Description
Colorful buttery cookies baked with a sturdy structure perfect for decorating with red, white, and blue icing. Ideal for 4th of July or school events, these homemade treats offer vibrant, personalized designs without alcohol or pork-based ingredients.
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
2 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons baking powder (non-pork source for halal/kosher)
1 tablespoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
Royal icing as needed (homemade or store-bought, alcohol-free)
Instructions
Cool butter in refrigerator for 30 minutes
Measure flour using spoon-to-cup method to avoid packing
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3 minutes)
Add egg and vanilla extract, beat until fully blended
Incorporate flour and baking powder until well combined (do not overmix)
Divide dough into two portions, wrap in plastic, chill for 30 minutes
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness
Cut into desired shapes, transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet
Bake until edges are lightly golden (12–15 minutes)
Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating
Prepare red, white, and blue alcohol-free royal icing and decorate with stars and stripes
Notes
Use cold butter for delicate cracks
Chill dough to prevent spreading
Parchment paper prevents sticking between batches
Substitute butter with coconut oil for vegan
Replace egg with 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water) for vegan
Use gluten-free flour blend (1:1) for gluten-free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg