Simple Honey Bee Sugar Cookies Recipe Without Royal Icing Easy and Perfect for Beginners
Soft, buttery sugar cookies sweetened with honey and decorated with a playful honey bee motif, perfect for beginners and quick treats without the fuss of royal icing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (312 grams) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Yellow sanding sugar or edible glitter (optional, for decorating)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Soften the butter to room temperature for about 30 minutes before mixing.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups (312 grams) of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat 1 cup (226 grams) softened unsalted butter with ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 large room-temperature egg until fully combined. Stir in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until the dough just comes together. Avoid overmixing.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use honey bee cookie cutters to press out shapes. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Sprinkle yellow sanding sugar or edible glitter on top for a sunny sparkle, pressing gently so it sticks (optional).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are just golden and centers look slightly soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chill dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and keep shapes sharp. Use room temperature ingredients for better texture. Watch baking time closely to avoid overbaking. Optional decorations include sanding sugar, edible glitter, or tiny chocolate chips for eyes. For vegan adaptation, use vegan margarine and a flax egg. Gluten-free flour can be substituted 1:1 for all-purpose flour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 30
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8
- Fat: 6
- Protein: 1
Keywords: honey bee sugar cookies, sugar cookies without royal icing, easy sugar cookies, beginner cookie recipe, honey cookies, simple cookies, no icing cookies