Description
This classic sugar cookie recipe yields perfectly shaped, deliciously tender cookies that don’t spread while baking. Made with unsalted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, these cookies are ideal for decorating with buttercream or royal icing, making them perfect for holidays or everyday treats.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (297 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 cups (17 ounces) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Prepare Flour: Place the flour in a bowl and set it aside for later use.
- Cream Butter: In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar: Gradually add the granulated sugar to the butter and mix until fully combined.
- Add Eggs: Add eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition to ensure proper incorporation without overmixing.
- Add Flavorings and Leavening: Mix in the vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder until evenly distributed in the dough.
- Add Flour: Add the flour one cup at a time, mixing on low just until the dough comes together without visible streaks of flour to avoid toughness.
- Divide and Roll Dough: Divide the dough into three discs and roll each one out evenly on a floured mat or surface using rolling pin rings to maintain uniform thickness.
- Freeze Dough: Stack the rolled dough mats and place them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to firm up the dough for easy cutting and shape retention.
- Cut and Bake: Cut out desired cookie shapes, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake for 6-9 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
Notes
- Use unsalted butter to have precise control over the salt content and avoid overly salty cookies.
- Measure flour by weight to ensure consistent cookie texture and prevent dryness.
- Rolling the dough before freezing saves time as the dough does not require warming before cutting shapes.
- If using small cookie cutters, allow the dough to warm slightly after freezing to prevent breaking.
- Use rolling pin rings to achieve even dough thickness and perfectly shaped cookies.
- Do not overmix the dough to avoid incorporating excess air that can cause collapsing and bubbles during baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-9 minutes per batch
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: sugar cookie, classic sugar cookie, cutout cookies, holiday cookies, sugar cookie recipe, perfect sugar cookies
