Sea Life Sugar Cookies with Printable Gift Tags
These sea life sugar cookies are perfect for celebrating a day at the beach or an ocean themed party! Grab the free printable tag below to create a fun gift.
Sugar cookie dough is super versatile and easy to make with only a few ingredients from the grocery store. Start with simple ingredients like butter, granulated sugar and all purpose flour.
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this easy recipe to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be waiting there when you’re ready.
Be sure to set aside enough time to decorate these cookies, you may even want to spread it out over a few days. When adding details it’s important to wait until the layer of flooded icing is completely dry otherwise the icing may crack and the colors will bleed.
Make sure that you have everything that you need to make and decorate these treats. Our cookie cutters are from the new line by Wilton bakes but you can also order them from Amazon below.
This post contains affiliate links.
Sugar cookie supplies:
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cookie cutters
- Icing bottles
- Wire cooling rack
- Cookie scribe or toothpick
This is my grandma’s classic sugar cookie recipe – time tested and delicious. The only thing that I have changed over the years is swapped out shortening for butter.
How to make sea life cookies:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 4 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
Tip: Pre-made Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough can be used to create these cookies as well. Simply add 1/4 cup of flour to the dough, combine well and roll as directed.
Directions:
1. In a large bowl with electric mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment, combine dry ingredients. Add butter, egg, milk and extract. Mix on medium speed until a soft dough forms.
2. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour. This helps to prevent the dough from spreading when baked.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Dust your surface with flour and use a rolling pin to roll the dough to 1/4″ thickness.
5. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes from the dough. Place the cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
6. Bake until the cookies are lightly brown around the edges, about 7 minutes.
7. Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool.
This recipe will make about 36, 3″ cookies.
Use my Easy Royal Icing Recipe to make the best icing for these cookies! You will need purple, blue, green, orange, grey, red, black and white royal icing.
Royal icing tips:
- If the icing is too hard, add more water one drop at a time.
- If the icing is too soft, add more powdered sugar one teaspoon at a time.
- Icing can be stored at room temperature in a an airtight container for up to two weeks.
- To use, mix the royal icing with a hand mixer so that it becomes smooth and shiny again.
- Flood consistency is reached when a spoonful dropped onto a flat surface takes 10 – 15 seconds to become completely smooth.
These instructions will show you how to decorate sea horse cookies like these ones. The options are seriously endless, have fun with the decorating!
How to decorate sea horse sugar cookies:
1. Outline each different colored area with a line of icing.
2. Fill in the rest of the shape with icing. Use a toothpick or scribe to coax icing into corners or spaces.
3. Allow the icing to dry for at least 30 minutes before adding additional colors.
4. Add white bones, scales and a black eye to each sea horse.
How fun are these sea life cookies?! Super cute right?! The shark and crab are created in the same way as the sea horse just with different colors and details.
Allow the icing to completely harden for at least four hours before packaging or storing the cookies. These are super fun to throw into a cookie box and gift to a sea life lover!
This post contains affiliate links.
Some of my baking essentials:
- I love using this non-stick bakeware for all of my baking.
- These silicone mitts are perfect for grasping hot pans and baking dishes.
- This Henckel Knife is my favorite for slicing and dicing in the kitchen.
- These parchment paper bags are perfect for packaging and these large Rubbermaid food storage containers are great for storing baking in the freezer.
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I’ve teamed up with some blogging friends to bring you even more ocean inspiration! Be sure to check out these darling sea life inspired crafts and activities!
Ocean Inspiration:
- Darling Sea Turtle Jewelry Set from Lindsay at Artsy Fartsy Mama
- Framed Seashell and Starfish Coastal Décor from Beth at Creatively Beth
- Traveling Shark Bean Bag Toss Game from Laura at Me and My INKlings
- Free Printable Mermaid Tail Bookmarks from Liz at Liz on Call
- How to Make a Giant Ocean Coloring Page from Ginger at Ginger Snap Crafts
- Sea Life Sugar Cookies with Printable Tags from Heather at Homemade Heather
- DIY Shark Themed T-Shirts from Blanca at Creativities Galore
- Sweet Ocean Baby Nursery Décor from Debra at Debra Quartermain Designs
- DIY Mermaid Shell Hair Clip from Marissa at Rae Gun Ramblings
- Beach Themed Planner Spread from Jenny at Jenny’s Crayon Collection
If you love these Sea Life Sugar Cookies please give them a five star review and help me share them on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy them too!
Sea Life Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 4 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- 1. In a large bowl with electric mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment, combine dry ingredients.
- 2. Add butter, egg, milk and extract. Mix on medium speed until a soft dough forms.
3. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour. This helps to prevent the dough from spreading when baked. - 4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- 5. Dust your surface with flour and use a rolling pin to roll the dough to 1/4" thickness.
- 6. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes from the dough. Place the cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- 7. Bake until the cookies are lightly brown around the edges, about 7 minutes.
- 8. Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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