups both enjoy them.

Tell you what, frosting is what really makes sugar cookies special. The plain cookie is good, but once you top it with frosting it tastes even better and looks awesome. You could use buttercream that’s all smooth, or royal icing you pipe with a tip, or just a simple glaze thats quick to make. Frosting gives bright colors and a yummy taste that goes perfect with these cookies. It allow bakers to express their creativity in all kinds of fun designs.

In this write-up i'm gonna show you how to make the best frosting for sugar cookies. You’ll learn about buttercream, royal icing, cream cheese frosting, and that simple glaze. I will give you recipes and tips so your frosting wont be runny or too stiff, and even some tricks so the color comes out just right. Plus, i’ll share how to keep everything fresh, decorate like a pro, and answer some common questions you might has. Let’s get started!

Types of Frostings for Sugar Cookies

Picking the right frosting can really change how your cookies turn out. Here are a few common frostings to try, each has it's own pros and best uses:

1. Buttercream Frosting

Buttercream is the all-time favorite cause it tastes rich and sweet, and feels really creamy. You just mix soft butter with powdered sugar, and you can add different flavors or food coloring. Because it stays thick but soft, you can spread it or pipe it on cookies any wich way you want. Ideal Uses: Buttercream works great for birthday cakes, weddings or any holiday party when you want something fancy.

2. Royal Icing

Royal icing dries hard so its great for fancy details. You mix egg whites with powdered sugar till its smooth, then you can pipe little lines or flood the middle of the cookie to get that shiny top. Best For: Use royal icing when you want perfect shapes and lines, like for Christmas or birthday designs, or even cakepops.

3. Cream Cheese Frosting

If you like a bit of tang, cream cheese frosting is awesome with sugar cookies. You just beat cream cheese with butter, then stir in powdered sugar and vanilla till its smooth. When to Use: This frosting shines on cookies like carrot or spice ones cause the slight sour taste is perfect there.

4. Glaze or Pouring Icing

Glaze icing is super simple, you only need powdered sugar and milk. Because its so thin, you can pour it right over the cookies and wipes up easy. Pros and Cons: It takes seconds to make and clean up, but it wont hold fancy designs like the thicker frostings. Still, it gives a nice shiny look if you just want something quick.

Detailed Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe

Now that you know the frostings, lets see how to make each one. First, check out the ingredients list for each.

Ingredients

• Buttercream Frosting:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Royal Icing:
  • 2 egg whites
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
• Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Glaze Icing:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or flavor of choice

Detailed Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe

Here’s how to whip them up step by step.

Ingredients

• Buttercream Frosting:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Royal Icing:
  • 2 egg whites
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
• Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Glaze Icing:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or flavor of choice

Directions

Preparing Buttercream Frosting:

1. Start by beating the butter in a big bowl till it looks creamy.
2. Add powdered sugar little by little and mix till its fluffy.
3. Pour in milk and vanilla and stir until its all smooth.
4. If it seems too thick, add more milk. If too runny, throw in more sugar.

Making Royal Icing:

1. Whisk egg whites and powdered sugar together in a bowl.
2. Mix on medium speed until you get stiff peaks.
3. Add water teaspoon by teaspoon to thin it out or leave it thick for piping.

Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese and butter together till smooth.
2. Gradually stir in powdered sugar till its well mixed.
3. Mix in vanilla and beat until the frosting is creamy.

Creating Glaze Icing:

1. In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar and milk until no lumps.
2. Add flavor or food coloring if you like, then whisk again.

Tips and Advice

Getting your frosting just right makes a big difference. Here are some hints:

• Consistency: Buttercream should be fluffy so it holds its shape but still spreads easy. Royal icing needs to be thick enough to keep its form when piped but thin enough to flood cookies.
• Flavor Variations: You can add almond, lemon or peppermint extract to add new tastes. And a bit of food coloring makes them look cooler.
• Decorative Techniques: Get some piping bags and different tips so you can try out stars, flowers or borders to make your cookies look pro.

How to Decorate Sugar Cookies with Frosting

Decorating is where the fun really kicks in! Follow these simple steps to make your cookies look neat:

Step-by-Step Decorating Techniques

First, make sure your cookies are cool so the frosting dont melt. Then:

1. Use a knife or spatula to spread buttercream, or stick it in a piping bag for fancy edges.
2. If you have royal icing, outline your cookie with thick icing, then fill it (flood) with a thinner mix for a smooth top.
3. To use glaze, just drizzle it over and spread it to the sides, let it settle for a shiny finish.

Recommended Tools

• Piping bags and different tips
• Offset spatula to smooth the frosting
• Food coloring gels for bright colors
• Parchment paper or a non-stick mat so you dont make a mess

Ideas for Themed Decorations

You can match your cookies to any event. A few ideas:

• Holidays: Use red and green for Christmas, orange for Halloween, or add edible glitter.
• Birthdays: Write names or numbers with different colors of frosting.
• Seasonal Themes: Try autumn leaves in fall or snowflakes in winter.

Storage and Shelf Life of Sugar Cookie Frosting

How you store your frosting matters if you want it to stay fresh. Check these tips:

Best Practices for Storage

• Keep buttercream in an airtight container at room temp for up to three days, or in the fridge for 2 weeks.
• Royal icing needs a sealed box so it wont dry out; it can last in the fridge about two weeks.
• Cream cheese frosting must stay in the fridge and is best eaten within a week.
• Glaze icing can sit at room temp for a week if you cover it well.

Freezing Options

If you have leftovers, you can freeze some frostings:

• Buttercream and cream cheese frosting freeze good; put them in freezer bags or containers for up to 3 months.
• Thaw by letting it sit at room temp for about an hour, then whip it again to get the texture back.

Shelf Life

Different frostings last different times:

• Buttercream: up to 2 weeks in the fridge; 3 months frozen.
• Royal Icing: about 2 weeks in the fridge.
• Cream Cheese Frosting: about 1 week in the fridge.
• Glaze Icing: around 1 week at room temp.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common Questions

Can I use regular sugar instead of powdered sugar for frosting? Nah, regular sugar wont make it smooth, so stick with powdered sugar if you want that creamy look.

What can I use instead of butter in frosting? You can try margarine or vegan butters, but the taste and texture might change.

How do I make frosting thinner or thicker? To thin it, add milk a teaspoon at a time. To thicken, add more powdered sugar till it looks right.

Can I refrigerate cookies with cream cheese frosting? Yes, but keep them in an airtight container so they stay fresh.

People Also Ask

What’s the difference between buttercream and royal icing? Buttercream is soft and creamy, great for spreading, while royal icing dries hard so its perfect for detailed designs.

How do I get my frosting to hold its shape? Make sure you cream the ingredients well and you can add a stabilizer to buttercream so it doesnt flop.

Conclusion

Making good frosting can take your sugar cookies from simple to amazing. Try out all the different frostings, and dont be afraid to mix in new flavors or colors. Share what works for you, and post pics of your cookie creations so others can see your ideas and maybe learn a thing or two!

sugar cookie frosting recipe

This versatile sugar cookie frosting is perfect for decorating cookies for any occasion. With a smooth texture and sweet flavor, it's easy to make and can be customized with food coloring to match your theme.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 4 People

Calories 50 kcal

Equipment

• 1 mixing bowl
• 1 electric mixer optional
• 1 spatula
• 1 piping bags optional
• 1 measuring cups
• 1 measuring spoons

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons milk Add more if the mixture is too thick, one teaspoon at a time.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Consider using almond extract for a different flavor.
• 1 set food coloring Optional for customizing color.

Instructions

 

• In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter. Using an electric mixer, blend until the mixture is crumbly.
• Add in 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until the frosting is smooth and creamy. If it's too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time.
• If desired, add food coloring to achieve your preferred color for decorating. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
• Use a spatula or piping bags to spread or pipe the frosting onto cooled sugar cookies.
• Allow the frosting to set for about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a different flavor, consider adding almond extract instead of vanilla.

Store any leftover frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

The frosting can be made ahead of time and stored until you're ready to use it. Just give it a good stir before applying.