The Best Sugar Cookies (Recipe & Video)

I absolutely love crafting these soft sugar cookies because they deliver a brilliant blend of crisp edges and a tender interior. The mix of flour, butter, sugar, and vanilla creates a dough perfect for cutting into shapes and decorating with icing. It’s a treat that always hits the sweet spot.

I discovered these cookies when I was searching for an easy delicious sugar cookie recipe that really works. I mixed 2 3/4 cups of all purpose flour with 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt then creamed 1 cup softened unsalted butter with 1 cup granulated sugar.

I added one large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract next. The result is a batch of cut out sugar cookies that have crisp edges and thick centers.

They might be a bit high in calories because of the butter and sugar but you get plenty of energy along with a satisfying sweet treat. I tried a couple of cookie recipe videos and Sallys Baking style recipes, and this is one of my best sugar cookie recipes yet.

I really enjoy decorating these with icing once they cool and I hope you love them as much as I do.

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because the cookies always turn out perfect for me – with crispy edges and soft centers that just hit the spot every time. I also really appreciate how simple the ingredients are; since I can find everything at home or in a local store, it makes baking way less stressful. Another thing is that making these cookies is fun and creative. I love that I can decorate them with icing however I want, even if I mess up sometimes, they still taste great. Lastly, I enjoy that even if my mixing isn’t perfect, the recipe is forgiving so every batch still comes out delicious.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour mainly contributes carbohydrates and a little protein; it forms the cookie’s structure.
• Baking powder acts as a leavening agent and makes cookies rise to a soft, airy texture.
• Salt boosts flavours and balances the sweetness while adding needed minerals for taste.
• Butter gives rich flavour and tender texture though its high fats and calories can be a downside.
• Sugar sweetens the cookies and provides moisture and carbohydrates for that amazing finish.
• Egg binds the ingredients together and adds a slight protein kick its richness smoothes the dough.
• Vanilla extract enhances aroma and flavour, offering a warm sweet note that rounds out the cookie.

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make this

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, mix together 2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt then set this aside.

3. In a separate big bowl, cream 1 cup of softened unsalted butter with 1 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture looks light and fluffy.

4. Beat in one large egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until everything is well combined.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and stir until just mixed; don’t over mix or you’ll end up with tough cookies.

6. Scoop out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick, then cut into your favorite shapes.

7. Carefully place the cut-out dough pieces onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them a little bit apart.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are slightly crisp and the centers are still a bit soft.

9. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

10. Once completely cooled, decorate the cookies with icing if you’d like and enjoy your awesome sugar cookies.

Equipment Needed

1. Preheated oven with a baking sheet covered in parchment paper
2. A small bowl to mix together the dry ingredients
3. A large bowl for creaming the butter and sugar
4. Measuring cups and spoons to get the right amounts
5. An electric mixer (or a hand mixer) to cream and beat the ingredients
6. A spatula for stirring and scraping the bowl
7. A rolling pin to roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface
8. Cookie cutters or a knife to cut the dough into shapes
9. A cooling rack to let the cookies cool evenly

FAQ

The Best Sugar Cookies (Recipe & Video) Substitutions and Variations

• All-purpose flour: You can try a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend instead, but you might need to adjust a little bit of liquid since these flours can behave differntly.
• Baking powder: If you dont have any, you can use 1/3 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar to mimic the leavening power, just mix it into your dry ingredients.
• Unsalted butter: Feel free to swap this for an equal amount of coconut oil or even salted butter, just remember to cut down on added salt a bit if you use salted butter.
• Granulated sugar: You could use packed light brown sugar instead, since it adds a touch of moisture and a bit of molasses flavor though it might make the cookies a tad chewier.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure your butter is at room temp before you start because it helps it cream better and gives your cookies a light texture.
2. Be super cautious when you’re mixing the dough; stir it just enough because if you over mix it, your cookies will get tough and lose that soft center.
3. Dust your work surface lightly with flour, but not too much, so the dough doesn’t stick when you’re rolling it out and cut your shapes easier.
4. Let your cookies cool on the tray for a few minutes before moving them. This lets them firm up a bit, which makes them less likely to break when you move them to a cooling rack.