Looking for some cute Easter cookies? These Marbled Easter Sugar Cookies are just what you need. With their pretty marbled icing, decorating Easter cookies with royal icing is easy, foolproof and super pretty. Make these at least 24 hours ahead of gifting so the icing has time to harden.
For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided
Equipment
A stand mixer is easiest for making the dough but an electric handheld mixer is fine too
Rolling Pin
Cookie cutters - any shape will work
Baking sheets / cookie trays
Piping bags or zip lock bags
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / 160C fan forced and line 2-3 large cookie sheets with baking paper.
FOR THE SUGAR COOKIES
Sift together flour and baking powder.
Beat the butter and sugar until lightened. Scrape sides of bowl. Add the egg and vanilla. Beat well, scraping down the bowl a couple of times until well mixed.
Add flour mixture in 3 parts. Keep mixer on low and mix until it comes together as a dough. If it looks too crumbly and isn't coming together, add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of mil until it starts to form big clumps of dough. Be patient. Don't add more milk than necessary.
Bring the dough into a smooth ball with your hands and roll out on a lightly floured surface. Roll it to about 3-4mm thick (notes).
Use cookie cutter of choice to cut out cookies. Re-roll the dough as required but get as many out of each rolled batch of dough as possible.
Space the unbaked cookies at least an inch (2.5cm) apart and bake for 10-11 minutes, turning the trays halfway, until just starting to turn gold on edges. Remove from oven and carefully transfer to a cooling rack to cool.
FOR THE MARBLED ROYAL ICING
Place the icing sugar, water, cream of tartar, meringue powder and vanilla into a glass bowl (if using a handheld beater) or bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
Beat on low until all combined then turn it up to med-high for about 1 minute. Now you have a basic royal icing.
Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until you get the consistency you are after. You want it to be runny enough to slowly run off a spoon and leave a visible trail for 8-10 seconds (notes).
Portion ⅓ of the royal icing between 3 small bowls. Add a little colouring to each and mix well. Transfer each coloured icing to its own piping bag or small snap lock bag.
Place ⅓ of the remaining royal icing into a small high-sided plate - using just a third of the white at a time means you can refresh your bowl as needed.
Set a wire rack over a baking paper lined tray.
Cut a very small corner off each of the coloured bags and drizzle lines of coloured icing over the white icing then drag a toothpick through to marble it.
Dip the tops of the cookies into the icing then turn them with the icing facing up, and place onto the wire rack to drain and dry. They will take at least 24 hours to fully set.
Please take a moment to rate this recipe. I really appreciate it and it helps me create more recipes.
Notes
Tablespoons: I use a standard Australian 20ml tablespoon (equal to 4 teaspoons)
Meringue Powder: White Wings Pavlova Magic or Queen Meringue Powder is available in supermarkets in Australia. Meringue powder is NOT the same as powdered egg whites and can be purchased online or in cake decorating supply shops if you can't find it in your grocery store.
For best results, you should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar. Kitchen scales are relatively cheap but if you can’t weigh the ingredients, use the spoon and level method (don’t scoop).
The thinner you roll the dough, the crispier the cookies will be when finished cooking. The thicker you roll it, the softer the finished cookie will be. I like them 3-4mm as this creates a nice crispy edge and soft centre.
For the icing consistency: a trail in the icing should be visible for 8-10 seconds. Too runny and it will all run off the cookies. To thick and it won’t set nice and smooth.
Have you tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.