Paintbrush Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies skip the royal icing and get their color before they hit the oven. You paint designs directly onto the raw dough with a simple egg yolk and water wash tinted with food coloring, then bake. The paint sets into the cookie surface, creating smooth, vibrant designs with zero drying time.

The dough itself is a classic powdered sugar roll-out cookie with a subtle almond extract note alongside the vanilla. Cream of tartar and baking soda give it a tender crumb that holds its shape when cut. After a two-hour chill, it rolls out clean and cuts sharp.

This is a fantastic project for holiday baking with kids. They get to paint with actual brushes, the cookies bake fast, and there’s no waiting for icing to dry. Cut no more than 12 cookies at a time so the dough doesn’t dry out and crack while you’re painting.

Chef Tips

• Chill the dough a full two hours. Under-chilled dough is sticky, stretches when you move cut shapes, and loses definition in the oven.
• Use small, clean paintbrushes (new ones from a craft store work great). Keep them soft-bristled so you get smooth strokes on the dough.
• Mix the egg yolk paint thin. If it thickens while you work, stir in a few drops of water. Thick paint drags and tears the dough surface.
• Roll to an even ¼ inch. Thinner cookies overbrown; thicker ones stay pale and puffy.

Variations

• Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for more intense, saturated colors.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to the dough for a spiced twist on the classic.
• Try lemon extract instead of almond for a citrusy, bright-tasting cookie.