Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a holiday essential.  These cookies are so tender and buttery! As far as I’m concerned, they are perfection.  

A plate of Christmas sugar cookies.

They don’t spread when baking and are so easy to mix up. We make these every year during the Holidays, but my daughter has decided she only likes decorating now.  

She no longer enjoys rolling and cutting the dough.  That job is all mine now, yay!  It’s kind of sad, really.

Sugar Cookie dough rolled out with cookie cutters placed on it.

Why this Recipe

  • They are the perfect sugar cookie! Buttery, tender, slightly crispy, and delicious.
  • They don’t spread when baking.
  • Great for gift giving!

How to Make Sugar Cookies

Just mix the dough and refrigerate for about 2 hours.  

Spread out some confectioner’s sugar, roll the dough out and cut it into desired shapes. I suggest a counter or heavy wood board for rolling the dough.  It’s very cold and stiff, which means a pastry mat will slide around and just frustrate the heck out of you.  (Believe me, I know from experience.)  I use my Boos Board and love it!

Cookies on a silicone baking mat.

You can place them about one inch apart, they don’t spread. (I was informed I had to share with you all that my daughter did ALL of the decorating)  She did an excellent job, right?

Cookies on a silicone baking mat.

Pop them in the oven for 7 to 9 minutes, let cool for a few minutes and move to a cooling rack. Done!

We updated this post Cut-Out Sugar Cookies here.

Sugar Cookies on a white plate.

I was also informed I had to share with you she took this photo.  Another excellent job! Right?

A plate of Christmas sugar cookies.

Sugar Cookies Recipe

This is the only recipe you will ever need. Buttery, tender sugar cookies.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cookie, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
Servings: 36
Calories: 114kcal
Author: Leigh Harris

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Powdered sugar for rolling out dough

Instructions

  • Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color.
  • Add egg and heavy cream and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl.
  • Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar.
  • Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. (If dough has warmed during rolling, place the cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill.)
  • Cut into the desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on parchment/silicone lined baking sheet. Decorate with colored sugars.
  • Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges. Let sit on baking sheet for about 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on awire rack.

Notes

You can also decorate with icing after cooling if desired.
The number of cookies yielded will depend on the size of your cookie cutters.

Nutrition

Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 170IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Recipe adapted from Alton Brown.

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13 Comments

  1. Sugar cookies are such a Christmas classic and yours look beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us at the Hearth and Soul Hop! Happy New Year!

  2. Your cookies are just beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a great holiday season!
    Come Back Soon,
    Miz Helen5 stars

  3. We love sugar cookies at my house too, these sound delicious and your daughter did a fantastic job decorating and photographing! Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend? Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

  4. Your daughter did an amazing job decorating, probably a lot better than what I would have done! Also, I’ve never tried using powdered sugar instead of flour to roll the dough out on. I must try that next time!

    Thanks for linking up at Manic Monday!!5 stars

  5. These are so pretty! We haven’t made sugar cookie cutouts in awhile because it’s hard to find a dough recipe that will stay together – I look forward to trying yours out!

    Kelly @ abrilliantpurpose.com

    1. Kelly, I hope you enjoy these cookies. This recipe has never failed me and we use it all the time. Thank you for stopping by!

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