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Snow Globe Cookies: Easy Festive Holiday Decorating Ideas for Beginners

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These whimsical snow globe cookies feature a buttery sugar cookie base, crystal-clear candy windows, and festive royal icing decorations. Perfect for holiday gatherings, gifting, or creative baking with kids, they’re beginner-friendly and guaranteed to impress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups (320g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • 24 clear hard candies (like clear Jolly Ranchers or Isomalt chips)
  • 2 cups (220g) powdered sugar
  • 3–4 tablespoons milk or water (dairy-free works fine)
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Gel food coloring (blue, green, red, your choice)
  • Festive sprinkles (white sanding sugar, silver balls, snowflake shapes)
  • Mini gingerbread men, trees, or candy decorations

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and granulated sugar with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
  2. Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat until combined.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until a soft dough forms. If dough feels sticky, add up to 2 tablespoons extra flour.
  5. Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  6. On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use a 3- to 4-inch round cutter for cookie bases.
  7. For the snow globe window, use a 2-inch cutter to cut out a circle from the center of half your cookies. You want equal numbers of bases and window tops.
  8. Place cookie bases and tops on lined baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Fill the cut-out windows with 1-2 clear hard candies.
  9. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and candy is melted.
  10. Let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. The candy glass will harden as it cools.
  11. In a bowl, mix powdered sugar with milk or water and lemon juice until smooth but thick. Divide and tint with gel colors.
  12. Pipe or spread icing on the cookie bases, then add sprinkles, candies, and edible decorations. Use a toothpick for detail work.
  13. Let icing set completely (about 30 minutes) before stacking or packaging.

Notes

Chill dough for clean cuts and sharp shapes. Use clear hard candies for the best snow globe effect. Decorate in stages for neat results. For gluten-free or vegan adaptations, substitute flour, butter, and egg as needed. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to a month.

Nutrition

Keywords: snow globe cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, festive baking, beginner decorating, sugar cookies, royal icing, edible crafts, winter treats, cookie swap

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/snow-globe-cookies-easy-festive-holiday-decorating-ideas-for-beginners/