If you’re on the hunt for a truly delightful treat that never fails to bring smiles and satisfy that sweet craving, look no further than The Best Sugar Cookies Recipe. These cookies are wonderfully soft around the edges, lightly crisp on the outside, and melt-in-your-mouth tender inside with just the right balance of sweetness and buttery flavor. Perfect for holiday gatherings, casual afternoons with a cup of tea, or simply a special homemade indulgence, this recipe uses simple ingredients to create something truly magical. Once you try The Best Sugar Cookies Recipe, it might just become your new favorite go-to cookie that you’ll want to bake repeatedly!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering these ingredients is a breeze, and each one plays a crucial role in crafting the perfect sugar cookie. The combination of fluff-inducing leavening agents, the rich butter, and the sweet sugar come together in harmony to create that beautiful texture and classic flavor we all adore.
- All-purpose flour: The base of the cookies, providing structure and that tender crumb you love.
- Baking powder: Adds a subtle lift to keep cookies light without being cakey.
- Baking soda: Helps with browning and adds a slight chewiness to the texture.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavors.
- Granulated white sugar: For sweetness and a slight crunch on the cookie’s surface.
- Unsalted butter: Gives richness and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth quality when properly softened.
- Egg: Binds everything together while helping create a tender bite.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warm, fragrant notes that elevate every bite.
- Extra granulated sugar: Used for rolling the dough balls, giving each cookie a wonderful sugary crust.
How to Make The Best Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper; this ensures easy cleanup and even baking. Then, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. This dry mix is essential to evenly distribute the leaveners and salt, which helps the cookies bake perfectly every time.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the very softened butter with the sugar on high speed until the mixture becomes light, creamy, and fluffy—about 1 to 2 minutes. This step is key because it incorporates air into the dough, giving you that delicate texture and lift the cookies are known for.
Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract on medium speed until the batter turns pale and fluffy, typically another 1 to 2 minutes. This enriches the dough, adding moisture and flavor, while ensuring everything blends smoothly for the perfect cookie dough consistency.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients with Wet
Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. Avoid over-mixing here to keep your cookies tender and prevent them from becoming tough.
Step 5: Shape and Coat the Dough
Use about a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough, then roll each portion into a ball. Coat each ball generously in the extra granulated sugar for that signature sparkle and delightful crunch on the outside.
Step 6: Arrange and Flatten the Dough Balls
Place the dough balls at least 2 inches apart on your baking sheets. Slightly flatten each ball and gently shape them into circles as best as you can. This gives the classic sugar cookie appearance and helps them bake evenly without puffing up too much.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Bake 6 to 8 cookies at a time for 9 to 10 minutes or until the edges turn a soft golden color. After baking, let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling time helps them firm up just right.
How to Serve The Best Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Once your sugar cookies are baked and cooled, you can jazz them up with a dusting of powdered sugar, colorful sprinkles, or a drizzle of melted chocolate. Freshly grated citrus zest or a thin layer of frosting can also add a delightful twist without overpowering their classic flavor.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a steaming cup of tea, a rich hot chocolate, or simply a cold glass of milk. If hosting a party, presenting a mix of cookies paired with coffee and dessert wines creates an irresistible spread that everyone will love.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking your cookies tied with a festive ribbon for a charming gift, or arrange them as a centerpiece on a decorative platter with seasonal fruit and nuts. You can also sandwich two cookies together with your favorite jam or buttercream for an elegant twist on the classic bite.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your leftover sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to preserve their soft texture and delicious flavor. They typically stay fresh for up to a week, making them perfect for enjoying over several days.
Freezing
You can freeze the unbaked dough balls individually on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, allow them to thaw slightly and bake as directed for freshly baked cookies any time you want.
Reheating
If you want to enjoy the cookies warm again, pop them in a microwave for about 10 seconds or reheat briefly in a preheated oven at 300°F for a few minutes. This refreshes their soft texture and brings back that just-baked delight.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, you can use salted butter, but reduce or omit the additional salt in the recipe to avoid overly salty cookies. Unsalted butter gives more control over the salt level, but salted will still give delicious results.
Why should the butter be very softened?
Very softened butter creams better with sugar, trapping air and creating the fluffy texture that makes these cookies so tender and light. Butter that’s too cold won’t mix well, and melted butter can make the dough too loose.
Can I make these cookies vegan or dairy-free?
Substitutions like vegan butter and egg replacers can be experimented with, but this may change the texture and flavor. For best results, stick to the original ingredients or seek a dedicated vegan sugar cookie recipe.
What if my cookies spread too much?
Make sure your butter is not too warm or melted, and chill the dough slightly before baking if needed. Also, measure flour accurately and don’t over-flatten the dough balls to help cookies hold their shape better.
How do I get my sugar cookies perfectly soft?
Do not overbake your cookies—remove them once the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft. Cooling them on the baking sheet also helps them set without becoming hard.
Final Thoughts
There’s something so comforting and joyful about baking The Best Sugar Cookies Recipe and sharing the results with loved ones. This recipe delivers every time with its simple, trusty ingredients and foolproof method. Whether it’s your first time baking cookies or you’re a seasoned pro, I’m confident these sugar cookies will brighten your day and become a beloved favorite. So grab your mixing bowl, roll up your sleeves, and treat yourself to a batch—you really deserve it!
Print
The Best Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These classic sugar cookies are soft, tender, and perfectly sweet, making them the best treat for any occasion. They’re easy to prepare with a simple dough that is rolled in sugar before baking to create a delightful, slightly crisp exterior and a chewy center.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups (344 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, very softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For Rolling
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated white sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and to ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on high speed to cream the very softened butter and 1 cup sugar together for 1-2 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which adds air for a tender texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract on medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes, which enriches the flavor and helps with the cookie structure.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Shape the Dough: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough and roll each portion into a ball. Roll each dough ball in the 1/4 cup granulated sugar to give the cookies a sweet, slightly crunchy coating.
- Arrange and Flatten: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Slightly flatten each ball and shape into circles as best as possible for even baking and uniform shape.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake 6-8 cookies at a time for 9-10 minutes until the edges are set and slightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your perfect sugar cookies!
Notes
- Ensure the butter is very softened at room temperature for easy creaming with sugar.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to keep the cookies tender.
- Flattening the dough balls slightly before baking helps achieve a classic sugar cookie shape.
- For chewier cookies, bake for the lower end of the time range; for crisper cookies, bake a little longer.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to a week.
