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Perfect Cream Cheese Halloween Sugar Cookies Easy Royal Icing Designs Tutorial

cream cheese halloween sugar cookies - featured image
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Soft and tender Halloween sugar cookies made with cream cheese for moisture and richness, decorated with smooth royal icing for festive designs perfect for parties and gifting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (115 grams)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (115 grams)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 grams)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (5 ml)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 grams)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (2 grams)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (1.5 grams)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (480 grams)
  • 2 large egg whites or 2 tablespoons meringue powder + 4 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (5 ml)
  • Food coloring gels (orange, black, purple, green)
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract (2.5 ml)

Instructions

  1. Cream the butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Gradually mix in the granulated sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla extract until light and fragrant.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour your work surface or use parchment paper.
  7. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness.
  8. Cut out shapes using Halloween-themed cookie cutters and place them 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
  9. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges just start to turn golden. Watch closely to avoid overbaking.
  10. Cool cookies completely on wire racks before decorating.
  11. Prepare royal icing by beating powdered sugar with egg whites or meringue powder, lemon juice, and optional extract until stiff peaks form. Adjust consistency with water for outlining (thicker) or flooding (thinner).
  12. Outline each cookie with thicker icing and let set for 10 minutes, then flood the inside with thinner icing. Use food coloring gels for Halloween colors.
  13. Let decorated cookies dry for 6-8 hours or overnight for best results.

Notes

Use softened butter and cream cheese for a smooth dough. Chill dough at least 1 hour to prevent spreading. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness for best texture. Use piping bags for neat royal icing designs. Let icing dry fully (6-8 hours or overnight) to avoid smudging. For gluten-free, substitute flour with almond or gluten-free blend. Fresh lemon juice brightens and stabilizes royal icing.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween sugar cookies, cream cheese cookies, royal icing, Halloween treats, festive cookies, soft sugar cookies, easy Halloween baking

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