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How to make Donut Cookies with Royal Icing

If you love donuts and you love sugar cookies…why not put them both together and whip up some adorable donut themed sugar cookies?  These cookies are PERFECTION for a donut themed birthday party.  What better way to say “Donut Grow Up!” than with some fantastic and easy to make royal iced donut cookies?

Donuts are such a fun treat.  But even if you are hosting a donut themed party…you have to serve some treats that aren’t just donuts, right?  

Why not make some delicious and super simple donut shaped and decorated sugar cookies? You know you want to!

 

How to use Donut Sugar Cookies

These cookies would be a fabulous addition to a dessert table.  They also would be great on place settings at a dining table, maybe with a little name tag underneath as a custom treat so everyone knows where to sit.

   

An additional fun option is using them as favors.  You can place the cookies into cellophane bags and give them away as “Donut leave without a treat” favors.  So many options.

Ideas for a Donut party

Donut parties are adorable and there are so very many awesome ideas for throwing them.  If you are looking for more inspiration, check out these Donut party ideas.

 

Donut Cookie Tutorial: STEP by STEP

So now that you are excited about throwing a donut party, (You are, right??) let’s learn how to make these simple cookies.

Materials:

 

Step 1:

First, start with a good sugar cookie recipe .  When I prep the dough, I always add extra flour so the cookies do not stick to the cutting surface. This also helps them bake with less spread.

Once your dough is ready to start cutting, roll it out to about ¼ inch thick.  Thicker cookies will bake easier, decorate easier and hold more flavor.  If you are unsure of thickness, err on the side of thicker!

Preheat oven according to the recipe.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Cut the cookies out with a large circle cookie cutter and then cut the donut hole out with a smaller circle cookie cutter.  This will leave you with a ring shape. Bake according to your recipe.

You will want the cookies to completely cool before decorating.  I usually like to bake them the day before I decorate.

 

Step 2:

Next you need to prepare your royal icing.  You will need an icing color.  For these cookies, I used light pink, but you can make any color or “flavor” of frosting you want, even plain white looks great!

To color the icing, you will add drops of gel food coloring to your icing. Separate your icing into separate containers to mix with coloring and set aside sealed until you are ready to use them.  You don’t want the icing to dry out while you are using other colors.  

For pink, use a few drops of red or pink.  Mix well so your frosting isn’t streaky.

Add small amounts of water to each container and mix until you get the royal icing to the correct consistency. You will want the icing to be fill consistency or honey-like icing. Be careful not to add water too quickly. 

The runnier the icing, the easier to make it smooth, but be careful not to be too runny or you will have a hard time keeping lines clean.

Fill piping bags with royal icing.

 

Step 3:

Start with the inner circle and outline the frosted section with a wavy line.  Then repeat this with the outer edge.  Make sure you leave some of the sugar cookie visible as the “donut” underneath the icing.

Fill the icing portion in with the icing.  Use a tooth pick or fork prong to pop any bubbles that appear in the icing.  

While the icing is still wet, gently add sprinkles into the icing so they dry into the icing on the cookies. Set aside to dry.  Once the icing is firm, your cookies are ready to enjoy!

Easy Royal Iced Donut Cookies

Easy Royal Iced Donut Cookies
Donut Cookie Tutorial: STEP by STEP

So now that you are excited about throwing a donut party, (You are, right??) let's learn how to make these simple cookies.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • Materials:
  • Circle Cookie Cutters (at least two sizes)
  • Gel Food Coloring
  • Sugar Cookie Dough (here is my recipe)
  • Royal icing. You can buy that mix or here is a great royal icing recipe to use!!  If you are new to cookie decorating, you also need a piping bag, icing tip 1/2, coupler, and clip.  I recommend this piping tip set.  It’s reasonably priced and includes everything you need.
  • Sprinkles
  • Parchment Paper

Instructions

Step 1:
First, start with a good sugar cookie recipe .  When I prep the dough, I always add extra flour so the cookies do not stick to the cutting surface. This also helps them bake with less spread.
Once your dough is ready to start cutting, roll it out to about ¼ inch thick.  Thicker cookies will bake easier, decorate easier and hold more flavor.  If you are unsure of thickness, err on the side of thicker!
Preheat oven according to the recipe.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Cut the cookies out with a large circle cookie cutter and then cut the donut hole out with a smaller circle cookie cutter.  This will leave you with a ring shape. Bake according to your recipe.
You will want the cookies to completely cool before decorating.  I usually like to bake them the day before I decorate.
 
Step 2:
Next you need to prepare your royal icing.  You will need an icing color.  For these cookies, I used light pink, but you can make any color or "flavor" of frosting you want, even plain white looks great!
To color the icing, you will add drops of gel food coloring to your icing. Separate your icing into separate containers to mix with coloring and set aside sealed until you are ready to use them.  You don’t want the icing to dry out while you are using other colors.  
For pink, use a few drops of red or pink.  Mix well so your frosting isn't streaky.
Add small amounts of water to each container and mix until you get the royal icing to the correct consistency. You will want the icing to be fill consistency or honey-like icing. Be careful not to add water too quickly. 
The runnier the icing, the easier to make it smooth, but be careful not to be too runny or you will have a hard time keeping lines clean.
Fill piping bags with royal icing.
 
Step 3:
Start with the inner circle and outline the frosted section with a wavy line.  Then repeat this with the outer edge.  Make sure you leave some of the sugar cookie visible as the "donut" underneath the icing.
Fill the icing portion in with the icing.  Use a tooth pick or fork prong to pop any bubbles that appear in the icing.  
While the icing is still wet, gently add sprinkles into the icing so they dry into the icing on the cookies. Set aside to dry.  Once the icing is firm, your cookies are ready to enjoy!

© Mimi's Dollhouse

 

Looking for more ideas for a Donut Themed Party?

Don’t forget to check out these amazing donut party ideas for more donut inspiration!

 

Here are some helpful links for planning a donut party:


 

Conclusion for DIY Donut Cookies:

If you are looking for an easy treat for a donut themed party, besides donuts of course…these donut themed sugar cookies.  They are cute and sweet and absolutely adorable.  I know you will love them!

If you love this tutorial, please pin this image to your birthday Pinterest board:

Related posts for making Donut themed Cookies:

Thank you for reading my Donut Cookies!