A Recipe for Sweet Success

Thanks for connecting with us to learn about meeting in Madison. Your flamingo cookie cutter (hand wash only) is more than a kitchen tool—it’s a reminder that Madison does things differently. Try the recipes below and picture your next meeting with a Madison twist.

Curious about the flamingo shape? Scroll down to learn why we chose this iconic shape to represent our city!

Recipes

No Spread Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Mix butter then beat in sugar, followed by eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix flower and salt. Gradually combine dry ingredients with wet. Chill dough 2-4 hours or overnight before rolling at 1/4 inches thick. Cut using the shape of your choice and bake 9-10 min. Enjoy!

Royal Icing

Ingredients:

4 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp meringue powder
½ tsp cream of tartar
½ cup water (add 2-4 Tbsp as needed)
1tsp vanilla
Food coloring (pink recommended!)

In a large bowl mix powdered sugar, meringue, and cream of tartar. Once combined, add water and vanilla. Beat at low speed until combined and then finish at high speed for 7-10 minutes or until stiff. Add water to thin icing. Divide icing, add coloring of choice and enjoy decorating your gorgeous flamingo cookies!

Recipes credit: CookieCutter.com

Decorating Tips for Flamingo Flair

Add a few drops of pink food coloring to your icing for that signature flamingo hue.
Add black sparkle gel for eyes, beaks or playful accents.
Try pastel shades for a flock of flamingos or add edible glitter for extra sparkle.
Mix flamingos into your traditional holiday cookie shapes for an unexpected and fun twist!

Why is my Madison cookie cutter shaped like a flamingo?

Fun fact: Madison's official city bird is the pink plastic flamingo. A quirky tradition originated in 1979, when students at UW–Madison covered Bascom Hill with hundreds of flamingos as a prank. The city embraced the joke, and today, the flamingo stands as a symbol of Madison’s playful spirit and willingness to do things differently.

For meeting planners, that means Madison is the perfect place to refresh your next gathering. Here, you’ll find:

Lakeside venues and accommodations in the heart of a walkable and accessible downtown
Coffee under $45 a gallon and cost savings relative to Chicago and other destinations
James Beard-honored chefs and award-winning restaurants your attendees will love
Nobel-level intellectual capital and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a top 10 research university
A safe and welcoming environment with plenty to explore off-hours

Refresh Your Next Meeting in Madison

Here are two ways to stay connected with our team:

Stay Inspired: Sign up for the Madison Meetings Insider quarterly e-news for helpful meetings content and updates on what's new and coming soon to Madison.
Submit an RFP: Click here to start planning your next meeting in Madison.