Easy Sugar Cookies
If you are craving a cookie to knock your socks off, look no further than these Easy Sugar Cookies. They seriously are the BEST sugar cookies around! An easy, made-from-scratch recipe that any level baker can prepare with excellent results. They’re the perfect combination of crisp edges and soft inside!
Why You’ll Love These Soft Sugar Cookies!
- The BEST sugar cookies! The cookies are melt-in-your-mouth goodness that you literally can’t stop eating. (Trust me…that’s a good thing!)
- Suitable for all levels of bakers! This recipe will have you baking like a pro in no time and you’ll be granted the title “cookie queen/king” as well.
- A cookie recipe that’s sure to wow your friends and family any time of year you arrive with a plate or two of these delicious sugar cookies!
- Watch them disappear! I guarantee as soon as you set the plate down on the table, hands will be grabbing them left and right!
Ingredients
The ingredients you use when baking is important to the results. Here’s a look at the main ingredients you need. The full list and quantities are in the recipe card.
- All-purpose flour: It’s super important to measure the flour correctly by using a spoon to add flour to the measuring cup and then a knife to level it off. Too much or too little flour can change the consistency of the cookie.
- Leavening: We will be using both baking soda and baking powder. Make sure that both are no more than 3 months old. If you’re using old baking soda and powder, the cookies won’t rise properly and will be FLAT.
- Salted butter: I am using salted butter for this recipe but if you prefer using unsalted butter, I suggest adding about 1/2-1 teaspoon of salt.
- Sugar: We will be using it to sweeten the cookies and to roll the dough balls before baking them. White granulated sugar is best because of its lack of color so you end up with light-colored cookies.
- Egg yolks: Just the yolks! The cookies will not turn out the same using whole eggs.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a bit of sweetness and warmth to your cookies.
How To Make Sugar Cookies
Let’s get baking with a quick look at the main steps for making sugar cookies! Get all the details in the recipe card.
- Beat. The butter and granulated sugar together using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. Then add the egg yolks and vanilla extract and mix into the butter and sugar mixture.
PRO TIP: Make sure your butter is at room temperature. If your butter is TOO WARM, it will also result in cookies that will SPREAD. So the best thing to do is let the butter sit out on the counter for at least 1 hour before you start baking and it will be perfect.
- Add. The flour and other dry ingredients and mix until just combined. DO NOT OVERMIX!
- Scoop. The cookie dough into balls with a cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop. Roll each ball in sugar and place them onto a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake. The cookies for 10-15 minutes or until the tops of the cookies start to crack. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Tips & Variations
- Don’t Over-mix the Dough. With almost all my cookie recipes, I always make sure to remind you to not OVERMIX the cookie dough. When you mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, only mix them together until just combined…you should still see some flour in your mixing bowl.
- Scoop the Perfect Cookie: I always use a 1 Tablespoon cookie scoop and each cookie dough ball uses “2 scoops” of cookie dough to make a cookie dough ball with two tablespoons of dough. In my opinion, this is the perfect-sized cookie. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, you can use an ice cream scooper but you will only need one ice cream scoop of cookie dough.
- Add Some Color. Roll the sugar cookies in colored sugar sprinkles before baking. This can be fun when baking them for holidays or special occasions.
- Use Room Temperature Butter. It will mix into the sugar much better when it’s at room temperature. Just make sure it’s not too warm, an hour at room temperature will do.
Serving Suggestions
Serve up sugar cookies any time of year or for the holidays! Here are some ideas for serving!
- Add Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. These cookies are delicious plain but if you want to add frosting on top I recommend this Sugar Cookie Frosting recipe.
- Create holiday cookie trays for gift-giving or to take along to a party! I like to combine them with M&M Cookies, holiday s’mores bars, and some Christmas cut-out cookies.
- As a special holiday treat, enjoy them with a mug of peppermint hot chocolate or a glass of eggnog.
Recipe FAQ
Can I roll these out and cut them with cookie cutters?
No, this recipe is for a simple round soft sugar cookie. If you want to make cutouts, I suggest using this recipe for cut-out sugar cookies.
Can you decorate these sugar cookies?
Yes, of course! You can frost them after they’re cooled or you can roll them in colored sugar before baking.
Do you need to chill the dough for these sugar cookies?
No, this recipe doesn’t require any chilling! You can mix and bake your cookies right away.
Storing
- Store. Cookies will stay fresh for up to 7 days in an airtight container, stored at room temperature. You can also freeze your cookies after baking them for up to one month.
- Freeze. Roll the dough into balls and place them in an airtight container. You can freeze the cookie dough for up to 2 months. To bake, place the frozen cookie dough balls onto a prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
More Cookie Recipes
- Sprinkle Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Potato Chip Cookies
- Orange Creamsicle Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Christmas Cut-Out Cookies
- M&M Peanut Butter Cookies
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Easy Sugar Cookies
If you are craving a cookie to knock your socks off, look no further than these Easy Sugar Cookies. They seriously are the BEST sugar cookies around! An easy, made-from-scratch recipe that any level baker can prepare with excellent results. They're the perfect combination of crisp edges and soft inside!
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup SALTED butter, softened, 2 sticks
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup granulated sugar, for rolling
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium size bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using an electric or stand mixer, cream together the butter, and granulated sugar until combined.
- Add egg yolks and vanilla extract.
- Add flour mixture and mix until just combined. DO NOT OVERMIX!
- Using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, scoop dough into balls about 2 Tablespoons each, roll in sugar and place onto prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until tops of cookies start to crack. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack. Let cool completely on wire rack.
Notes
- Don’t Over-mix the Dough. With almost all my cookie recipes, I always make sure to remind you to not OVERMIX the cookie dough. When you mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, only mix them together until just combined…you should still see some flour in your mixing bowl.
- Scoop the Perfect Cookie: I always use a 1 Tablespoon cookie scoop and each cookie dough ball uses “2 scoops” of cookie dough to make a cookie dough ball with two tablespoons of dough. In my opinion, this is the perfect-sized cookie. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, you can use an ice cream scooper but you will only need one ice cream scoop of cookie dough.
- Add Some Color. Roll the sugar cookies in colored sugar sprinkles before baking. This can be fun when baking them for holidays or special occasions.
- Use Room Temperature Butter. It will mix into the sugar much better when it’s at room temperature. Just make sure it’s not too warm, an hour at room temperature will do.
Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 171kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 45mg, Sodium: 114mg, Potassium: 19mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 269IU, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg
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I like to keep it simple when it comes to cookies. So when I came across this Soft sugar cookies, I knew this is something that I have to bake at home. The results were marvelous.