We may be biased, but these are hands-down the best sugar cookie recipe in existence. Not only are these sugar cookies soft, sweet, and perfect for decorating; they’re also extremely easy to make. These sugar cookies are perfect for any occasion.
Related: Check out our icing glaze recipe, Sugar Cookie Icing Recipe
What We Cover Below
What Makes These Sugar Cookies so Great
Sugar cookies can be tricky. Too soft and they won’t hold together during decorating. Too hard and, well, nobody wants a hard cookie. The goal is to find the perfect balance between softness and the ability to hold up under layers of icing. Below is a list why you’ll love these sugar cookies.
- Soft and flavorful, yet still strong enough for decorating
- Easy to make
- Works great with both large and small cookies
- Only 9 ingredients, most of which can be found at home
- Highly customizable; add extra flavors or spices for a fun twist
- Hold their shape
- Stay soft for days
- Freeze well
Baking Tips and FAQs
General Tips
- Sprinkle flour on the rolling pin and the surface you will be working on in order to prevent the cookie dough from sticking.
- Use clear vanilla extract if you want the cookies to be as white as possible.
Can I freeze sugar cookies and cookie dough?
Yes, you can freeze both. To freeze the cookies, place in an air-tight container or freezer bag before freezing. To freeze the cookie dough, roll the dough into 1 ball, then place in an air-tight container or freezer bag. Just keep in mind that the cookie dough will be rock solid when it’s frozen, so allow enough time for the cookie dough to fully de-thaw in the refrigerator before you rolling, cutting, and baking. Use the frozen cookies and cookie dough within 4 months for maximum freshness.
How long will the cookies last once baked?
Once baked, these cookies will last about 14 days if stored at room temperature, and up to 1 month if stored in the refrigerator. To store, wait for any icing to completely dry before stacking and place in an airtight container or freezer bag. If you’re unable to finish the cookies within a month, you can always store them in the freezer where they’ll be fresh for up to 6 months.
The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie Cutters
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Butter (room temperature)
- 3/4 cup White sugar
- 1 large Egg (beaten)
- 1 tbsp Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1/4 tsp Almond extract (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Using beaters or a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the beaten egg, milk, vanilla, and almond extract (optional) and mix on high speed until thoroughly mixed.
- In a separate bowl add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients together.
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low until fully combined. The dough should not be sticky. If needed, mix in an additional tablespoon of flour until dough is no longer sticky.
- Divide the dough in half. Place each half on a piece of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Using a dusted rolling pin, roll out each half of the dough into dough sheets. Roll until each sheet is about 1/4 inch thick. Be sure to stay within the edges of your parchment paper. Once you have finished rolling our the dough, sprinkle the top of each sheet with flour.
- Carefully place one dough sheet (while still on the parchment paper) on a plate or cookie pan. Place the second dough sheet (with parchment paper) on top of the first. Place the stacked dough sheets in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Once the dough has been chilled, pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Remove the cookie dough sheets from the refrigerator and cut the dough into shapes using your desired cookie cutters.
- Transfer the cookies to the prepared cookie sheets, keeping at least 1 inch of space between each. Bake for 11-12 minutes, until the bottom edges are golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a cookie rack. Allow the cookies to fully cool before decorating.
Would you agree that this is the best sugar cookie recipe? Let us know in the comments below.
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