Print

Fireworks Celebration Cookies with Easy Decorative Royal Icing Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 52 reviews

Celebrate special occasions with these delightful Fireworks Celebration Cookies, featuring soft sugar cookies topped with vibrant royal icing decorations that resemble dazzling fireworks. Easy to make and perfect for festive gatherings, these cookies combine a tender lemon-vanilla cookie base with colorful and customizable icing to impress guests of all ages.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed for rolling and work surface
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • Optional: 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Royal Icing

  • 4 cups (480g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted (Domino brand recommended)
  • 3 Tablespoons meringue powder (not plain egg white powder)
  • 9–10 Tablespoons room-temperature water
  • Gel food coloring (various colors)
  • Optional: sanding sugar sprinkles and star sprinkles for decoration

Instructions

  1. Make the cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside for later.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: Using a handheld or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and optional lemon zest on high speed until fully combined, scraping the bowl as needed.
  4. Combine dry and wet ingredients: Mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients on low speed until just combined. If dough is too soft for rolling, add an additional tablespoon of flour.
  5. Roll out dough: Divide dough in half and roll each portion to about 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use parchment or silicone mats to prevent sticking.
  6. Chill dough: Stack the two rolled dough sheets with parchment paper between them, cover with plastic wrap or foil, and refrigerate for 1–2 hours or up to 2 days.
  7. Preheat oven: Set oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  8. Cut cookies: Remove chilled dough and cut shapes using cookie cutters. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting until all dough is used.
  9. Bake cookies: Place cookies 3 inches apart on sheets. Bake 11–12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Rotate sheets if needed. Cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Make royal icing: In a large bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and 9 tablespoons water. Beat with a hand or stand mixer on high for 1.5–2 minutes until icing drizzles down smoothly within 5–10 seconds. Adjust consistency with more water or sugar as needed.
  11. Color icing: Divide icing into bowls and mix in gel food coloring as desired. Fill piping bags fitted with #2 or #3 piping tips with colored icings.
  12. Decorate fireworks cookies: Pipe curved lines radiating from an off-center point on each cookie to simulate fireworks. Dip every other line in sanding sugar sprinkles while wet, and add star sprinkles using a dot of icing for adhesion.
  13. Decorate star-shaped cookies: Use Wilton piping tip #3 or #4 to pipe borders and flood centers. Add sprinkles if desired.
  14. Allow icing to dry: Let decorated cookies dry at room temperature for about 2 hours. For faster setting, leave cookies on a baking sheet and refrigerate.
  15. Store or serve: Enjoy immediately or store covered tightly at room temperature for up to 5 days. Perfect for gifting once icing is set.

Notes

  • Use room-temperature ingredients for best mixing results.
  • Adding an extra tablespoon of flour can help if the dough feels too sticky to roll out.
  • Chilling the rolled dough helps maintain cookie shape during baking.
  • Royal icing thickens as you beat it longer; adjust water or powdered sugar to reach desired consistency.
  • Decorate cookies while icing is slightly wet for easy adhesion of sprinkles.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft for up to five days.
  • These cookies freeze well un-iced; decorate after thawing for best results.

Keywords: fireworks cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, holiday cookies, easy decorated cookies, lemon sugar cookies, celebration treats

Find it online: https://www.cheftara.com/fireworks-celebration-cookies-with-easy-decorative-royal-icing-recipe/