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Home || Recipes || Dessert || Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Jan 27, 2022 · 445 Comments

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Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe is really just that- PERFECT. These sugar cookies come together quickly with only 6 ingredients; butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour and baking powder. The cookies keep shape while baking, are soft and chewy, plus there is NO chilling! This Sugar Cookie recipe is PERFECTION!

roll and cut sugar cookies, baked and stacked for photo

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Everyone needs a good staple sugar cookie recipe. Trust me, this is THEE sugar cookie recipe for you! 

Sugar Cookies are my husband’s favorite, I have been making them for years! I’ve tweaked this recipe little by little until it became absolute perfection.. I haven’t messed with this recipe the past 3 years now because it is THAT good. 

Even better news? This is 100% beginner friendly. It is nearly impossible to mess this recipe up! It is so forgiving! 

Ingredients in Sugar Cookies

  • 1 cup butter (I usually just use salted butter, because that is what I always keep on hand!)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla 
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder

Yes, that is it!! Only 6 ingredients that I bet you have on hand right now!

How Sugar Cookies are Made

Making your sugar cookie dough is so simple. First, I’d recommend using a stand mixer if you have one. If not, an electric hand mixer will work, too. 

The first step is to cream the butter and sugar together for a full 2 minutes. You want this extremely light and fluffy! Next, scrape sides and add in your egg and vanilla. Finally, add in your flour and baking powder. 

The dough will look dry, just keep mixing. Mix, mix, mix and it will come together! If it does’t come together, you can add water to the dough 1 tsp at a time. The dough should be the same consistency as play-doh. If it is too dry, add some water. If it is too wet, add some flour. This dough is SO forgiving. 

Sugar cookies rolled out and cut with a cookie cutter

How Thick to Roll and Cut Sugar Cookies

For this recipe, what you cut is what you get. (Hallelujah, right?) They will not spread, they will not rise. If the cookies are smaller, I will roll a little thinner, about 1/4 of an inch. If I am making large, 4-inch round cookies (like pictured here) I roll them out closer to 1/2 inch thick. 

How to make Soft Sugar Cookies

The key to making soft sugar cookies is this- do not over bake them! This recipe will yield a very soft and chewy cookie as long as they are not over baked. Keep a close eye on the cookies, you’ll want to pull them out of the oven when the tops are no longer glossy and they have puffed up. If you wait until the edges start turning golden brown, they are overcooked!

Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. 

sugar cookies, after they have been baked on the pan

What Frosting should I use on my Sugar Cookies?

I always, always, always  frost my sugar cookies with a crusting vanilla buttercream. This cookie will hold up to Royal Icing if that is what you prefer to use. I like buttercream because, to me, it tastes better and it is so much faster and easier! 

How to Decorate Sugar Cookies

Decorating sugar cookies is the best part! This is really where they take on personality. Sometimes I just frost them, sometimes I add sprinkles. Pretty piped flowers happen a lot, too. Sometimes I go really overboard, though. Like on holidays. Holidays are meant for overboard cookies, right? 

Check out some fun holiday inspired sugar cookie decorations below! 

sugar cookies decorated for particular holidays like Christmas, valentines day and easter

How to store Sugar Cookies

Store un-frosted sugar cookies in an air tight container until ready to frost. They can be stacked and just placed in a zip top bag. If you want to store frosted sugar cookies just overnight until you are ready to serve them, I usually just leave them on my counter and put plastic wrap over the cookies and try to seal it onto the counter. 

For ‘long-term’ storing, store in an air tight container, preferably without stacking, for 3-4 days. 

Can I freeze Sugar Cookies?

Yes. My sister freezes her sugar cookies all the time! They never last that long at my house. 😉 She freezes them with the frosting on in separate zip top bags and then let’s them sit on the counter for 15 or so minutes before eating. 

The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

Here is a little recap of why this recipe is the recipe you need. Why it is, indeed, perfect and the best!

  1. The dough is super simple. Now that I have the recipe memorized, I can throw the dough together in 5 minutes flat.
  2. NO CHILLING THE DOUGH. I can’t be the only one who never has patience for dough chilling.. right?
  3. You want a horse sugar cookie? After these bake, you’ll still have a horse cookie. Not some lumpy unicorn looking thing. 😉 These cookies keep their shape!
  4. Soft, soft, soft, soft, SOFT.  Oh, and chewy.
  5. They are still sturdy, even though they are soft & chewy.
  6. The cookies are an amazing base for some serious frosting work. Here is my absolute favorite Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe!

The only Sugar Cookie Recipe you need! Holds shape, No chill time, Super soft!! I've been making these for years!! |Cooking with Karli| #sugarcookies #softcookies #soft #chewy #holdsshape #nochill

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More Cookie Recipes to enjoy!

  • Cookies made with Brownie Mix
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
  • Chocolate Cookies with Cheesecake Frosting
  • Raspberry Lemonade Sugar Cookies
  • Swig Sugar Cookies
  • Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
  • Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies
  • Christmas Sugar Cookies
  • Halloween Sugar Cookies
  • Twix Cookies
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • All Cookie Recipes
  • All Dessert Recipes
Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe is really just that- PERFECT. These sugar cookies come together quickly with only 6 ingredients; butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour and baking soda. The cookies keep shape while baking, are soft and chewy, plus there is NO refrigeration! This Sugar Cookie recipe is PERFECTION!

Perfect Sugar Cookies

Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe is really just that- PERFECT. These sugar cookies come together quickly with only 6 ingredients; butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour and baking powder. The cookies keep shape while baking, are soft and chewy, plus there is NO refrigeration! This Sugar Cookie recipe is PERFECTION!
4.59 from 235 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Keyword: sugar cookie recipes, sugar cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies
Calories: 107kcal
Author: Karli Bitner

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 batch Sugar Cookie Frosting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Cream together the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer for a full 3 minutes.
  • Scrape sides and add in vanilla and egg. Mix until combined.
  • Add flour and baking powder to the bowl. Mix slowly at first gradually getting faster until the dough comes together. The texture should be like Playdoh. Add a little flour or water if needed to get it to a soft, pliable consistency.
  • Turn out onto a floured surface. Use a rolling pin and roll until about 1/4 inch thick. (The cookies will not rise while baking, they will not get thinner while baking. Roll out to your desired FINISHED thickness.)
  • Use cookie cutters and cut out desired shapes. Transfer the cookies to a silicone lined cookie sheet.
  • Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes or until the centers are puffy and no longer glossy. Pull the cookies out of the oven BEFORE they start turning brown. If they turn brown, the cookie will be dry and 'crackery' instead of soft and chewy.
  • Frost with Sugar Cookie Frosting and Enjoy!

Notes

When gathering up the dough scraps, wet your hands and then 'knead' the dough until it is soft and playdoh like again. This dough is great to work with, there is no such thing as over kneading this dough!
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingwithkarli or tag #cookingwithkarli!

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 47mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.5mg

 

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ABOUT KARLI

This blog is a little glimpse into my kitchen, family & life. I hope you’ll giggle the days away with me and enjoy the craziness that goes on at my house. There isn’t ever a shortage of crazy. I can promise you that! Buckle up, keep your hand and legs inside at all times and enjoy the ride! Read more...

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Comments

  1. Karli Bitner says

    May 15, 2021 at 7:40 pm

    I amm so happy to hear you had a great experience with my recipe! Thanks for the comment!

  2. Karli Bitner says

    May 15, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    Hi Megan- Yes, you can do this! I would just defrost them at room temp for 15-20 mints before cooking. 🙂

  3. Karli Bitner says

    May 15, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    I am so happy to hear this! I am sure others will find this comment valuable, too! Thanks, Jessica!

  4. Karli Bitner says

    May 15, 2021 at 8:31 pm

    You have my blessing to call it your own for posterity. 😉

  5. Karli Bitner says

    May 15, 2021 at 8:43 pm

    I don’t see why not!

  6. Daniella says

    September 30, 2021 at 8:47 am

    Hi,
    Which paddle should I be using while prepping everything?

  7. Ashley says

    October 24, 2021 at 7:04 pm

    Has anyone tried this with a butter substitute?? This is my absolute favorite cookie recipe but we are having an event with an attendee who has a dairy allergy so I’m trying to find a good substitute! Thank you!

  8. Cooking with Karli says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:44 pm

    Scrapper paddle

  9. Lisa says

    December 11, 2021 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    These are Amazing! Thank you! 🥰

  10. Lenore says

    December 12, 2021 at 6:12 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this recipe this morning. It is so delicious!
    I don’t think it even needs frosting.
    Thank you for a great cookie recipe!!

  11. Brittney says

    December 16, 2021 at 9:05 pm

    5 stars
    I absolutely love this recipe. I have always hated making sugar cookies until I found your recipe. Now I do add a teaspoon of almond extract instead of 2 of vanilla. I also got a nonstick mat to roll these out on so I do t have to mess with extra flour. I love these cookies, this is my go to recipe over my grandmas (sorry grandma)!

  12. Elaine says

    December 19, 2021 at 4:32 pm

    The beginning of the recipe states to mix for a full 2 minutes then the instructions further down state 3 minutes. Which is correct?

    Thanks

  13. Karli Bitner says

    December 20, 2021 at 10:54 am

    2 minutes- I’ll get that fixed, thanks!

  14. Karli Bitner says

    December 20, 2021 at 11:06 am

    I am so glad you liked it, Lenore!

  15. Mary says

    December 20, 2021 at 2:06 pm

    I saved this recipe last year and baked a batch this morning. They are truly my favorite sugar cookies. So flaky and yum!

  16. Lenore says

    December 29, 2021 at 11:15 am

    5 stars
    This is THE BEST sugar cookie recipe! It will be the only one I use going forward! We love them without any frosting on them. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I had them for breakfast a few mornings.

  17. Stacey says

    January 22, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    5 stars
    Excited to try these cookies. I’ve been wanting to decorate some using Royal Icing…can’t wait!

  18. Alyssa says

    January 27, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    Do you use unsalted butter?

  19. Alvina Johnson says

    April 23, 2022 at 3:23 am

    Baker I am not, but these seemed simple (too simple) and they turned out!!!!! Thanks.
    (But is it 1 or 2 tsp of Vanilla – wording says 1, recipe says 2?)

  20. Brianna says

    May 2, 2022 at 7:54 pm

    I’ve made this recipe twice. So easy to roll and cut out cookies! Do you usually use salted or unsalted butter?

    Thanks!

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About Karli

This blog is a little glimpse into my kitchen, family & life. I hope you’ll giggle the days away with me and enjoy the craziness that goes on at my house.

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