Graduation Sugar Cookies are the perfect sweet treat to celebrate a milestone! These Graduation Sugar Cookies aren’t just delicious; they’re a blank canvas for creativity. I remember baking sugar cookies with my grandma every Christmas, and the sheer joy of decorating them sparked my love for baking. Now, let’s bring that same fun to your graduation celebrations. This recipe is a delightful way to customize a batch of cookies that truly represent the graduate.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
These Graduation Cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a tasty tribute to hard work and achievement! This recipe is fast, easy, and incredibly flavorful. Plus, decorating them is a fantastic activity to do with kids or friends. They’re simple to make, perfect for personalized decorating, and oh so delicious! This recipe is special because it creates a soft sugar cookie that holds its shape beautifully during baking, making it ideal for detailed decorations.
Ingredients Needed for This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 8 tablespoons warm water
- Gel food coloring (various colors)
How to Make This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
- 1. Prepare the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- 3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- 4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- 5. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading while baking.
- 6. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 7. Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- 8. Cut Out Shapes: Use graduation themed cookie cutters like caps, diplomas, or stars to cut out the cookies.
- 9. Bake: Place the cut out cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie. Bake for 8 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- 10. Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 11. Make the Royal Icing: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- 12. Add Water: Gradually add the warm water, starting with 6 tablespoons, and beat with an electric mixer until the icing is smooth and forms stiff peaks. Add more water, a teaspoon at a time, if needed to reach the desired consistency.
- 13. Color the Icing: Divide the icing into separate bowls and tint with gel food coloring to create your desired colors.
- 14. Decorate: Transfer the icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips, or use squeeze bottles for easier decorating. Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing, creating fun graduation designs.
- 15. Let the Icing Set: Allow the icing to dry completely before stacking or serving the cookies. This may take several hours, or even overnight.
How to Serve This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
Serve these adorable Graduation Cookies as a sweet ending to your graduation party. Place them on a decorative platter, or even use them as edible party favors. They pair perfectly with a cold glass of milk or a cup of coffee for the adults. For an extra touch, wrap individual cookies in cellophane bags and tie with ribbon. Remember to include these custom cookies when planning additional baked goods like “Graduation Cake And Cupcakes” (https://recipesofday.com/graduation-cake-and-cupcakes/).
How to Store This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
Refrigeration: Store the decorated Graduation Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing: You can also freeze undecorated baked cookies for up to 3 months. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer safe bag or container, for longer term refrigeration use the recipe from “Graduation Cake One Degree Hotter” (https://recipesofday.com/graduation-cake-one-degree-hotter/). Thaw completely before decorating.
Tips to Make This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: Overmixing develops the gluten, which can result in tough cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing spreading and making it easier to handle.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Quality butter and vanilla extract can make a big difference in flavor.
- Practice Your Icing Skills: If you’re new to royal icing, practice on parchment paper before decorating the cookies.
- Get Creative with Decorations: Use edible markers, sprinkles, and sanding sugar to add extra flair to your cookies. Look to “Graduation Mini Cake Idea” (https://recipesofday.com/graduation-mini-cake-idea/) for additional decoration ideas.
Helpful Notes for This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
Meringue powder is widely available and can typically be found in the baking section of grocery stores or online. It stabilizes the royal icing and gives it a glossy finish. Gel food coloring is preferred over liquid food coloring because it’s more concentrated and won’t change the consistency of the icing as much. It also provides more vibrant colors.
Variation of This Graduation Sugar Cookies Recipe
Lemon Sugar Cookies: Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to the cookie dough for a bright, citrusy flavor.
Chocolate Sugar Cookies: Add 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to the dry ingredients.
Almond Sugar Cookies: Substitute almond extract for the vanilla extract and add 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract to the royal icing for a subtle almond flavor.
How do you keep sugar cookies from spreading during baking?
To prevent sugar cookies from spreading, chill the dough thoroughly before baking. Also, ensure your oven is at the correct temperature and avoid over-baking.
What kind of icing is best for decorating graduation sugar cookies?
Royal icing is generally considered the best for decorating sugar cookies because it dries hard and smooth, allowing for detailed designs. It’s also easy to color and work with using piping bags.
Can I freeze graduation sugar cookies?
Yes, you can freeze both baked and unbaked sugar cookies. For baked cookies, freeze them undecorated and thaw completely before decorating. For unbaked dough, wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
How can I make my graduation sugar cookies more personalized?
Personalize your graduation sugar cookies by using stencils to create designs like school logos or graduation years. You can also add edible glitter, sprinkles, or write the graduate’s name on each cookie.
Conclusion
These Graduation Sugar Cookies are a delightful way to celebrate your graduate’s achievements! With a little creativity, you can create personalized cookies that are as unique as they are delicious. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, and get baking. Happy celebrating, and enjoy making these special Graduation Sugar Cookies!
Graduation Sugar Cookies: The BEST Easy Decorating Guide
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
Celebrate graduation with these delicious and customizable sugar cookies. Perfect for parties and personalized gifts!
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6–8 tablespoons warm water
- Gel food coloring (various colors)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- 4. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- 5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- 6. Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- 7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- 8. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- 9. Place cut out cookies onto prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
- 10. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
- 11. Let cookies cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 12. In a large bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- 13. Gradually add warm water, starting with 6 tablespoons, and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and forms stiff peaks. Add more water, a teaspoon at a time, if needed.
- 14. Divide icing into separate bowls and tint with gel food coloring to create desired colors.
- 15. Transfer icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips.
- 16. Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing.
- 17. Allow icing to dry completely before stacking or serving.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
