Description
This Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Recipe produces classic, soft and slightly crisp cookies perfect for any occasion. Easy to make and fun to decorate, these cookies have a tender crumb and a subtly sweet vanilla-almond flavor. Ideal for holiday decorating, parties, or gifting, the dough chills well and can be rolled out for precise cut shapes. Decorate with icing, sprinkles, or colored sugar to add your personal touch to each cookie.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
For Decorating (Optional)
- Icing
- Sprinkles
- Colored sugar
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside for later.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well incorporated.
- Add Egg and Flavors: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until everything is fully combined and the batter is smooth.
- Combine Dough: Gradually incorporate the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Chill Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions, flatten each into a disc, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days to firm up.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Sheets: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut your desired shapes and place the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn a light golden color, ensuring not to overbake for softer cookies.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once fully cooled, decorate as desired with icing, sprinkles, or colored sugar to give your cookies a festive touch.
Notes
- For crispier cookies, roll dough slightly thinner before baking.
- For softer cookies, watch the baking time carefully and avoid overbaking.
- Use royal icing or a simple powdered sugar glaze for decorating.
- Un-decorated cookies freeze well for up to 2 months; decorate after thawing.
