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Perfect Class of 2026 Sugar Cookie Cake Recipe with Easy Elegant Royal Icing Tutorial

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A tender and buttery sugar cookie cake topped with smooth, elegant royal icing, perfect for celebrations like graduations and parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk (or almond/oat milk)
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 5–6 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
  • Gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9 or 10-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, covering bottom and sides.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
  5. Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined.
  6. Spread dough evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula or spoon back.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack, remove parchment, and cool completely before icing.
  9. To prepare royal icing, combine meringue powder and sifted powdered sugar in a clean bowl. Add 5 tablespoons warm water and beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5-7 minutes.
  10. Add lemon juice if using and mix briefly. Adjust consistency with more water or powdered sugar as needed. Add gel food coloring if desired and mix gently.
  11. Transfer icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips or use zip-top bags. Pipe decorations as desired.
  12. Let icing dry at room temperature for several hours or overnight until firm.

Notes

If edges brown too quickly, tent with foil halfway through baking. Let icing dry fully for clean slices and lasting decoration. Use softened butter for best texture. Sift powdered sugar to avoid lumps. Beat royal icing until stiff peaks form but still spreadable. Practice piping on parchment paper before decorating the cake. Store leftovers in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerate up to a week.

Nutrition

Keywords: sugar cookie cake, royal icing, graduation dessert, cookie cake recipe, easy cookie cake, elegant icing, party dessert

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/perfect-class-of-2026-sugar-cookie-cake-recipe-with-easy-elegant-royal-icing-tutorial/