This creamy sugar cookie frosting is quick, easy, and perfect for decorating Christmas cookies, cupcakes, gingerbread houses, and cakes. Made with confectioners’ sugar and shortening to prevent it from melting, it has a delicious vanilla flavor. It spreads easily and sets firm, making it perfect for stacking and storing cookies for holiday treats! Makes enough for 48 cookies or 2 dozen cupcakes.
Christmas Sugar Cookie Frosting
There’s something magical about frosting—it’s my ultimate weakness. Right now I’m spreading it on all my Christmas cookies, like Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies, Red Velvet Cookies and Christmas Cut Out Cookies. Not only does this frosting work wonders on cookies, but it’s also perfect for decorating cupcakes, gingerbread houses, cakes or on a spoon (don’t judge me). Once it sets, you can stack cookies with ease, making it great for storing and gifting cookies.
Made with confectioners’ sugar and shortening instead of butter, this frosting is perfect for all your favorite baked goods. Shortening is used because it has a higher melting point (115-120°F) than butter (90-95°F), making it hold it’s shape and not melt easily. It also creates a smoother, firmer texture that’s perfect for decorating and stacking cookies.
This recipe makes enough frosting to frost 48 cookies, or 24 cupcakes.
Sugar Cookie Frosting Ingredients
- Shortening, I always use Crisco. Shortening creates a smoother, more stable texture instead of butter that melts more easily. Shortening also helps the frosting set up more firmly, making it easier to stack cookies and decorate with piping.
- Confectioners Powdered Sugar is the only sugar you need.
- Milk, I use whole milk but I’ve also tried oat milk and it turned out well.
- Vanilla helps flavor and gives the frosting a little shine.
- Food Coloring is optional. You can keep the frosting white, or add some drops of food coloring to make it your desired color.
How to Make Spreadable Sugar Cookie Frosting
Add shortening in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add powdered sugar and milk, mixing until smooth with a hand mixer.
Add vanilla and mix until thick and glossy. Adjust with milk or powdered sugar if needed. Is the frosting too thick? Add a tiny bit more milk. Is the frosting too thin? Add a little bit more powdered sugar.
Optional: Add food coloring or divide frosting into bowls for different colors. I’m making a couple batches of Christmas cookies so I’m making white, red and green frosting.
Spread frosting on cookies with a spatula or butter knife or add to piping bags to pipe out onto cookies. I like to add my favorite holiday sprinkles on top too. Enjoy!
Storing Leftover Frosting
Refrigerator: Store leftover sugar cookie frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Allow it to come to room temperature before using.
Freezing: Freeze frosting in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and mix with a hand mixer if needed to adjust the creaminess.
Can I freeze cookies with frosting?
Yes you can! Place the frosted cookies on a baking sheet and pop them in the freezer. Once the frosting is set, stack the cookies with parchment paper between the layers and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll stay good for 4-6 months. To thaw the cookies, simply remove the parchment paper and let the cookies come to room temperature in a single layer.
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Spreadable Sugar Cookie Frosting
PrintIngredients
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 4 cups confectioners powdered sugar
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- food coloring optional
Instructions
- Add shortening into a large mixing bowl.
- Add in powdered sugar, in increments of ½ cup, while slowly adding in the milk, mixing until smooth.
- Add in vanilla and continue to mix until the frosting is thickened and glossy, this takes about 3-5 minutes. Is the frosting too thick? Add a tiny bit more milk. Is the frosting too thin? Add a little bit more powdered sugar.
- Optional: Add in food coloring and mix until desired color, or transfer frosting to separate bowls for multiple colors.
- Spread frosting on cookies with a spatula or add to piping bags to pipe out onto cookies. Enjoy!
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