These sugar cookies offer a delightful fusion of rich, creamy butter with a gentle sweetness that comes from granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla. Blended with tender all purpose flour, a pinch of baking powder, and salt, these luxurious treats create a soft, thick texture perfect for artful decoration and memorable indulgence.
I’ve been testing different sugar cookie recipes for a while now and honestly, this is the only one you need. I started off using 1 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature, 1 cup granulated sugar, and a large egg to form a rich, velvety base.
Adding 1 teaspoon vanilla extract gave it that classic aroma while 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour helped create the soft, thick dough that bakes evenly. I also used 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt to bring out the flavors and texture.
Nutritionally, these cookies are a denser treat thanks to the butter and sugar but they fit nicely into a short burst of energy, making them a perfect indulgence around Christmas time. Its consistent texture makes it a fun way to decorate during the holidays and one of my favorite easy Christmas cookie recipes to bake when im ready for a simple baking session.
Enjoy experimenting and making it your own.
Why I Like this Recipe
I like this recipe because it’s super simple and doesn’t need a ton of ingredients so I never feel overwhelmed when I’m baking. I also really like how the butter and sugar mix create the best soft texture – it just makes the cookies so rich and yummy. Another thing is that it’s perfect for decorating, like, you can totally add your own twist if you want to make them look extra special. And finally, I love that the recipe is kind of flexible – even if my measurements are a little off sometimes, it still turns out tasty every time.
Ingredients
- Butter: rich fat, adds moist, tender texture and flavor to cookies.
- Sugar: provides sweetness and structure through caramelization during baking.
- Egg: supplies protein, moisture, and acts as a natural binder in the dough.
- Vanilla: enhances the overall taste with a warm, inviting aroma.
- Flour: offers carbohydrates that form the cookie’s body and structure.
- Baking powder: a leavening agent that gives cookies a soft, airy rise.
- Salt: intensifies flavors and balances the natural sweetness of the dough.
Ingredient Quantities
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
How to Make this
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until they are really well mixed in.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring slowly until the dough just comes together.
6. If the dough feels too sticky, chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before shaping.
7. Sprinkle a little flour onto a clean surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut out your desired shapes.
8. Transfer the cut shapes to your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1/2 inch between each cookie.
9. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the edges start to look slightly golden and the centers are soft.
10. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Equipment Needed
1. Oven – you need one that can be preheated to 350°F
2. Baking sheet – to place your cookies on, lined with parchment paper
3. Parchment paper – protects your baking sheet and helps prevent sticking
4. Large mixing bowl – for creaming the butter and sugar
5. Mixer – either an electric or hand mixer to beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
6. Medium bowl – to mix together the all purpose flour, baking powder and salt
7. Whisk – to combine the dry ingredients thoroughly
8. Refrigerator – optional but useful for chilling the dough if it gets too sticky
9. Rolling pin – for rolling out your dough evenly on a lightly floured surface
10. Cookie cutters – in any shape you like, to cut out your dough
11. Spatula – handy for transferring the cut out cookies onto the baking sheet
12. Cooling rack – lets your cookies cool evenly once they come out of the oven
These tools help ensure the cookies bake evenly so they retain the intended texture and nutritional value.
FAQ
Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- For unsalted butter, try using an equal amount of margarine or coconut oil. They work pretty well though you might notice a slight change in taste
- If you dont have granulated sugar, you could use coconut sugar or even a bit of honey – just keep in mind that might affect the cookie consistency a bit
- If you’re short on eggs, you can replace one large egg with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or a flax egg mix (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water)
- Instead of vanilla extract, you might want to try almond extract or a touch of maple syrup to give a different kind of flavor
Pro Tips
1. Make sure your butter is really soft but not melted cause if it’s too liquid it can ruin the texture of your cookies.
2. When you mix the dry ingredients in, be careful not to overmix the dough or it may end up chewy instead of soft.
3. If the dough seems sticky, chill it for about 30 minutes – trust me, it’ll be way easier to shape without leaving too many marks.
4. Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment so it doesnt stick to the rolling pin, and you can get even thickness every time.
Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies Recipe
My favorite Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Oven – you need one that can be preheated to 350°F
2. Baking sheet – to place your cookies on, lined with parchment paper
3. Parchment paper – protects your baking sheet and helps prevent sticking
4. Large mixing bowl – for creaming the butter and sugar
5. Mixer – either an electric or hand mixer to beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
6. Medium bowl – to mix together the all purpose flour, baking powder and salt
7. Whisk – to combine the dry ingredients thoroughly
8. Refrigerator – optional but useful for chilling the dough if it gets too sticky
9. Rolling pin – for rolling out your dough evenly on a lightly floured surface
10. Cookie cutters – in any shape you like, to cut out your dough
11. Spatula – handy for transferring the cut out cookies onto the baking sheet
12. Cooling rack – lets your cookies cool evenly once they come out of the oven
These tools help ensure the cookies bake evenly so they retain the intended texture and nutritional value.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until they are really well mixed in.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring slowly until the dough just comes together.
6. If the dough feels too sticky, chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before shaping.
7. Sprinkle a little flour onto a clean surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut out your desired shapes.
8. Transfer the cut shapes to your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1/2 inch between each cookie.
9. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the edges start to look slightly golden and the centers are soft.
10. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
