Description
These festive Christmas Light Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring classic sugar cookies decorated with smooth royal icing and colorful M&M candies to resemble Christmas lights. Perfect for holiday parties or gifting, these cookies bring a cheerful and creative twist to traditional sugar cookies with a fun and easy decorating process.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- Your favorite sugar cookie dough (store bought or homemade)
Royal Icing
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 8-10 tablespoons warm water
Decorations
- Black writing icing
- 1/2 cup M&M candies (cut in half)
Instructions
- Prepare Cookies: Prepare the sugar cookie dough according to the package or homemade recipe instructions. Bake as directed and allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.
- Make Royal Icing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and start with 8 tablespoons of warm water. Beat with a hand mixer for 1-2 minutes until smooth. If the icing is too thick, add additional water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is soft but not runny, allowing it to flow smoothly while retaining shape.
- Fill Piping Bag: Transfer the royal icing into a piping bag and snip off just the very tip for precise application.
- Create Icing Border and Flood: Pipe a circle of icing around each cookie, then flood the inside of the circle with more icing, being careful not to overfill. Use a toothpick to spread icing gently to fill in any blank spots if necessary, achieving a smooth, even surface. Allow the base icing to fully set before proceeding.
- Draw Light Strand: Using the black writing icing, draw a strand of Christmas lights across the iced cookie in any pattern you prefer.
- Add M&M Light Bulbs: Cut about 1/2 cup of M&M candies in half and carefully place each candy half, cut side down, onto the black icing strand to mimic Christmas light bulbs.
Notes
- Ensure the cookies are completely cooled to prevent the royal icing from melting or sliding.
- Adjust royal icing consistency carefully; too runny may cause the icing not to hold shape, too thick will be hard to spread.
- Let icing dry completely for several hours or overnight to avoid smudging decorations.
- Use toothpicks for detailed spreading and adjustments of icing for a professional finish.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
