Sugar Cookie Recipe
Ever felt like baking but didn’t want to wrestle with anything more complicated than a spoon? Meet the sugar cookie. It’s sweet, simple, and way more forgiving than your last relationship. These cookies don’t judge, they just want to be eaten.
What This Recipe Does
This sugar cookie recipe gives you soft, chewy cookies with a light crunch on the edges. The dough is easy to mix, easy to roll, and doesn’t turn into a sticky mess that glues itself to your soul (or your counter). These cookies work for decorating, stacking, or speed-eating straight off the tray.
Prep Time
Prep time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes
Bake time: 10 minutes
Total time: About 55 minutes
Makes: 24 cookies
Nutrition Info (per cookie)
Calories: 150
Fat: 7g
Sugar: 10g
Carbs: 18g
Protein: 1.5g
Fiber: 0.3g
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Essential Kitchen Tools
- Mixing Bowls: You need at least one large bowl for combining your cookie dough.
- Electric Mixer: A hand mixer or a stand mixer is best for creaming the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: You will need both dry measuring cups and liquid measuring cups for precise measurements of flour, sugar, and extracts.
- Rolling Pin: This is essential for rolling the cookie dough to an even thickness before cutting out your shapes.
- Cookie Cutters: Use your favorite shapes for fun, festive cookies.
- Baking Sheets: You will need at least one standard, rimmed baking sheet.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat: Lining your baking sheets prevents the cookies from sticking and makes cleanup very easy.
- Wire Racking: A wire cooling rack is necessary for letting the cookies cool completely after they come out of the oven.
- Spatula: A rubber spatula helps you scrape the bowl to ensure all ingredients are mixed in.
Optional but Helpful Tools
- Flour Sifter or Whisk: Useful for aerating your flour before measuring it.
- Cookie Spatula: A thin, flat spatula makes transferring the delicate cut-out cookies to the baking sheet much easier.
How To Make Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Mix butter and sugar
Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Beat them until the mix looks light and fluffy. You can use a mixer or a strong arm. - Add egg and vanilla
Crack the egg into the bowl. Pour in the vanilla. Mix until everything blends like a smooth pop song. - Add dry stuff
In another bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add this mix to the wet stuff. Mix until a dough forms. Do not eat half of it. (Okay, maybe just a little.) - Chill the dough
Cover the dough and chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes. This helps the cookies keep their shape. Also gives you time to clean up or question your life choices. - Roll and cut
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the dough on a floured surface. Use cookie cutters or a glass if you like circles. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. - Bake
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden. Take them out before they brown too much. Let them cool on the tray for a few minutes before moving them. - Eat or decorate
Eat them plain, or add frosting and sprinkles. Or just stand in the kitchen and eat five while pretending you’ll save some for later.
How to Decorate Sugar Cookies for Christmas
- Choose Your Icing: Use royal icing or a simple powdered sugar glaze. Divide into small bowls and add food coloring for red, green, gold, or other holiday shades.
- Outline and Flood: For royal icing, start by outlining the cookie edges with a piping bag. Then fill the center (“flood”) with thinner icing for a smooth surface.
- Add Holiday Details: Use sprinkles, edible glitter, or sanding sugar in festive colors. Pipe designs like snowflakes, Christmas trees, candy canes, or stars.
- Layered Effects: Let the first layer dry for 15-30 minutes before adding details on top to prevent colors from blending.
- Finishing Touches: Add small edible pearls, chocolate chips, or colored sugar for extra sparkle. Let cookies dry completely before storing.
- Storage: Keep decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.
Final Tip
These cookies freeze well. So if you want to pretend you didn’t eat them all in one night, throw some in the freezer. No one has to know.
Go ahead. Bake the cookies. Make the kitchen smell amazing. And if one ends up as breakfast tomorrow, we won’t tell.
Sugar Cookie
Crispy, buttery edges that give way to a melt-in-your-mouth, tender center. Each bite is a heavenly mix of delicate crunch and cloud-like softness, with just the right amount of sweet vanilla warmth.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Cream butter & sugar
In a big bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy (mixer or elbow grease works!).
2. Add egg & vanilla
Toss in the egg and vanilla, then mix until smooth.
3. Mix dry ingredients
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Gently stir into wet mix until dough forms. (Try not to snack too much.)
4. Chill (patience is key!)
Cover and refrigerate for 30 mins, this keeps cookies from spreading. (Perfect time for a snack break.)
5. Roll & cut
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough, cut shapes, and place on a lined baking sheet.
6. Bake to perfection
Bake 8–10 mins until edges are just golden. Let cool slightly, if you can resist!
7. Devour (or decorate!)
Enjoy as-is or go wild with frosting. (No judgment if half disappear before decorating.)
Happy baking! 😋
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 150Total Fat: 7gCarbohydrates: 18gSugar: 10gProtein: 1.5g
