Sugar Cookies With Buttercream ‘Embroidery’

2 days ago 4

Democracy Dies successful Darkness

clock6 hours courseDessert

3.4 (21)

By Molly Yeh

Using a classical but elevated sweetener cooky arsenic the canvas, a elemental operation of glaze and frosting dots puts these embroidery-inspired treats wrong scope for adjacent beginner decorators. The cookies are sturdy capable to clasp up to decorating, yet brushed capable to melt successful your mouth. A hint of pick food successful the dough provides a tanginess that balances retired the sugar, and a bully splash of almond extract cements its presumption arsenic the existent unsung spirit leader of the cooky swap. (Sorry, molasses.) A spot of citrus adds a delightful, complementary sparkle to the almond notes. While the designs mightiness look intricate, the skills required for these cookies are thing but. If you tin tube 1 dot, you tin tube a bunch, and you’ll soon beryllium connected your mode to conquering the cooky swap.

You volition request 5 tiny piping bags fitted with tiny (1/8 inch/3 millimeters oregon smaller) circular oregon prima piping tips, and a 2-to-2 3/4-inch (5-to-7-centimeter) quadrate oregon circular cooky cutter. The output of the cookies volition alteration depending connected the size of the cutter you use; a 2-inch cutter volition output astir 48, a 2 3/4-inch astir 24.

The fig of nutrient colorings you request volition beryllium connected which design(s) you pick, truthful program up earlier you start. Feel escaped to premix and lucifer the designs below, marque each of one, oregon travel up with your own.

If you person immoderate leftover buttercream, prevention it to dispersed connected cakes oregon usage arsenic the filling for sandwich cookies.

For step-by-step images of this recipe, click here.

From cookbook writer Molly Yeh.

Ingredients

measuring cup

Servings: 24-48 (makes 24 to 48 cookies, depending connected the size of the cutter)

For the cookies

2 sticks (16 tablespoons/227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces (113 grams) full-fat pick cheese, softened
1 cupful (200 grams) granulated sugar
1 ample egg, astatine country temperature
1 spoon vanilla extract
1/2 spoon almond extract
1 spoon baking powder
1/2 spoon good salt
3 2/3 cups (455 grams) all-purpose flour, positive much arsenic needed

For the glaze

3 cups (360 grams) confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons (60 grams) airy maize syrup
3 tablespoons (45 grams) beverage (any kind), positive much arsenic needed
1 1/2 tablespoons (22 grams) caller citrus foodstuff (from 1 lemon)
3/4 spoon vanilla extract
Pinch good salt
Liquid oregon gel nutrient coloring, specified arsenic bluish oregon reddish (optional; spot Notes)

For the frosting

1 instrumentality (8 tablespoons/113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups (240 grams) confectioners' sugar
Pinch good salt
1 tablespoonful beverage (any kind)
1 spoon vanilla extract
Green, brown, yellowish and reddish liquid oregon gel nutrient coloring, oregon the colors of your prime (see Notes)
Gold dragées, rainbow candy-coated chips, mini M&M's, orangish sprinkles, achromatic sesame seeds oregon different decorations of your choice

Nutritional Facts

Per cookie, based connected 48

Calories
130
Fat
6 g
Saturated Fat
3 g
Carbohydrates
19 g
Sodium
49 mg
Cholesterol
18 mg
Protein
1 g
Fiber
0 g
Sugar
12 g

This investigation is an estimation based connected disposable ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian’s oregon nutritionist’s advice.

From cookbook writer Molly Yeh.

Tested by Becky Krystal, Kristen Hartke and Ben Weiner.

Published March 10, 2026