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These Easter egg sugar cookies with royal icing are one of the easiest ways to create something beautiful for the holiday – no advanced decorating skills required.
Simple sugar cookies + a basic royal icing + a little patience = cookies that look impressive but are actually very doable at home.
Table of Contents
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Make-ahead friendly
- Soft sugar cookies that hold their shape
- Royal icing that’s simple and beginner-friendly
- No complicated decorating techniques
- Perfect for Easter tables, gifts, or kids
🐣 A QUICK NOTE
I make these almost every Easter – and yes, sometimes twice.
I celebrate Orthodox Easter, so I usually end up baking them earlier, sharing them, and then making another batch again. They never last long anyway.
They’re one of those recipes that feel a little special, but are actually very practical.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
For the cookies:
- Butter
- Sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
For the royal icing:
- Powdered sugar
- Meringue powder
- Water
- Vanilla
- Gel food coloring
HOW TO MAKE
Make the cookies:
- Cream butter and sugar until smooth
- Add egg and vanilla
- Mix in dry ingredients until dough forms
- Chill the dough (important for clean shapes)
- Roll out and cut into egg shapes
- Bake until just lightly golden
- Cool completely before decorating
Make the royal icing:
- Mix powdered sugar, meringue powder, vanilla and water
- Beat until thick and glossy
- Adjust with water to 20-second consistency
This consistency is key – it should smooth out slowly when you drag a line through it.
Decorate:
- Start with a base layer and let it dry
- Add simple designs like dots, lines or flowers
- Use a toothpick to gently spread icing if needed
- Let cookies dry completely before storing
TIPS THAT ACTUALLY MATTER
- Use gel coloring → better color without thinning icing
- Chill the dough → prevents spreading
- Roll evenly → smooth surface = better icing
- Don’t overbake → cookies should stay light
ABOUT THE ICING
You don’t need to be an expert.
You don’t need perfect piping.
You just need:
- the right consistency
- a steady hand
- and simple designs
Dots and lines always look good.
STORAGE
- Great for gifting
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature
- Keeps well for up to 7–10 days
FAQs
When you run a line through the icing, it takes about 20 seconds to smooth out. This makes it perfect for both outlining and filling.
No – a zip-top bag with the tip cut works great.
Yes. Bake cookies 1–2 days ahead and decorate later.
It’s too thin – add a little more powdered sugar.
The dough may not have been rolled evenly or re-rolled too many times.
MORE SIMILAR RECIPES:
Easter Egg Sugar Cookies With Royal Icing
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Royal Icing:
- 8 cups powdered sugar
- 6 tbsp meringue powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 12 tbsp warm water
- Additional water for consistency
- Gel food coloring
Instructions
- Beat butter until creamy
- Add sugar and vanilla, mix well
- Add egg and combine
- Mix in dry ingredients until dough forms
- Chill for at least 2 hours
- Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness
- Cut into shapes
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–11 minutes
- Cool completely
Royal Icing:
- Mix powdered sugar, meringue powder, vanilla and water
- Beat until thick and glossy
- Adjust to 20-second consistency
- Color and transfer to piping bags
- Decorating:
Decorating:
- Cover cookies with base icing
- Let dry completely
- Add designs
- Let set before storing
Notes
Adjust icing consistency carefully
Let icing fully dry before stacking
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
MORE EASTER RECIPES
Wow, these are simply gorgeous! Royal iced sugar cookies are one of my favorite things to make and I love these beautiful eggs. I can’t stop looking at them, so pretty!
You’re Greek Orthodox, are you? My Greek grandfather was and I went to church with him quite a few times. Greek Easter is the BEST, and I’m having one at my house this year!
These cookies are the prettiest things ever, and look like they were made by a professional bakery. Absolute perfection! I’d love to master royal icing one day. Pinned!
Thanks a lot Marcie! So glad you know about Greek Easter 🙂 It is just a little different, but just as much fun as the catholic one 🙂
OMG Mira… you are a real artist!! They are perfect!!
Ahhhhh, I saw these floating around on Pinterest yesterday! I didn’t even realize they were yours! Soooooo pretty, Mira!
Thanks Justine! So glad you like them and that they got popular on Pinterest 🙂
These cookies are so cute! I’ve never had the patience or artistic ability to make decorated cookies with royal icing. I’m left just to admire the beautiful work of others such as yourself!
Beautiful cookies! Almost too pretty to eat.
Those cookies are absolutely beautiful Mira! You did such a nice job decorating, I love them! So pretty!
How many ways can I say gorgeous? Perfect? Incredible?! These are sooooo classy, Mira!
Wow, these look absolutely gorgeous! Good job Lyubomira!
These cookies are beautiful!
Thanks Marla!!!