Sugar cookies has been a favorite treat forever, loved for being simple and sweet. These classic cookies show up at holiday parties, bake sales and family get-togethers, making both kids and grownups grin. They’re soft and you can leave them plain or slap on some colorful icing and sprinkle things, so you can really go wild with designs. But since life gets busy quick, you want a recipe that’s fast and easy, whether you’re new to baking or you’ve done it a bunch of times.
In this article you’ll find a no-fuss sugar cookie recipe for busy bakers. Maybe you’ve got a last-minute party to prep for or maybe you just crave something sweet at home, we got you covered. We’ll talk about what ingredients you need, how to pick good ones, and step-by-step how to put it all together so your cookies turn out great. Plus we’ve got ideas for icing and storing so they stay fresh. Let’s get started and make some tasty memories!
Key Ingredient Insights
To make perfect sugar cookies you gotta know what each ingredient does. Here’s the lowdown on what you need:
- Flour: All-purpose flour gives your cookies the right structure so they don’t turn into crumbs.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness and a bit of crunch, while powdered sugar makes icing smooth.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is best cause it adds rich flavour and makes cookies soft and chewy.
- Eggs: One egg holds everything together and keeps the dough moist.
- Baking powder: This little leavener helps your cookies puff up so they’re light instead of dense.
- Vanilla extract: A dash of vanilla boosts the overall flavour and makes them taste homemade.
When you shop for these, pick the freshest butter and pure vanilla if you can, it’ll make a big diffrence. Also sift your flour and powdered sugar to get rid of lumps and keep your dough smooth.
Step-by-Step Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe
Okay, now that you got your stuff, here’s how to whip up these cookies. Follow each step so they come out right!
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, soften
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Step-by-Step Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe
Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients, it’s time to dive into the easy sugar cookie recipe. Follow this straightforward process to create delicious sugar cookies that you can decorate or enjoy as is!
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Directions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Put it aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Use a mixer to beat the softened butter and sugar until it’s light and kinda fluffy.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Stir in the egg, vanilla (and almond extract if you want).
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the flour mix into the wet mix until just blended.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Shape and Bake: Roll dough on floured surface to about ¼ inch thick. Cut shapes, place on baking sheet, bake 8–10 min.
- Cooling and Decorating: Let cookies cool on wire rack before decorating with icing or sprinkles.
Baking Tips and Variations
Here’re some tips to get your cookies just right and some ways to mix it up:
- Prevent Spreading: Make sure butter isn’t too soft and don’t overmix the dough so they don’t spread too much.
- Color Variations: Add food coloring drops to the dough for bright, fun cookies.
- Alternate Add-ins: Chocolate chips, dried fruit or nuts can make fun twists on the plain sugar cookie.
Decorating Ideas
Decorating sugar cookies can be fun and easy. Try these ideas:
- Frosting Options: Royal icing for a smooth finish or buttercream if you like it richer.
- Simple Techniques: Flooding (thin icing covering the cookie) or piping for details.
- Themed Decorations: Snowflakes in winter or flowers in spring make them extra cute.
Storage and Freezing Tips
Keep your cookies fresh with these storage tricks:
- Storage: Put baked cookies in an airtight container at room temp up to a week.
- Freezing Cookie Dough: Roll dough into logs, wrap in plastic, pop in freezer bag.
- Freezing Baked Cookies: Freeze baked cookies in layers with parchment paper in between.
- Thawing Tips: Let frozen cookies warm up at room temp so they keep their texture.
Nutrition Information
If you’re watching what you eat, here’s a rough idea per cookie:
- Calories: About 150 calories each.
- Macronutrients: 6g fat, 20g carbs, 1g protein.
- Healthier Modifications: Use less sugar, swap in whole wheat flour or cut back butter for lighter cookies.
Conclusion
This easy sugar cookie recipe is great for everyone, from baking newbies to pros. With simple stuff and clear steps, you’ll have a plate full of yummy cookies in no time.
Give it a try, share your results and go wild with colors and flavors. Happy baking!
FAQs
Here’re some common questions about sugar cookies:
What is the secret to making sugar cookies soft?
Don’t overbake them. Take cookies out when edges just start to turn golden and cool them on the sheet a bit before moving them to a rack.
How long do sugar cookies stay fresh?
In an airtight container, they’ll stay fresh about 5–7 days at room temperature.
Can I make sugar cookies without baking powder?
Yes, but they’ll be denser. You can use baking soda if there’s an acid like cream of tartar to balance it.
What kind of frosting is best for sugar cookies?
Royal icing dries hard so you can add details. Buttercream is fine too if you want something creamier.
Can I freeze sugar cookies?
Yes, you can freeze both the dough and the baked cookies. Just keep them airtight so they don’t get freezer burn.
easy sugar cookie recipe
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 electric mixer or whisk
- 1 measuring cups
- 1 measuring spoons
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- 1 cooling rack
- 1 rolling pin (optional)
Ingredients
- 2.75 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 sticks
- 1.5 cups white sugar
- 1 each egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon almond extract optional
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and the 1 ½ cups of sugar using an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Roll the dough into balls about 1 inch in size, then roll each ball in the reserved ¾ cup of granulated sugar to coat.
- Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space between each cookie for spreading.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked, but they will set as they cool.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
