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Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Delight in these festive pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies topped with vibrant royal icing, perfect for fall celebrations.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

for the sugar cookies
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, but recommended)
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
for the royal icing
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 5–6 tablespoons warm water (more as needed)
  • orange gel food coloring
  • green gel food coloring

Method
 

  1. Beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extracts; mix until combined. Whisk dry ingredients separately, then gradually add to wet ingredients to form dough. Chill for at least 1 hour.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness, cut into pumpkin shapes, and bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely before decorating.
  4. Mix powdered sugar, meringue powder, and warm water until thick and glossy. Divide icing, color with gels, and pipe outlines and details on cookies. Let dry 6-8 hours.

Notes

Ensure cookies are fully cooled before decorating to prevent smudging.