Sugar Cookie Recipe
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This sugar cookie recipe makes a melt-in-your-mouth, soft, chewy cookie that doesn’t spread. Perfect for rolled or cut-out cookies!
Sugar cookies are delicious diet ruining little fiends and I love them so much. These were inspired by the Publix sugar cookie recipe that I am mildly obsessed with. Enjoy them after a yummy chicken spaghetti dinner!
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Sugar Cookie Recipe
Sugar Cookie Recipe
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Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- Flour – All purpose (not self rising!)
- Baking powder – Make sure you don’t grab baking soda.
- Sugar – Granulated (not powdered sugar).
- Salt – Regular table salt.
- Butter – Salted/softened. (Unsalted butter works too, if you prefer).
- Egg – Large.
- Vanilla extract – Real vanilla extract, not imitation.
How do you make homemade sugar cookies? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, in a large bowl mix together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt.
⭐ Then, cream together butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. Add in egg and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add flour mixture, mix well.
⭐ Next, roll dough into a log wrapped in plastic wrap, allow to chill until dough is firm.
⭐ Finally, slice cookie log and place slices on a parchment paper or silpat lined cookie sheet. Bake until just barely done.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
How do you keep sugar cookies from losing their shape?
Keep your cookies from spreading by chilling your dough before baking. This recipe holds it’s shape really well, even without chilling, but some time in the fridge makes them perfect.
Do you have to chill sugar cookie dough?
No! You can absolutely make these without chilling. They only require chilling if you want them to keep their shape exactly. I love making these, rolling them in sugar, and popping directly into the oven.
How do you make sugar cookies more flavorful?
I love a plain vanilla sugar cookie, but if you want a little more pizazz try adding flavor with extracts (like almond extract, cherry, citrus), or roll in crushed peppermint, or even mix in some fresh lime or lemon zest.
Do you put sprinkles on sugar cookies before or after baking?
If you want the sprinkles directly on the cookie then roll in sprinkles, or press sprinkles into the dough, before baking.
Alternately, you can put sprinkles onto iced cookies after they’re baked. Make sure to add the sprinkles quickly as they will not stick to hardened icing.
Storage and leftovers
How long do sugar cookies last?
The baked cookies will last 1 – 2 weeks at room temperature in a cool/dry environment, when stored in a sealed airtight container. If you will not be able to finish them in that amount of time, they can be frozen.
Can you freeze homemade sugar cookies?
Yes, they can be frozen before or after baking. If freezing the dough before baking, either into a log and wrap tightly in plastic wrap then again in a sealed bag or foil, or make your cookie shapes and freeze the dough on a pan. When the cookie dough shapes are frozen, transfer them to a freezer safe container.
Frozen cut outs will stay good for up to a month, and a frozen log will stay good for up to three months. After that time they will still be safe to bake/eat, but the quality will deteriorate.
To freeze after baking, allow the cookies to cool completely, then store in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
How do you defrost cookie dough?
For best results, defrost in the refrigerator overnight. To defrost cookie dough quickly, use a sharp knife to slice your frozen cookie dough into discs then place them on your lined baking sheet. The sliced dough will thaw quickly and then you can bake it.
Can you bake frozen sugar cookie dough?
Yes, place the frozen dough on a lined baking sheet and bake for 2 – 3 minutes longer than the recipe recommends.
Tips and tricks for the best sugar cookies
Stop the spread
If you want the dough to keep its shape (as pictured in this recipe), chill the dough for several hours before baking. If making cut-out shapes, chill the dough on the baking sheet after it has been cut out.
Add some flare
Roll your cookies in colored sugar or sprinkles for a fun look and some added texture. Or add a drop or two of food coloring to the dough!
How long to bake soft sugar cookies?
Soft sugar cookies and chewy sugar cookies are the best! Make sure you bake them to just barely done (about 10 minutes, 8 for smaller cookies) so they get the perfect texture. If they’ve browned you’ve left them in too long.
How thick do I roll sugar cookies?
We like ours between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. You can roll them, or slice them, or even roll into balls and press with a fork or your hand!
Cut out sugar cookie recipe
This recipe is perfect for cut out cookies too because it holds shape beautifully. To make cut-out sugar cookies, roll the dough thin (between 1/4 and 1/2 inches thick) on a floured surface with a rolling pin.
Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and place them on a lined baking sheet. Chill the sheet for at least 30 minutes, until dough is stiff. Then bake as directed.
Frosting your sugar cookies
You can use royal icing for sugar cookies (this is traditional), but honestly I’m partial to cream cheese icing! I like to add a little extra powdered sugar to the frosting recipe so it will harden.
What to eat with easy sugar cookies (serving suggestions)
Well, I’m partial to a hot cup of coffee or tea with mine. And if I’m feeling fancy, a mug of peppermint mocha. Yum. Or enjoy them after a healthy dinner of turkey meatloaf and roasted carrots!
Other amazing cookie recipes
- Sugar cookie peppermint sticks
- Homemade butter cookies
- Holiday cookie recipe
- Easy peanut butter blossoms
- Cookies and cream cookies
- Chocolate cake mix cookies
- See all our homemade cookie recipes!
More desserts to enjoy
- Pistachio fluff recipe
- Homemade cheese danish
- Cake balls recipe
- 7 layer magic bars
- See all our easy dessert ideas!
Tools we love
- Baking sheets – This set is perfect, we use them for everything from roasting, to baking, and even serving.
- Silicone baking mats – I always always always line with these, nothing sticks!
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How to Make Sugar Cookies
Sugar Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
- Cream together butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. Add in egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.
- Add flour mixture, mix well.
- Roll dough into a log wrapped in plastic wrap, allow to chill for at least 2 hours or until dough is firm.
- Slice cookie log into ¼" to ½" slices and place on cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes (10 was perfect for us).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Sugar Cookie Recipe
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These look heavenly and so delicious! I can’t wait to give these a try! So excited to make these!
Perfect, soft sugar cookie!
Ok. You got me. 🙂 I’m a texture gal. Not only do I love perfectly crispy sugar cookies, I also love lovely soft sugar cookies! These have such a great texture and taste so wonderful, too!
Mine spread out. They didn’t keep their shape. What did I do wrong?
After you cut them and put on the cookie sheet, place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for about 10-15 min and then pop in the oven. This prevents them from spreading.
Can you convert these sugar cookies to a keto cookies?
I think you’re joking? (I hope?)
Just wondering can you make bars with this?
absolutely!
I love it
Hi! Do you think this recipe would do well to make little cups using a mini muffin pan?? I want to make “ hot chocolate “ cookie cups .. The recipe I found uses Pillsbury premade dough, although but I’m not a fan of that.
Yes, I think this recipe would work great for that!
The dough did not sick together like it should. I got it rolled into a log and chilled in fridge over night but it still falls apart when I slice it. I double and triple checked all of the ingredients and the amounts I used. Not sure what happened🤷🏼♀️
I’m not sure what could have gone wrong, I’ve never personally had an issue like this and never received this complaint before. :-/
Sarah, I’m having the same issue. Did you find a solution?
Perhaps try adding a splash of water or milk to add more moisture to the dough if it seems too crumbly. I tested this recipe again and it worked fine for me. Could be a climate issue if you’re somewhere super dry?
I’m wondering if the crumble problem mentioned might happen if they don’t use real butter in the recipe. Curious if “Plant Based Butterc was used and could cause the dough to not stay together?
So I just made 3 batches not even 10 minutes ago. The first batch I added all ingredients at 1 time not paying attention. The last 2 I did as she directed in this recipe and they are perfect. Make sure you’re mixing the butter and sugar. Then add egg and vanilla. Then combine your dry ingredients and add them to the mixer.
Best of luck ❤️
Do you this this cookie dough could be tinted different colors for various holidays?
Absolutely! It takes color very well 🙂
Mine was very dry wouldn’t keep shape so I neaded it on my table and it got together beautifully. Made the log perfectly.
great tip, thank you!
They taste good, but they absolutely did not hold their shape! That promise was the only reason I picked this recipe over others so obviously that was a bit of a disappointment. And yes, I did chill them after they were cut and right before baking. It didn’t work.
I’m so sorry you had this problem. As you can see from our pictures, we have not had an issue of them spreading at all. Perhaps something was accidentally mismeasured?
I love soft sugar cookies and yes I roll mine out and cut them. When they cool off after baking I like a cream cheese icing and of course the grand babies are going to put sprinkles on them when they are ready!
I love sugar cookies that are soft and chewy! I love to frost my sugar cookies with buttercream frosting!
I am in the Mama Bear category of not too crunchy and not too soft. Not a fan of icing but I really do not care for overly sweet food. I will give these a try because I an always looking for a new favorite cookie. I like the drop method for simplicity if I am baking the cookies right away but love the slice and bake method because the rolls can be frozen to save for a quick cookie break.
We love soft sugar cookies!!!!
Excited to try these! I love my sugar cookies to be soft and chewy!
I love how you say you can store them REALLY once cooled I ate the lot DON’T know how I could store them as took all my will power to let them cool
I prefer soft sugar cookies.
Love a good sugar cookie. I can eat them with or without icing.