Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe

Baking these cookies is like a cozy hug from the kitchen, blending classic flavors with a subtle hint of almond. As a millennial, I appreciate how effortlessly the ingredients come together, creating a soft and delightful treat that’s perfect for sharing—if you can resist keeping them all to yourself.

These sugar cookies with vanilla are a sweet and simple delightful treat. They melt in your mouth with the richness of unsalted butter and the classic flavor of vanilla extract.

I love that they use all-purpose flour and buttermilk for a perfect cookie texture.

Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: Provides structure and bulk through starch and gluten.
• Baking soda: A leavening agent that helps cookies rise.
• Baking powder: Works with baking soda for optimal lift.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and moisture, key for flavor.
• White sugar: Sweetens and aids in cookie browning.
• Egg: Binds ingredients; adds moisture and richness.
• Vanilla extract: Provides aromatic sweetness and depth of flavor.
• Almond extract: Enhances flavor with a nutty, fragrant note.
• Buttermilk: Adds moisture, tang; helps with softness.
• Extra sugar: Delivers additional sweetness and texture.

Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe Ingredient Quantities

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 to 4 tablespoons buttermilk
• Extra sugar for rolling (optional)

How to Make this Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe

1. Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prep a baking sheet with parchment.

2. In a bowl of medium size, combine and mix thoroughly the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Put this mixture aside.

3. In a very big bowl, mix together with a hand mixer, softened butter and sugar until fluffy and light.

4. Combine well the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract with beating.

5. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing until just brought together.

6. Add the buttermilk one tablespoon at a time, and mix until the dough is soft and pliable. You may not need all the buttermilk.

7. If you want, take tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them in additional sugar before putting them on the baking sheet you prepared.

8. Position the dough balls approximately 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

9. Preheat the oven. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Golden around the edges? You should be good to go!

10. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe Equipment Needed

1. Oven
2. Baking sheet
3. Parchment paper
4. Medium-sized mixing bowl
5. Large mixing bowl
6. Hand mixer
7. Measuring cups
8. Measuring spoons
9. Spatula
10. Wire rack

FAQ

• Q:Is it possible to use regular milk in place of buttermilk? A: Regular milk can stand in for buttermilk, but your cookies may end up slightly less tender. Instead of trying to make your cookies as tender as possible, you might as well accept the rigor that cookie dough demands.
• Q:Is it alright to leave out the almond extract? A: It is perfectly fine to leave out the almond extract or replace it with an equal amount of pure vanilla extract if you do not wish to use almond extract.
• Q:Is it necessary for me to chill the dough prior to baking it?
  Chilling the dough is optional but can help keep the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
• Q:What’s the best way to ensure the butter is softened properly?
  A: Before using, let the butter sit out at room temperature for about an hour or microwave it on a low setting for 10-15 seconds. The butter should be soft but not melted.
• Q:How do I know when the cookies are done?
  A: The cookies are finished when the sides have just begun to turn a golden brown. The middles may appear slightly undercooked but will firm up as they cool.
• Q:Are these cookies freezable? A: Affirmative. The cookies are freezable. Once baked, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months. The dough is also freezable, should you want to bake the cookies at a later date.

Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations

For all-purpose flour, you can substitute with gluten-free all-purpose baking mix in a 1:1 ratio.
Use salted butter in place of unsalted butter; just reduce the salt added in the recipe where necessary.
Substitute white sugar with brown sugar for a slightly different taste and feel.
To make buttermilk substitute from regular milk, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.

Use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar with regular milk to substitute buttermilk.

Pro Tips

1. Chill the Dough: For thicker and chewier cookies, consider chilling the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before scooping and baking. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.