Summer is the season of sunny days, outdoor gatherings, and delicious treats. If you’re looking for a delicious summer treat be sure to check out some of the best summer sugar cookie ideas.
Whether you’re hosting a pool party, BBQ, celebrating special occasions or simply just want to enjoy the perfect treat with your loved ones, these cute summer sugar cookies will make your next party this summer even more special.
From vibrant tropical designs to refreshing fruit-themed cookies, let your creativity shine while enjoying the delightful flavors of summer with some of our favorite summer decorated cookies.
Let your imagination run wild with these fun summer sugar cookie designs and make your summer sweeter with these delightful summer themed cookies.
Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas for Summer
Beach-Inspired Cookies
Bring the beach to your dessert table with beach-themed summer cookie ideas. Decorate your cookies with colorful flip-flops, sunglasses, a beach ball, palm trees, and seashells. Use bright blue icing for ocean waves and edible sand or crushed graham crackers to create a sandy beach effect. These cookies will transport your guests to a tropical paradise and make them crave a day by the shore.
Fruity Delights
Capture the essence of summer’s bounty by decorating sugar cookies with refreshing fruit designs. Create watermelon slices, citrus fruits, strawberries, pineapples, and other summer favorites using vibrant icing colors and edible markers. These fruity cookies will not only look visually appealing but also offer a burst of fresh flavors, perfect for hot summer days.
Ice Cream Cone Cookies
Celebrate the sweetness of summer with ice cream-inspired sugar cookies. Decorate your cookies to resemble different flavors of ice cream, complete with colorful sprinkles, chocolate drizzles, and mini candy toppings. These cookies will evoke nostalgic memories of enjoying ice cream cones on a sunny day and bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
Tips for Best Results When Making Summer Sugar Cookies
- Use citrus zest: Add a pop of citrus flavor to your sugar cookies by incorporating lemon zest, lime, or orange zest into the dough. It will give your cookies a refreshing and summery twist.
- Sugar cookie dough tends to spread during baking, especially in warm weather. To prevent excessive spreading and maintain the cookie’s shape, chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours or overnight before baking. This will also make it easier to handle and roll out and to ensure your sugar cookies hold their shape during baking, Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling and cutting the shapes.
- When rolling out the chilled dough, use a rolling pin and ensure an even thickness throughout. You can use rolling pin rings or wooden dowels on either side of the dough to achieve a consistent thickness. This will help the cookies bake evenly.
- Add tropical extracts: Experiment with tropical extracts like coconut, pineapple, or mango to infuse your sugar cookies with a taste of summer. Just a few drops can elevate the flavor and transport you to a tropical paradise.
- Embrace the vibrant and cheerful vibes of summer by using bright and colorful icing to decorate your sugar cookies. Opt for food coloring in shades of blue, yellow, pink, and green to create eye-catching designs that evoke the spirit of the season.
- Use cookie cutters shaped like flip-flops, ice cream cones, sunglasses, palm trees, and other summer symbols to give your sugar cookies a fun and playful look. These shapes will instantly add a touch of summer to your cookies.
- Line each baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent the cookies from sticking and to make clean-up easier. This also helps promote even baking.
- If you’re baking multiple sheets of cookies at once, rotate the baking sheets halfway through the baking time. This helps promote even baking since different areas of the oven may have slight temperature variations.
What is the Best Sugar Cookie Frosting to Use on a Hot Summer Day
The best icing for tender sugar cookies on a warm summer day is one that is stable, dries quickly, and holds up well in warmer temperatures. Here are a few options that work particularly well:
A Royal icing recipe is a popular choice for decorating sugar cookies. It’s made from powdered sugar, egg whites or meringue powder, and water. Royal icing dries hard and is perfect for creating intricate designs and adding details. It holds up well in warm weather and can be easily colored using gel food coloring. You can also thin it down to create a flooding consistency for filling larger areas of the cookie.
Glaze icing is another excellent option for summer sugar cookies. It typically consists of powdered sugar, milk or water, and flavoring (such as lemon, almond extract or vanilla extract). Glaze icing dries to a smooth and shiny finish and has a slightly softer texture compared to royal icing. It’s easy to make and provides a nice base for adding colorful designs or sprinkles.
When decorating soft sugar cookies in the summer, it’s a good practice to let the icing dry and set completely before stacking or packaging the cookies. This will help prevent any smudging or damage to the designs. Additionally, store the decorated cookies in a cool place to maintain their freshness and prevent the icing from melting or softening.
To keep your cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
More Easy Cookie Recipes:
- No Bake Cookies
- Blue White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Lemon Curd Cookies
- Whoopie Pies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
Summer Sugar Cookie Ideas
The Best Sugar Cookie Ideas for the Summer Season
FAQs
To prevent excessive spreading, make sure to chill the dough thoroughly before baking. Additionally, avoid over-creaming the butter and sugar as it can incorporate too much air into the dough, causing the cookies to spread. Finally, be sure not to overmix the dough after adding the dry ingredients.
The chilling time can vary depending on the recipe, but it’s generally recommended to chill the dough for at least 1-2 hours or overnight. This helps firm up the dough, making it easier to roll out and cut into shapes.
Yes, you can freeze sugar cookie dough for future baking. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container, then label it with the date. Frozen dough can typically be stored for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and cutting.
To prevent sticking, lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin before rolling out the dough. However, be cautious not to add too much flour, as it can make the cookies dry and tough. You can also roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
Absolutely! If you don’t have cookie cutters, you can roll your favorite sugar cookie recipe into balls and then flatten them with the bottom of a glass or your hand. Alternatively, you can use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the dough into squares or rectangles.