• Home
  • MEET LIZ
  • contact
  • Blog
  • JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Love Grows Wild

  • Home
  • SHOP MY POSTS
  • Our Home
    • bathroom
    • dining room
    • entryway
    • exterior
    • kids bedroom
    • kitchen
    • living room
    • master bedroom
    • office
    • playroom
  • Project Gallery
    • diy decor
    • decorating advice + inspiration
    • furniture makeover
    • woodworking
    • crafts
  • Seasonal
    • spring
    • summer
    • fall
    • winter
  • Recipes
    • appetizers/snacks
    • beverages
    • breakfast
    • dessert
    • meal ideas
    • side dishes
  • SHOP
    • Grow + Gather
    • Shop My Posts
    • My Amazon Store
    • My Book
Recipes

2 Step Iced Sugar Cookies

November 25, 2014

Pin
Share
Post
Email
Print
Learn how to make gorgeous, perfectly iced sugar cookies with just 2 easy steps! See details at LoveGrowsWild.com

My sugar cookie cut-outs are making a comeback on the blog this year, but this time with a new twist! I’m going to show you how to make the perfect iced sugar cookie in just 2 easy steps. No fussy royal icing or piping bags used here… just a simple icing technique that even your kiddos can do!

Learn how to make gorgeous, perfectly iced sugar cookies with just 2 easy steps! See details at LoveGrowsWild.com

One of my most popular recipes to date has been these sugar cookies, and I can definitely understand why. I struggled for YEARS trying to make pretty cookie cut-outs for the holidays, but it always ended up a disaster… the dough stuck to the rolling pin, I couldn’t get the dough out of the cookie cutter without tearing it, and when the cookies hit the oven, they would spread into giant, puffy lumps of dough that looked nothing even close to Santa or a Christmas tree.

But once I nailed down the perfect method for making flawless sugar cookie cut-outs, it felt like I had hit the jackpot, and I’ve enjoyed them every single Christmas since. And every birthday. And every Easter. And every President’s Day. And just about every Monday too, because let’s face it… Mondays deserve a good cookie. You guys gave them such rave reviews, I thought it was time to add a second version, so let’s dive right into the sugary details!

The base of this recipe is (obviously) a cookie, so go ahead and bake up a batch of sugar cookies, gingerbread men, or whatever your little heart desires, and let them cool completely.

Learn how to make gorgeous, perfectly iced sugar cookies with just 2 easy steps! See details at LoveGrowsWild.com

So, I said this recipe was a 2 step process, right? Here’s how it works: You’re going to create two different icings, a border icing and a flood icing. You use the border icing, which is super thick, to create an outline around the cookies. Then you use the flood icing, which is much thinner, to fill in the inside of the cookie. Sounds pretty simple, yeah?

Learn how to make gorgeous, perfectly iced sugar cookies with just 2 easy steps! See details at LoveGrowsWild.com

The icing is a simple powdered sugar mixture that I poured into small plastic squeeze bottles for SUPER easy decorating. I find piping bags to be highly annoying and the squeeze bottles were easy enough for even the boys to use. I like these Wilton Mini Squeeze Bottles that you can find on Amazon.

Learn how to make gorgeous, perfectly iced sugar cookies with just 2 easy steps! See details at LoveGrowsWild.com

This method definitely takes more time and effort than just sprinkling on a little colored sugar, but the results are SO worth it. People will think you got these from a professional bakery! Here’s a few tips I learned along the way:

  • When you mix the border icing, it should be very thick and just barely pourable. I had to use a spoon to transfer it into the squeeze bottle. The flood icing is thinner and should be easily pourable. If you use a large measuring cup as your mixing bowl, you can pour the flood icing right into the squeeze bottle.
  • You can decorate your cookies in a million different ways, but I like to leave the border icing white (no food coloring added) and tint the flood icing into different colors.
  • You’ll need to allow the cookies to set-up for about 24 hours after you ice them, so plan a day when you’ll have plenty of space to decorate and let them dry.

Learn how to make gorgeous, perfectly iced sugar cookies with just 2 easy steps! See details at LoveGrowsWild.com

Like what you see? Subscribe to Love Grows Wild so you’ll never miss a post!
Follow along on Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and Facebook for more fun!

2 Step Iced Sugar Cookies
 
PRINT
Learn how to make gorgeous, perfectly iced sugar cookies with just 2 easy steps!
Author: Liz Fourez
Recipe type: Dessert
INGREDIENTS
  • 1 batch of sugar cookie cut-outs (also works with gingerbread and other cookies)

  • Border Icing:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • food coloring, optional

  • Flood Icing:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2½ tablespoons milk
  • food coloring, optional
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Bake cookies and allow to cool completely.
  2. Prepare the border icing by mixing the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, milk, and food coloring (if desired) in a small bowl with a spoon. The border icing should be thick and just barely pourable. If it becomes too thick, you can add another ½ tablespoon of milk to thin the mixture. Transfer the icing to a small plastic squeeze bottle and set aside.
  3. Prepare the flood icing by mixing the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, milk, and food coloring (if desired) in a small bowl with a spoon. The flood icing should be slightly thinner and easily pourable. If it becomes too thick, you can add another ½ tablespoon of milk to thin the mixture. Transfer the icing to a small plastic squeeze bottle and set aside.
  4. To decorate your cookies, start with the border icing first. Squeeze the bottle with even pressure and use the icing to draw an outline around the edge of the cookies. You can also add designs inside the border, if desired. Allow the border icing to dry slightly, then switch to the flood icing. Fill the inside of the border lines you created with the flood icing. Once you are finished decorating, allow the icing to set up for 24 hours before storing in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
3.2.2885
 – adapted from The Kitchn

Are you making this recipe? I’d LOVE to see it! Post a photo of your creation on Instagram and use the hashtag #MyLGWRecipe. It may just get featured!


Still hungry? Try these sweet treats:

The BEST recipe I've ever found for Sugar Cookie Cut-outs!

Perfect Sugar Cookie Cut-outs

Perfect snickerdoodle cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar and infused with pumpkin apple butter! Soft, pillowy, and so sweet! | LoveGrowsWild.com

Pumpkin Apple Butter Snickerdoodles

Chocolate Hazelnut Dessert Pizza - only 4 ingredients in this delicious dessert!

Nutella Dessert Pizza

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Roll

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Roll


LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

Subscribe to Blog | Browse my Shop | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Follow on Google+ | Follow on Pinterest | Follow on Instagram

Pin
Share
Post
Email
Print
Dessert Winter
by Liz Fourez 
9 Comments

About Liz Fourez

View all posts by Liz Fourez

Related Posts

  • Snickers DatesSnickers Dates
  • Fall Decor FindsFall Decor Finds
  • Ninja Creami Vanilla Protein Ice CreamNinja Creami Vanilla Protein Ice Cream Recipe
  • Mint Chocolate BrowniesMint Chocolate Brownies
PREVIOUS: Time to Sparkle Link Party #88
NEXT: My Christmas Kitchen

Comments

  1. Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says: December 1, 2014 at 7:31 am

    I can bake, but I have never had any luck icing cookies. Can’t wait to try this method! Pinned! Thanks, Liz! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: December 1, 2014 at 10:07 pm

      I’m definitely not an expert in cookie decorating, but this was simple enough even I could do! Thanks for pinning, Amy!

      Reply
  2. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says: December 4, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    Liz I can’t wait to try these… my girls love making sugar cookies, but they are usually such a pain. I’m featuring your cookies tomorrow in my Friday Features! Thanks for linking up!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: December 4, 2014 at 11:03 pm

      Thank you SO much, Maryann! I really appreciate it!! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  3. Cathy says: December 5, 2014 at 9:17 am

    These look so good! Perfect for kids in the kitchen activity! All month long I am featuring different holiday cookie creations for my cookie countdown to Christmas! I would love it if you stopped by to check it out! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Cathy

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: December 8, 2014 at 10:17 pm

      Thank you so much, Cathy! You’re the best! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Bonnie says: December 5, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    I definitely want to try these. So pretty, but not too fussy. Have you ever tried freezing these?

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: December 8, 2014 at 10:14 pm

      Great question, Bonnie! I haven’t tried freezing them yet. If you try it, you’ll have to let me know how they turn out. And I agree… pretty but not fussy is definitely the way to go! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the recipe!

      Reply
  5. Alexandra says: December 9, 2014 at 10:40 am

    I featured this in my Daily Dose of EyeLoveKnots Finds for December 8th. Thanks for the opportunity to share!
    eyeloveknots.blogspot.com/2014/12/daily-dose-of-eyeloveknots-finds_8.html

    Reply

Leave Your Comments Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Liz Fourez started Love Grows Wild in 2012 with a passion for interior design and homemaking and a dream to help others create a home they love.  From simple project tutorials, to holiday and entertaining ideas, to her journey renovating a 1940’s farmhouse, Liz demonstrates how to create a beautiful and inviting home with a handmade touch. She turned her signature cozy, neutral style into a best-selling book in 2016 and continues to inspire readers with her captivating photography and easy decorating ideas. Read more about Liz > > > >

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

FOLLOW ALONG

  • contact
  • MEET LIZ
  • advertise
  • privacy policy/disclosure
  • Blog

Copyright © 2025 · Prima Donna theme by Georgia Lou Studios

COPYRIGHT ยฉ 2017 ยท DESIGN + BRAND: BLISS AND TELL BRANDING COMPANY