Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

Introduction

These classic sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet—ideal for any occasion. With a simple mix of basic ingredients, they come together quickly and offer a delicious treat that can be decorated or enjoyed plain.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (226 grams)
• 1 cup granulated white sugar (200 grams)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour (360 grams)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C).
2. Step 2: In the bowl of your mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Step 3: Beat in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and egg until fully combined.
4. Step 4: In a separate bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, and flour. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing a little at a time.
5. Step 5: If the dough looks crumbly, continue mixing for 30 seconds to 1 minute until it pulls away from the sides of the mixer bowl.
6. Step 6: If the dough is still too dry or stiff for your mixer, turn it out onto a floured surface, flour your hands as needed, and finish kneading by hand.
7. Step 7: Do not chill the dough. Divide it into 2-3 workable batches, roll out each batch on a floured surface, and cut into shapes. Aim for cookies about 1/4 inch thick for a soft texture.
8. Step 8: Bake the cookies for 6-8 minutes at 350° F, then allow them to cool on the cookie sheet until firm before transferring to a cooling rack.

Tips & Variations

• For a different flavor, replace almond extract with lemon or orange zest.
• Decorate with icing or sprinkles right after baking for festive cookies.
• If dough is sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until manageable.

Storage

Store cooled sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze baked cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Reheat briefly in the oven or eat at room temperature for best texture.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, but reduce added salt in the recipe to avoid over-seasoning the cookies.

Why should the dough not be chilled?

This recipe is designed for immediate rolling and cutting to keep the dough soft and easy to work with. Chilling may make it too firm and harder to roll evenly.

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 59 reviews

This Best Sugar Cookie Recipe yields soft, buttery cookies with a perfect balance of sweetness and subtle almond and vanilla flavors. Easy to prepare with straightforward ingredients, these cookies are ideal for any occasion and come out with a delightful texture when baked fresh without chilling the dough.

• Author: Sana
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 6-8 minutes per batch
• Total Time: 25-30 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 24 medium-sized cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (360 grams)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (226 grams)
• 1 cup granulated white sugar (200 grams)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C) to ensure it is at the right temperature for baking the cookies.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of your mixer, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until smooth and fluffy, at least 3 minutes, to incorporate air and create a tender cookie texture.
3. Add Extracts and Egg: Beat in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and egg until fully combined, creating a smooth wet mixture.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix: In a separate bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, and all-purpose flour. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients a little at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
5. Adjust Dough Consistency: If the dough appears crumbly, continue mixing for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until it pulls away from the sides of the mixer bowl.
6. Knead Dough by Hand if Needed: If the dough is still too dry or stiff, turn it out onto a floured surface, dust the surface with flour as needed, and using wet hands, gently knead the dough to combine.
7. Roll and Cut Dough: Do not chill the dough. Divide it into 2-3 workable batches. Roll each batch out on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness, then cut into desired shapes for thicker cookies.
8. Bake Cookies: Place cut cookies on a baking sheet and bake at 350° F for 6-8 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet until firm enough to transfer, then move them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

• Do not chill the dough as it could make cookies less soft.
• Rolling to about 1/4 inch thickness helps achieve the ideal cookie texture.
• Wet your hands when kneading to prevent dough from sticking.
• Watch the cookies closely during baking; overbaking can lead to hard cookies.
• These cookies can be decorated with frosting once cooled for festive occasions.

Keywords: sugar cookies, classic sugar cookie recipe, soft sugar cookies, vanilla almond cookies, easy cookie recipe, holiday cookies