Perfect for any occasion, these Sugar Cookies are not just a treat to eat but a joy to create. This classic sugar cookie recipe is a delightful blend of sugary and buttery goodness. Whether you’re decorating them to fit the season or savoring them simply, this recipe is your gateway to creating the perfect sugar cookie.
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The holiday season is here, and that can only mean one thing…Christmas sugar cookies.
I (and I know I’m not the only one) just can’t resist a good cookie, and this time of year, they’re practically everywhere. Office parties, cookie swaps, and heck, even my dentist’s practice is offering these sweet treats.
While this rolled or drop sugar cookie recipe is perfect for making Christmas cookies, you can use it year-round as your go-to cookie recipe for cutouts! When time is short, you can also opt for drop cookies instead.
Why I Love this sugar cookie recipe
- Customizable: Ideal for decorating with icing, frostings, drizzles, and sprinkles for any and all occasions.
- Foolproof: With these step-by-step instructions and an easy-to-follow recipe, you’ll get great results every time.
- Delicious: These sugar cookies offer a classic sweet, buttery taste that everyone will love.
The Heart & Soul Of Sugar Cookies
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Cooking Method: Baked
Dietary Info: Contains gluten and dairy
Key Flavor: Sweet, Buttery
Skill Level: Easy
Sweet Spots
- Flexible sugar cookie recipe! Roll them out, drop them, add some sprinkles, frosting, or leave them plain. The choice is yours.
- Simple ingredients. There is absolutely nothing unusual you need when it comes to making these cookies. You might actually already have everything you need to make a batch!
- Lots of tips and tricks! I’m sharing EVERYTHING I know about making these cookies so that yours come out great!
Ingredients to make Sugar Cookies
There are no real surprises when it comes to the ingredients needed to make homemade plain or decorated sugar cookies. Let’s briefly talk about the highlights. Check the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies their structure.
- Baking powder and salt: For flavor and leavening.
- Butter: The crucial element that gives these freshly baked cookies their rich flavor. Use unsalted butter so you have a bit more control over the salt in the recipe.
- Granulated sugar: White granulated sugar is best so it doesn’t contribute any color to the dough.
- Egg: In this cookie recipe, the egg gives the dough some moisture and color as well as acts as a binder to hold everything together.
- Vanilla extract: Use a pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
How to make Sugar Cookies
Are you ready to get cooking? I know I am! Here’s an overview of the steps for how to make this cookie recipe. For detailed instructions check the recipe card.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Add the butter and sugar to your stand mixer and mix on medium-high speed until light, fluffy, and creamy. This will take about 4-5 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla to the mixing bowl and continue mixing until smooth. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Turn the mixer down to slow speed and add the flour mixture in three separate intervals.
- Mix the flour in until it’s fully combined.
- Remove the cookie dough from the mixer and cut it into four pieces of dough.
- Wrap each portion with plastic wrap creating disks. Refrigerate for about 30-40 minutes.
How to Make Drop Sugar Cookies
- Scoop out 1-inch balls and place them on a cookie sheet, leaving space in between.
- Press down with your hand slightly to flatten them into small cookies.
How to Make Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
TOP TIP: Don’t forget to chill this dough. It is crucial so your cookies don’t spread, especially when using cookie cutters.
- Add a disk of dough to a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper.
- Roll the dough until it’s about ⅛-inch in thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes.
How to Bake
- Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- When ready, remove the tray and transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorating Sugar Cookies
I take no issue with a bare sugar cookie; they have enough flavor to stand on their own. But y’all, it’s Christmas! Who doesn’t like a beautifully decorated plate of frosted sugar cookies?
You don’t have to be an artist to whip up a few snowmen or snowflakes that might look too good to eat.
Step 1: Choose Your Icing
The choice of frosting is truly all up to you. Use your favorite icing recipe such as meringue buttercream or royal icing which hardens. You can also buy a store-bought buttercream or get fancy with a chocolate ganache. Because a sugar cookie has such a mild flavor, you really can’t go wrong.
Step 2: Choose Some Sprinkles
The sky’s the limit these days when it comes to sprinkles. There are tons of options and colors to coordinate with the theme of the holiday or party you are planning.
If you aren’t adding icing, add sprinkles to the tops of the cookies before baking and lightly press them into the top of the cookie to make sure they bake into the cookies.
Step 3: DIY Piping Bags
Professional piping bags can be expensive and in my opinion, unnecessary. Just bust out a few of those trusty Ziploc baggies you stuff into junk drawers.
Fold over the top of the baggie, spoon your icing into the baggie, and use scissors to cut the pointed tip off one side of your bag.
Be careful! The size of the cut you make will determine how much icing will come out at once.
Step 4: Invest in Piping Tips
Wanna step up your cookie-decorating game? Piping tips come in an assortment of sizes and shapes. They allow you to create more intricate patterns and achieve a more polished look. You can find inexpensive sets of piping tips online or at your local craft store.
To use the tips, you’ll need to cut a larger hole at the tip of your bag and insert the tip before spooning in your icing. Make sure the tip is snug otherwise, the icing will seep out around the bag.
Don’t be afraid to play! Have fun with the trial-and-error process. They may not all look great but at least you’ll have had fun.
Tips for making the best sugar cookie recipe
We all know the tell-tale qualities of the classic Sugar Cookie: soft, chewy, and buttery. Each bite flirts with the line between too sweet and just right. The perfect sugar cookie can be enjoyed on its own or coated with colorful icing. In order to get that perfect cookie, you’ve gotta take the right steps!
- Don’t skip out on chilling time. Just like you, the dough requires a little bit of downtime. This allows the dough to stiffen, making it easier to roll out. Allow your dough to rest for at least 30-40 minutes before getting to work.
- Roll out your dough in small batches. Rolling out one large sheet of dough can be difficult. It often results in uneven cookies and more work for you. Cut your dough into tennis ball-sized pieces and roll them out one at a time. Treat the rolling process the same as you would a pie crust.
- Slightly underbake the cookies. Sugar cookies can be a bit temperamental, so it’s essential that you bake them properly. Underbaking your cookies gives them that chew that develops after they’ve cooled. If the edges of your cookie start to brown, they’re overcooked. Start to keep an eye out on your cookies at about 9 minutes, and don’t leave them in the oven for longer than 12.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Extracts: In addition to or in place of vanilla, you can use almond or lemon extract for a different flavor profile.
- Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies: Use your favorite gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose flour. Do note that the texture may be altered. This recipe hasn’t been tested with gluten-free flour. If you’re seeking a gluten-free cookie option, try my Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies!
- Mix-ins: This plain sugar cookie recipe is the perfect vessel for any mix-ins you’d like to add to jazz up your cookies. I would suggest whichever items you choose to include that they are finely chopped so you can still roll out the cookie dough with ease.
- Frosting, Icings, Dips, or Glazes: Sugar cookies are so versatile that you can dress them in many different ways. Instead of the suggested frosting decoration, try dipping them in melted chocolate, drizzling them with caramel, or using fine icing to make intricate designs.
What to serve with homemade sugar cookies
- Chocolate Frosting
- Oreo Frosting
- Caramel Frosting or Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe
- Dessert Board with Cranberry Chocolate Truffles
- Frozen S’more Cookie Bars
How to store & reheat sugar cookies
For best results, store cookies at room temperature for up to three days. Make sure the location you keep them is cool and dry. If you are using soft icing on your cookies, such as buttercream, lay them out in a single layer instead of stacking them.
How long will sugar cookies last in the fridge?
Baked sugar cookies can last about a week in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. Sugar cookie dough can last in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Can I freeze plain sugar cookies?
If you want to freeze baked cookies make sure to store them in a container without any icing. When you want to eat some, allow them to thaw out on the counter and then decorate as you wish.
Can I freeze sugar cookie dough?
Absolutely! Prepare the sugar cookie dough according to the recipe. Wrap the cookie dough tightly in plastic wrap. Place the dough in a sealed freezer bag and label it with the current date. When you’re ready to bake, thaw the dough overnight in the fridge. Roll it out, cut it into shakes, and bake according to the recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Chilling the sugar cookie dough is essential. Not only does it help to prevent spreading, but it solidifies the fat in the cookie, making it easier to handle and roll out. This is ideal when making cut-out cookies. Chilling the cookie dough overnight is ideal, but chilling for at least 1-2 hours is okay if time isn’t on your side.
There are a few reasons why your sugar cookies turned out too hard. Overbaking can cause hard cookies; even being overbaked for a minute or two too long can cause this. Using too much flour in your recipe is sure to make your sugar cookies tough. Always spoon and level your flour if possible. If your oven it too hot your cookies can bake faster than anticipated, causing them to overbake. Using an in oven, oven thermometer to keep track of your oven actual temperature is ideal. Lastly, overworking your cookie dough can develop more gluten in your cookies, leading to a harder cookie once baked.
Whether they’re gingerbread, thumbprint, shortbread, or snickerdoodle, I don’t discriminate. But Christmas sugar cookies have a special place in my heart, and after you’ve had this recipe, they’ll have one in yours, too.
More cookie recipes
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Turtle Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- White Chocolate Chai Butter Cookies
- Flourless Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Lemon Tea Cake Recipe
- Southern Tea Cakes
- Neapolitan Cookies
- Ricotta Cookies Recipe
- Southern Tea Cakes
- Eggnog Cookies
*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!
How To Make Sugar Cookies Recipe
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Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Start by preheating oven to 375 F.
- In a large bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt and whisk together until well combined.
- In your stand mixer, add butter and sugar and mix on medium high speed until light, fluffy and creamy (about 4-5 minutes).
- Next add in egg and vanilla and continue mixing until smooth. Scrape down sides if needed.
- Finally turn mixer down to slow speed and add flour mixture in intervals of 3 and mix until combined.
- Remove the cookie dough from mixer and cut into 4 mounds of dough and wrap with plastic wrap creating disks. Refrigerate for about 30-40 minutes.
- For regular drop sugar cookies, scoop out 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheet. Pat with your hand slightly to flatten.
- For roll out/cut out sugar cookies, add a disk of dough to a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper. Roll until about ⅛ inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut shapes.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in December 2019. It has been updated with new images and content.
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This recipe saved my life!! Lol
Is it really 1 Tablespoon of vanilla?
Yep it really is but you can lower if you prefer.
I also use a few dashes of mace it lends a hint of awesome sweet spice! ☺️
I love this recipe and they come out perfect every time.
What kind of salt? Kosher (Morton’s or Diamond) or table salt? Can’t WAIT to try this!
Many thanks!
These were such a breeze to make, and so tasty! They have that classic, sweet sugar cookie taste, reminded me of my grandma’s cookies. I used a gluten-free flour for my celiac sibling, but you couldn’t even tell. Underbaking was definitely key to keeping them tender. Great recipe!
The most important tip for me has been to slightly under bake them. Doing that fixed the issue with them breaking into pieces.
Great tips for perfect sugar cookies! And loving that airplane cookie cutter, so cute!!
These were so easy to make and turned out fantastic!
Adorable cookies ! I’m always looking for great recipes to make with the kids and I can’t wait to bust out my food coloring and make these with them!
Thanks for this awesome tutorial for sugar cookies! Great recipe.