Watermelon Sugar Cookies

 

There's nothing better on a hot summer day than a slice of refreshing, cool watermelon, am I right?  Wouldn't it be even cuter in cookie form?  When I found myself recently with some leftover royal icing and I thought I would use it to make these Watermelon Sugar Cookies.  I absolutely love how they turned out and they couldn't be easier to make.

 

 

Using my favorite vanilla sugar cookie recipe I simply cut out shapes using a large round circle cutter and sharp knife.  As for decorating the cookies there's no special skill involved but it definitely helps if you have a decorating bag and small round decorating tip.  How fun are these cookies plated next to their real life doppelgänger?  I'll definitely be bringing these cookies to my next summer party.

 

 Basic Vanilla Sugar Cookie

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla extract and combine until egg is completely incorporated.  Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix until no trace of dry ingredients remain. 

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4" thickness and cut out shapes using cookie cutters.

Bake for about 18 minutes or until golden brown.

Royal Icing

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup meringue powder

1/4 cup water

gel food coloring

Mix powdered sugar and meringue powder in bowl of stand mixer until well combined.  Slowly add water and mix until you get the consistency you want*.  Add food coloring to achieve your desired color.