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Perfect Graduation Diploma Sugar Cookies Easy Elegant Black Gold Icing Recipe

graduation diploma sugar cookies - featured image
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These buttery sugar cookies shaped like diplomas are decorated with elegant black and gold royal icing, perfect for graduation celebrations. The recipe is easy to follow and yields tender cookies with a smooth, glossy finish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 large egg whites or 4 tablespoons pasteurized egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice or clear vanilla extract
  • Black gel food coloring
  • Edible gold dust or gold luster dust
  • 2–3 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients: whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy and pale, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add egg and vanilla: beat in egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
  4. Incorporate dry ingredients and milk: gradually add flour mixture in three additions alternating with milk; mix on low speed until dough just comes together.
  5. Chill the dough: shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  7. Roll and cut cookies: roll chilled dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut with diploma-shaped cookie cutter; transfer to baking sheets.
  8. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges start to turn golden; let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  9. Prepare royal icing: beat powdered sugar, egg whites, and lemon juice until smooth and glossy; adjust consistency with water.
  10. Divide icing into two bowls; color one black and leave the other white or pale gold.
  11. Decorate cookies: outline cookies with black icing using piping bags; after outlines dry slightly, flood inside with thinned icing; dust edible gold luster on edges or scrollwork with a small brush.
  12. Allow decorated cookies to dry completely at room temperature for 4-6 hours or overnight.
  13. Store in airtight containers separated by parchment paper.

Notes

Chill dough for at least 1 hour or overnight for easier rolling and better flavor. Practice piping on parchment paper before decorating. Use gel food coloring for vibrant black icing. Let icing layers dry before adding details to avoid blurring. Store cookies in airtight containers with parchment paper between layers. Cookies keep fresh for 5 days at room temperature or up to 2 weeks refrigerated. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: graduation cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, diploma cookies, black and gold icing, celebration cookies, easy sugar cookies

Find it online: https://lirafood.com/perfect-graduation-diploma-sugar-cookies-easy-elegant-black-gold-icing-recipe/