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Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens!
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Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens ~ The Perfect Sugar Cookie Frosting for Decorating! If You Are Looking for Frosting For Sugar Cookies that Hardens this is it!
I have been searching for YEARS for the perfect Sugar Cookie Frosting recipe that hardens. I didn’t want an icing I wanted a frosting. One that would harden so I could stack my cookies without them sticking to each other. This homemade frosting that hardens is delicious and easy!
I’ve finally found the ONE. The one frosting that I’ll use every single time I make sugar cookies. It’s ridiculously easy and all the ingredients are in my pantry so I don’t have to search out for “weird” ingredients that will never be used again.
I’m not that kind of girl. I live in small town Minnesota and ain’t no one got time for that!
Ingredients for Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens!
- Butter
- Milk
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
Yup that’s right only FIVE Ingredients needed!
Happy dance happening right here isn’t it?
Plus, it’s totally adaptable to any occasion. Dye it a different color. Throw some festive sprinkles to celebrate any occasion or make sugar cookies and frost them for the heck of it!
Can we talk Christmas cookies? I adore them, my hips don’t adore them, but once a year I don’t really care what the hips say! I make all kinds of them, but my all time favorites are Almond Cherry Cookies, Chocolate Mint Thumbprint Cookies, Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies!
What is your favorite Christmas cookie? A more traditional, handed down recipe or something new and exciting?
Don’t forget these Soft Sugar Cookies that are perfect to pair with this amazing Sugar Cookie Frosting!
I feel this “expectation” when I go to holiday parties. People expect me to bring a cookie tray laden with deliciousness. I feel that I’m a fraud if I don’t bring the ultimate cookie platter. I try to make cookies for weeks so I have a good variety.
Except sugar cookies. I’ve always shied away from the rolling, cutting and frosting. It sounded overwhelming. I wanted to drop and bake and then stack and freeze. That’s more my kind of cookie baking!
Then I tried Pillsbury Sugar Cookies. You know the ones you find in your grocery’s diary aisle? The refrigerated pull about or cut ones…I need something fast, like super fast one day. I gave them a whirl. I promptly frosted them with this amazing Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that hardens.
Tools Recommended to Make Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens!
I served them secretly smiling. No one was going to know!
And then someone promptly asked me for my recipe for the cookies. I blushed and filled her in on my secret. She said, NO WAYYYYYYYY!
Yes Way. Totally. Not Lying.
Those cookies are soft, chewy and delicious. You top them with this amazing frosting for Sugar Cookies that hardens and Viola. You’ve got a home run.
I won’t tell if you don’t!
Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens
The Perfect Sugar Cookie Frosting for Decorating! If You Are Looking for Frosting For Sugar Cookies that Hardens this is it!
Ingredients
- 2/3 c. butter softened
- 1/2 c. milk
- 2 lbs powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- In mixing bowl cream together butter and milk with an electric mixer. Slowly mix in powdered sugar and extracts.
- Frost sugar cookies immediately. Let frosting harden. Store cookies in air tight container.
Notes
If frosting in mixing bowl starts to harden before you are done frosting cookies add a little milk and stir to combine.
I measured out how many cups are in 2 lbs of powdered sugar and it is about 8 c.
If the butter and milk doesn't perfectly cream together that's fine. Just start adding the powdered sugar and it will start to cream together!
Nutrition
Calories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 18gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 24mgPotassium: 4mgSugar: 18gVitamin A: 85IUCalcium: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Recipe Slightly Adapted from: Skip to My Lou
I just made this frosting recipe tonight. I omitted the almond extract and just used a bit more of the vanilla extract. It turned out great! I searched what seemed like forever for something that was not royal icing. This worked fabulously. Next year I’m going to try piping bags with some different tips. Thank you for sharing this recipe. So much better than the hard to eat royal icing.
Thanks Holly! I’m so glad you loved this!
Can you make this ahead of time??
It’s best made fresh but you can try making it ahead. You’ll have to add milk to soften it back up.
Since I live in South Florida, having hardened sugar cookie frosting is not an easy task.
So, I made the recipe after spending way too much time on home made sugar shortbread style
Cookies. Never again !! Anyway, this receive has worked great so far. I have them in the fridge to harden. Hope I will be able to ship with my other varieties of Xmas cookies to my Mom in Michigan.
Glad to hear it, Sally! I hope they turn out well for you!
I made this frosting last year and it hardened nicely after a time. I am just curious as to whether anyone has tried using this in place of Royal Icing for a gingerbread house? i.e. piping it? As I recall, it was fairly soft initially but I love the potential for extra “volume” and the possibility of not having decorations slide off the roof and walls while the icing dries.
I know I haven’t tried it for anything but cookies. If you give it a try for gingerbread houses, let me know how it goes!
Amazing! Will never roll out sugar cookies again.
These were perfect. Crunchy outside soft Inside! I doubled so I could have plenty to share. This recipe is a keeper
I’m so glad you loved it, Diane! Thanks for the review!
Can I skip the almond extract without compromising the frosting. I don’t do nuts.(allergies)
Yes! You can replace it with vanilla or just leave it out.
Hello – can you tell me if i can store unused frosting in the refrigerator for a few days. Right now I will only frost about a dozen cookies but will bake more. Thanks!! (from your
neighbor in SD)
It is best made fresh but you should be able to, you’ll have to use milk to soften the frosting back up for frosting as it will harden.
I can’t wait to try this recipe. I know it will be DELICIOUS!
Yes! You will love it!
this recipe is not what you said it makes intirely too much and it does not get hard i made it just like recipe said total fail
I just made it last night. Mine got perfectly hard so I could stack cookies. I’m not sure why yours didn’t get hard. It states that you should be able to frost 80 cookies with this recipe. Adjust serving size in the recipe box to get the amounts you need if you need less frosting.
Try putting some merengue powder in sugar and then mix. A couple of TBS will do. This is good in very humid places. Enjoy
Thanks for the tip, Brenda!
Thank you, I have been looking for an alternative to royal icing. Cant wait to try it.
I hope you enjoy it!
I tried the frosting recipe. ( did cut it in half ). It is very tasty and easy to spread on sugar cookies.
After being in the refrig. overnight the frosting was very firm. After being out at room temp., it tended to soften and get on fingers while eating the cookies. I was hoping it would stay firm.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! It should stay pretty firm, maybe it was a warmer environment than we have here in the Midwest this time of year?
I used this recipe last year for the first time and my entire family loved it, this will be our recipe every year now and passed down to the younger members of our family.
Thank you!!!!
Awesome! I’m so glad you loved it!
It looks wonderfu
Hope you enjoy it!
Love the cookies Thank you for the recipe
Excellent! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
This recipe is horrible!!
I’m sorry to hear that, what was the issue?
Do you not have a mother? Did she not teach you to either say something nice or say nothing at all? Even if you did not care for the recipe you might politely respond with:
It was too salty for my taste OR
I would prefer a sweeter cookie OR
I thought that the cookie crumbled too easily OR
…or anything CONSTRUCTIVE.
Comments like yours are simply trolling.
Thanks, Yendi!
when people work real hard at a recipe and share the recipe. I think at the very least appreciation is required. It takes a lot of time and just dont think Julie deserved that rudeness. Thanks Julie I look forward to try your recipe.
I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the comment!
I can’t get over how many ridiculous and outright stupid questions there are on here. What kind of milk, what kind butter, do I sift the sugar, will regular sugar work? Damn!
there is no stupid questions
Exactly! There’s no such thing as a stupid question, unless you already know the answer.
Mrs. Flanagan 6th grade teacher.😊
I like that saying!
👍