The Perfect Sugar Cookies Recipe for Sweet Baking Success

Sweet and buttery sugar cookies bring pure joy to every kitchen, with this classic sugar cookies recipe delivering melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.

Crisp edges and soft centers make these treats irresistible for all ages.

Each carefully measured ingredient promises a perfect batch of golden-brown cookies that shine with simple elegance.

Bakers love how quickly these come together with basic pantry staples.

The delicate vanilla notes and tender crumb create a nostalgic flavor that transports you back to childhood memories.

Warm from the oven, these sugar cookies will have everyone gathering around for a delightful bite of happiness.

Perfect Cut-Out Cookies Baking Joys

• Guaranteed No-Spread Magic: Freezing the cut-out shapes before baking ensures perfectly crisp edges and clean shapes that maintain their original design without spreading or losing definition.
• Stress-Free Cookie Crafting: The simple step-by-step process makes this recipe approachable for bakers of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced cookie artists who want predictable, beautiful results.
• Versatile Decorating Potential: These sturdy cookies provide an ideal canvas for creative icing, sprinkles, and personalized designs, making them perfect for holidays, parties, or custom gifts that wow everyone.
• Prep-Ahead Convenience: The dough can be made in advance and chilled, allowing you to break the recipe into manageable steps and have freshly baked cookies ready whenever you want them.

Ingredients in Perfect Cut-Out Cookies

• Butter: A rich, creamy ingredient that provides flavor and helps create a tender cookie texture.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a golden, crisp exterior to the cookies.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together and provides structure to the cookie dough.
• Vanilla: Enhances the overall flavor profile with its warm, sweet aroma.

• Flour: The primary structure-building ingredient that gives the cookies their classic cut-out shape.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and creates a light, soft texture.

• Frosting, Sprinkles, Food Coloring: Provides creative options for personalizing and decorating the cookies to make them visually appealing and fun.

Steps for the Perfect Cookie Cut-Outs

Step 1: Whip Butter and Sugar

Grab your mixer and cream butter and sugar together until they become smooth and fluffy.

Add egg and vanilla, blending until everything is beautifully combined.

Step 2: Create Dough Base

• Flour
• Salt
• Baking powder

Mix gently just until ingredients are uniformly incorporated.

Gather dough into a soft ball.

Step 3: Initial Chilling

Wrap dough completely in plastic wrap.

Slide into refrigerator and let it rest for half an hour, allowing flavors to meld and dough to firm up.

Step 4: Prepare Cookie Shapes

Roll dough to a thin 3mm thickness.

Quick-freeze for 10 minutes to stabilize.

Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters.

Return cut shapes to freezer for 15-30 minutes to maintain crisp edges.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat oven to 340 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes.

Watch for golden edges while centers remain soft and tender.

Step 6: Cool and Decorate

Transfer cookies first to baking sheet, then to cooling rack.

Wait until cookies are completely cool before adding decorative frosting or sprinkles.

Tips for Great Cut-Out Cookies

• Use softened butter at room temperature for smooth, even mixing that creates perfectly creamy cookie dough.
• Mix dry ingredients gently just until combined to keep cookies tender and prevent tough, dense texture.
• Freezing dough before and after cutting ensures sharp, crisp cookie shapes without spreading or losing definition.
• Refrigerating dough helps cookies maintain shape, prevents spreading, and enhances rich, buttery flavor during baking.
• Remove cookies when edges are golden but centers remain soft for that ideal melt-in-your-mouth texture and delicate crumb.

Cookie Cut-Out Variations to Try

• Gluten-Free Cookie Adventure: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly cookies that maintain similar texture and taste.
• Vegan Cookie Delight: Swap butter with coconut oil and egg with ground flaxseed mixed with water to create plant-based, animal-product-free cookies.
• Chocolate Lover's Version: Mix cocoa powder into dry ingredients for rich chocolate cut-out cookies, perfect for chocolate enthusiasts seeking a deeper flavor profile.
• Spiced Holiday Variation: Add warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to the dry mix for festive, aromatic cookies that capture seasonal warmth.

Serving Ideas for Cut-Out Cookies

• Party Platter Perfection: Arrange cookies on a festive tiered stand for elegant gatherings, mixing different shapes and sizes for visual appeal.
• Sweet Gift Packaging: Stack cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbons, creating charming homemade presents for friends and family.
• Holiday Theme Display: Group cookies by color or design, creating seasonal patterns on white platters for Christmas, Halloween, or birthday celebrations.
• Interactive Decorating Station: Set out colored frostings, sprinkles, and edible glitters so guests can personalize their own cookie masterpieces during parties.

Storage Advice for Cut-Out Cookies

• Store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Dough stays fresh and maintains its texture perfectly.
• Wrap unbaked dough ball securely in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bag. Raw dough keeps well for 3 months, ready for future baking adventures.
• Layer decorated or undecorated cookies between parchment paper in sealed container. Frozen cookies maintain quality for 2-3 weeks at consistent temperature.
• Keep completely cooled, decorated cookies in sealed container at room temperature. Cookies stay deliciously crisp for 5-7 days away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

FAQs

• Why is chilling the dough important for cut-out cookies?

Chilling helps prevent spreading during baking, keeps the cookie shape crisp and defined, and makes the dough easier to handle and roll out without sticking.

• Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?

Yes, but reduce or eliminate added salt in the recipe to prevent the cookies from becoming too salty. Unsalted butter gives you more control over the salt content.

• How thick should I roll the cookie dough?

Roll the dough to approximately 3mm (1/8 inch) thickness for ideal cut-out cookies that bake evenly and maintain a consistent shape and texture.

Sugar Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Delightful Sugar Cookies from grandma’s kitchen bring sweet memories to life with buttery, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Crisp edges and tender centers invite you to savor each delectable bite of these classic American treats.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 200 g (1 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
• 100 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 egg, room temperature

Sweeteners:

• 80 g (2/3 cup) powdered sugar

Flavor Enhancers and Leavening Agents:

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (optional)

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Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, whip butter and sugar until creamy and well-blended, approximately 1-2 minutes. Incorporate egg and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly.
2. Gently fold in flour, salt, and baking powder, stirring until ingredients are evenly distributed. Shape dough into a compact sphere.
3. Encase dough in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for half an hour to firm up the mixture and enhance flavor development.
4. Roll out chilled dough to a precise 3mm thickness. Place rolled dough in freezer for 10 minutes to stabilize. Cut desired cookie shapes, then return cut shapes to freezer for 15-30 minutes to maintain crisp edges.
5. Preheat oven to 340°F. Transfer frozen cookie shapes directly to baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges while maintaining soft centers.
6. Remove cookies from oven and let rest on baking sheet momentarily. Transfer to wire cooling rack to reach room temperature completely.
7. Once cookies are entirely cooled, apply decorative icing or embellishments as desired.

Notes

• Soften butter at room temperature for smooth, easy creaming that prevents lumpy dough.
• Use powdered sugar for extra-smooth texture and lighter cookie consistency.
• Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain precise cookie shape during baking.
• Freeze cut-out shapes before baking to guarantee clean, crisp edges and minimal spreading.
• Replace wheat flour with gluten-free blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive diets without compromising texture.
• Roll dough between parchment papers to prevent sticking and ensure even thickness.
• Rotate baking sheet midway for uniform golden edges and consistent color across cookies.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 132
• Sugar: 4.5g
• Sodium: 10mg
• Fat: 6g
• Saturated Fat: 3.8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 0.2g
• Protein: 1.4g
• Cholesterol: 20mg