Looking for ways to decorate your sugar cookies? You’ve come to the right place!
There are dozens of toppings to decorate your sugar cookies with, from the classic royal icing to colorful sprinkles to creamy ganaches.
This article lists all the ways you can decorate your sugar cookies, including how to make them.
What Icing Do You Use for Sugar Cookies?
There are dozens of icing varieties to use for sugar cookies, but two of the most popular are the classic glaze icing and royal icing.
Glaze Icing
Glaze icing is made from powdered sugar, milk/water, and vanilla extract.
Mixed together, it creates a thin, glossy coating that’s thick enough to evenly coat the surface without running off the edges.
It starts off a white (or at least a pale white) color but you can add food coloring for it to suit your decorating needs.
Royal Icing
Royal icing is made from softly beaten egg whites, icing sugar, and either water or lemon/lime juice. If you don’t want to use raw egg whites, you can replace it with meringue powder.
Royal icing is the icing of choice for professional cookie decorators. It dries to a hard, smooth finish, creating a clean surface for intricate designs.
Achieving the right consistency for piping and flooding requires skill and practice, so it’s not often used on homemade sugar cookies.
If you’re a beginner, start with a basic royal icing recipe and practice on parchment paper or wax paper before moving on to your cookies.
What Kind of Frosting Goes on Sugar Cookies?
Frosting adds a clean and professional-looking finish to sugar cookies, turning an otherwise plain sugar cookie into mini works of art. Here are some of the most popular frostings to add to sugar cookies:
Buttercream Frosting
Rich and delicious—and not to mention easy to make—buttercream frosting is a well-loved classic for its versatility and taste.
You can add whatever flavor you like to it, whether it be sweetened butter, vanilla, almond, chocolate, or something more adventurous like lemon or coconut.
You can spread it onto sugar cookies for a smooth finish or pipe to create intricate patterns and designs.
It also pairs well with a wide range of decorations, from sprinkles or fondant accents to crushed candies. Its creamy texture works nicely with the soft, crumbly texture of sugar cookies, creating a delightful mouthfeel with each bite.
To make buttercream frosting, you need room-temperature unsalted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk/heavy cream.
For every ½ cup of unsalted butter, use about 2 cups of powdered sugar.
Cream the butter until smooth and fluffy, then gradually beat in sugar until fully incorporated.
Add a teaspoon of vanilla and milk, and continue beating for another three to four minutes until the desired consistency is reached.
Ganache Frosting
Chocolate ganache frosting is my favorite type of frosting not only on sugar cookies but also on cakes, cupcakes, and most other desserts. It’s decadent, creamy, and versatile, as it can be used as a filling, dip, spread, or decorative topping.
Chocolate ganache is made with two ingredients: chocolate and 35% whipping cream.
You can use whatever type of chocolate you have on hand, whether it be semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate, white chocolate, or baking chocolate.
Regardless of what you choose, make sure it’s high-quality because it’ll coat a good portion of the cookie.
To make chocolate ganache, heat whipping cream in the microwave or over medium-low heat, and pour it over chopped chocolate. Cover the bowl with foil for around two minutes then gently whisk together until smooth.
The consistency of ganache depends on the ratio of chocolate to cream, as follows:
| Ganache consistency | Description | Chocolate to cream ratio |
| Pourable Ganache | Thin and flows easily, can be used as a glaze | 1 part chocolate to 1.5 parts heavy cream |
| Spreadable Ganache | Thick, creamy texture, spreadable with a spatula | 1 part chocolate to 1 part heavy cream |
| Firm Ganache | Dense, firm texture that holds its shape well | 1 part chocolate to 0.75 parts heavy cream |
Cream Cheese Frosting
Tangy and creamy, this frosting pairs delightfully well with the sweetness of sugar cookies. It’s made by whipping cream cheese with butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
Here’s how to make it:
Beat the butter and cream cheese on medium until light and creamy, then gradually add the sugar and vanilla extract.
Once the powdered sugar is fully incorporated, mix at high speed until fluffy.
Add food coloring if desired.
Whipped Mascarpone Frosting
Looking for a lighter and airier sugar cookie frosting?
Whipped mascarpone frosting won’t disappoint.
It combines the rich creaminess of mascarpone cheese with the lightness of whipped cream, resulting in a decadent frosting with a velvety texture.
To make whipped mascarpone frosting, you need equal parts mascarpone cheese and heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
Beat the chilled mascarpone cheese and heavy cream in two separate bowls.
Then, gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla to the mascarpone and gently fold the whipped cream into the mixture.
And that’s it—pipe this frosting on your sugar cookies!
Canned or Tub Frosting
If you’re short on time or energy or simply don’t have the necessary ingredients on hand, store-bought frosting offers a convenient and easy solution.
Pre-made frosting can be piped or spread on cookies using a spatula or knife. It’s ready straight out of the container, no mixing or adjusting is needed.
Store-bought icing comes in dozens of flavors, colors, and consistencies, giving you plenty of options to choose from.
Plus, it has consistent texture and taste, ensuring reliable results every time you use it.
What to Put On Sugar Cookies Besides Frosting and Icing?
Not a big fan of frosting or icing? No problem! The beauty of sugar cookies lies in their versatility. As long as you get the base right, you can customize the toppings to your heart’s desire. Here are some ideas:
- Powdered sugar: Dust your sugar cookies with powdered sugar for a simple yet elegant finish.
- Sprinkles: Add the sprinkles before or after baking to add fun colors to your cookies. If putting them after baking, make sure you add a sticky base like egg wash or edible glue so they won’t fall off.
- Fruit: Top sugar cookies with slices of fresh fruit like mango, strawberries, or peaches for a refreshing, healthy, and naturally sweet decoration. You can also use fruit curd, fruit preserves, or jam.
- Caramel or Dulce de Leche: Deliciously sweet and gooey, caramel sauce or dulce de leche pairs nicely with the buttery flavor of the sugar cookies. Drop the cookies face-first onto the sauce or drizzle with a spoon.
- Chopped nuts: For added texture and flavor, finely chop almonds, pecans, or pistachios and sprinkle them generously on top of the sugar cookies before baking.
Do You Put Sprinkles on Sugar Cookies Before or After Baking?
You can do either or both, depending on the recipe, the type of sprinkle you’re using, and the effect you’re going for.
If you want the sprinkles to be embedded into the cookie dough, you should add them before baking.
Sprinkle the desired amount onto the rolled-out cookie dough and press them in gently so they stick. Then, proceed with baking as usual.
This technique works best for larger and more robust sprinkles like sugar pearls or nonpareils.
If you’d like the sprinkles to retain their shape and color, add them to the cookies after baking.
Once the cookies are baked and cooled, you can decorate them with icing, frosting, or a glaze then immediately sprinkle your toppings.
This works well for heat-sensitive or delicate sprinkles like sanding sugar, finely crushed candies, and chocolate- and candy-coated sprinkles.
How to Get Sprinkles to Stick to Sugar Cookies
The best way to get sprinkles to stick to sugar cookies is to apply a sticky base.
It could be anything—icing, frosting, glaze, or even egg wash!
Spread a thin layer of the sticky base then add the sprinkles on top. Do so immediately after applying the base while the surface is still wet.
Try not to add too many sprinkles at once because this will make them more prone to falling off. Sprinkle sparingly and add more as needed.
If you’re still having trouble getting sprinkles to stick, use edible glue.
Edible glue is available online and in most big box retail stores. It’s usually made of water and tylose powder (also known as CMC or Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose), which is a hardening agent commonly added to fondant.
If you don’t have edible glue readily available, you can make one at home by mixing marshmallow or fondant icing with a bit of hot water.
Are Sugar Cookies Good Without Icing or Decorations?
Sugar cookies are delicious even without icing or decorations.
Most of the time, I don’t even bother decorating my cookies! I enjoy eating them plain, paired with a steaming cup of black tea.
Sugar cookies have a rich, buttery flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture, so it’s yummy all on its own. Plus, it’s great for those who prefer desserts that aren’t overly sweet.
Final Thoughts
Icing and decorations add visual appeal and extra sweetness to sugar cookies. You can top them up with royal icing, glazed icing, buttercream frosting, ganache, and many others.
If you’re not too fond of sweet toppings, you can add fresh fruits or simply omit the toppings altogether.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.