This sugar cookie frosting is a delightful, fluffy sweetness that sets quickly, making it the ideal topping for Softest Cut out Cookies any time of year. We love using this recipe not only for our Packers game parties but also for our annual Christmas festivities.
If you’re searching for a frosting that hardens enough for easy stacking but retains a soft, melty texture inside, look no further. Unlike royal icing, this frosting won’t become rock-hard. Royal icing relies on corn syrup to achieve its firmness and glossy finish, while shortening creates a softer, fluffier frosting that doesn’t quite hold up as well for storage. This means that sugar cookie frosting made with shortening is less practical for stacking cookies.
Why use Butter rather than Shortening or Corn Syrup in Sugar Cookie Frosting?
Butter is an all-natural ingredient that is derived from milk. The creamy texture and buttery flavor that it adds to sugar cookie frosting is incomparable to that of shortening or corn syrup.
Shortening on the other hand is made from hydrogenated vegetable oil. It is flavorless in comparison. Also, shortening contains more fat and has zero nutritional value. Shortening: Good or Bad?
Corn syrup is another common ingredient in many sugar cookie frosting recipes. This product is sweet, which adds flavor to frosting, but is primarily just a glucose product. The recipe for frosting already contains quite a bit of sugar and is sweet- it is not necessary to add more sweetness! In addition, corn syrup is not a natural food.
Sugar Cookie Frosting Preparation, Servings, and Storage
This recipe for sugar cookie frosting takes less than ten minutes to mix in a stand mixer. It is enough to frost three dozen cookies. It can easily be doubled or even tripled for larger batches.
As mentioned before, the cookies are stackable once the frosting sets. The frosting can be used right away and also freezes beautifully for up to three months. To thaw from frozen, simply place the frosting sit at room temperature and allow to thaw naturally for a few hours.
Sugar Cookie Frosting
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Butter (softened)
- 4½ cups Powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup Milk
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp Almond extract
Instructions
- Combine butter and powdered sugar in a large stand mixer.
- Using the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until combined.
- Add the milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Beat the mixture again for about 3-5 minutes or until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Can be used immediately to frost cut out sugar cookies. This frosting can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature for at least 4 hours before spreading onto sugar cookies.
Nutrition
