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This sugar cookie recipe makes a melt-in-your-mouth, soft, chewy cookie that doesn’t spread. Perfect for rolled or cut-out cookies!
Sugar cookies are delicious diet ruining little fiends and I love them so much. These were inspired by the Publix sugar cookie recipe that I am mildly obsessed with. Enjoy them after a yummy chicken spaghetti dinner!
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Sugar Cookie Recipe
Sugar Cookie Recipe
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Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- Flour – All purpose (not self rising!)
- Baking powder – Make sure you don’t grab baking soda.
- Sugar – Granulated (not powdered sugar).
- Salt – Regular table salt.
- Butter – Salted/softened. (Unsalted butter works too, if you prefer).
- Egg – Large.
- Vanilla extract – Real vanilla extract, not imitation.
Flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, butter, egg, vanilla.
How do you make homemade sugar cookies? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, in a large bowl mix together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt.
⭐ Then, cream together butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. Add in egg and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add flour mixture, mix well.
⭐ Next, roll dough into a log wrapped in plastic wrap, allow to chill until dough is firm.
⭐ Finally, slice cookie log and place slices on a parchment paper or silpat lined cookie sheet. Bake until just barely done.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl, then cream together the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix into dough.
Preparation
How do you keep sugar cookies from losing their shape?
Keep your cookies from spreading by chilling your dough before baking. This recipe holds it’s shape really well, even without chilling, but some time in the fridge makes them perfect.
Do you have to chill sugar cookie dough?
No! You can absolutely make these without chilling. They only require chilling if you want them to keep their shape exactly. I love making these, rolling them in sugar, and popping directly into the oven.
How do you make sugar cookies more flavorful?
I love a plain vanilla sugar cookie, but if you want a little more pizazz try adding flavor with extracts (like almond extract, cherry, citrus), or roll in crushed peppermint, or even mix in some fresh lime or lemon zest.
Do you put sprinkles on sugar cookies before or after baking?
If you want the sprinkles directly on the cookie then roll in sprinkles, or press sprinkles into the dough, before baking.
Alternately, you can put sprinkles onto iced cookies after they’re baked. Make sure to add the sprinkles quickly as they will not stick to hardened icing.
Roll dough into a tube shape, wrap and chill. Then cut cookie slices.
Storage and leftovers
How long do sugar cookies last?
The baked cookies will last 1 – 2 weeks at room temperature in a cool/dry environment, when stored in a sealed airtight container. If you will not be able to finish them in that amount of time, they can be frozen.
Can you freeze homemade sugar cookies?
Yes, they can be frozen before or after baking. If freezing the dough before baking, either into a log and wrap tightly in plastic wrap then again in a sealed bag or foil, or make your cookie shapes and freeze the dough on a pan. When the cookie dough shapes are frozen, transfer them to a freezer safe container.
Frozen cut outs will stay good for up to a month, and a frozen log will stay good for up to three months. After that time they will still be safe to bake/eat, but the quality will deteriorate.
To freeze after baking, allow the cookies to cool completely, then store in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
How do you defrost cookie dough?
For best results, defrost in the refrigerator overnight. To defrost cookie dough quickly, use a sharp knife to slice your frozen cookie dough into discs then place them on your lined baking sheet. The sliced dough will thaw quickly and then you can bake it.
Can you bake frozen sugar cookie dough?
Yes, place the frozen dough on a lined baking sheet and bake for 2 – 3 minutes longer than the recipe recommends.
Place slices on a lined baking sheet.
Tips and tricks for the best sugar cookies
Stop the spread
If you want the dough to keep its shape (as pictured in this recipe), chill the dough for several hours before baking. If making cut-out shapes, chill the dough on the baking sheet after it has been cut out.
Add some flare
Roll your cookies in colored sugar or sprinkles for a fun look and some added texture. Or add a drop or two of food coloring to the dough!
How long to bake soft sugar cookies?
Soft sugar cookies and chewy sugar cookies are the best! Make sure you bake them to just barely done (about 10 minutes, 8 for smaller cookies) so they get the perfect texture. If they’ve browned you’ve left them in too long.
How thick do I roll sugar cookies?
We like ours between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. You can roll them, or slice them, or even roll into balls and press with a fork or your hand!
Bake until just done, don’t let them brown!
Cut out sugar cookie recipe
This recipe is perfect for cut out cookies too because it holds shape beautifully. To make cut-out sugar cookies, roll the dough thin (between 1/4 and 1/2 inches thick) on a floured surface with a rolling pin.
Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and place them on a lined baking sheet. Chill the sheet for at least 30 minutes, until dough is stiff. Then bake as directed.
Frosting your sugar cookies
You can use royal icing for sugar cookies (this is traditional), but honestly I’m partial to cream cheese icing! I like to add a little extra powdered sugar to the frosting recipe so it will harden.
Enjoy as is, or add icing and sprinkles.
What to eat with easy sugar cookies (serving suggestions)
Well, I’m partial to a hot cup of coffee or tea with mine. And if I’m feeling fancy, a mug of peppermint mocha. Yum. Or enjoy them after a healthy dinner of turkey meatloaf and roasted carrots!
These cookies hold their shape beautifully!
Other amazing cookie recipes
- Sugar cookie peppermint sticks
- Homemade butter cookies
- Holiday cookie recipe
- Easy peanut butter blossoms
- Cookies and cream cookies
- Chocolate cake mix cookies
- See all our homemade cookie recipes!
They will keep up to a week at room temp or for several months in the freezer.
More desserts to enjoy
- Pistachio fluff recipe
- Homemade cheese danish
- Cake balls recipe
- 7 layer magic bars
- See all our easy dessert ideas!
They make a wonderful new neighbor gift. 🎁
Tools we love
- Baking sheets – This set is perfect, we use them for everything from roasting, to baking, and even serving.
- Silicone baking mats– I always always always line with these, nothing sticks!
😍😍😍
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How to Make Sugar Cookies
Sugar Cookie Recipe
This sugar cookie recipe makes a melt-in-your-mouth, soft, chewy cookie that doesn't spread. Perfect for rolled or cut-out cookies!
4.94 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sugar cookie recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
chill time: 2 hours hours
Total Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 3 dozen
Calories: 97kcal
Author: April Woods
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
Cream together butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. Add in egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.
Add flour mixture, mix well.
Roll dough into a log wrapped in plastic wrap, allow to chill for at least 2 hours or until dough is firm.
Slice cookie log into ¼" to ½" slices and place on cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes (10 was perfect for us).
Video
Notes
Yields about 3 dozen cookies.
Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients.
This recipe is adapted from the official Publix sugar cookie recipe.
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Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 97kcal
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Sugar Cookie Recipe
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