Description
Bring the thrill of Mahjong to your dessert table with these Mahjong Tile Sugar Cookies! These delightful cookies are buttery, crisp, and decorated to resemble Mahjong tiles, making them a perfect treat for game night. With vanilla-flavored sugar cookies and a smooth royal icing, these Mahjong desserts are both delicious and visually stunning! Whether you’re hosting a Mahjong party or looking for a fun baking project, this recipe is easy to follow and guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
For the Royal Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 4 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red, green, and black food coloring
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a smooth dough forms.
Step 2: Shape and Bake
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness.
- Cut into rectangle shapes (about 1.5 x 2 inches) to resemble Mahjong tiles.
- Place cookies on a lined baking sheet and chill for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cookies cool completely before decorating.
Step 3: Prepare the Royal Icing
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth.
- Divide icing into three bowls and tint each with red, green, and black food coloring.
- Transfer icing to piping bags with fine tips.
Step 4: Decorate the Mahjong Tiles
- Outline each cookie with white royal icing and let it set for 10 minutes.
- Fill the inside with white icing and let it dry completely.
- Use the red, green, and black icing to carefully draw Mahjong symbols.
- Allow icing to fully set before serving (about 1-2 hours).
Notes
🎨 Decorating Tips:
- If you’re new to piping, practice on parchment paper before decorating the cookies.
- Use a fine-tipped food coloring pen instead of icing for more precise Mahjong tile designs.
📌 Storage:
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Cookies can be frozen (undecorated) for up to 3 months.
🥥 Flavor Variations:
- Substitute vanilla extract with coconut or lemon extract for a unique twist!
- Add matcha powder to the icing for a Mahjong-inspired green tea flavor.
🔄 Dietary Adjustments:
- Gluten-Free? Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour substitute.
- Dairy-Free? Swap butter for vegan butter and adjust icing consistency with plant-based milk.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, Party Treats
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: ~150 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg