A Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe (2024)

Christmas Cookies | Christmas Recipes and Ideas | Cookies | RECIPES

ByStephanie Wilson

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It’s the baking season, and this Sugar Cookie Recipe is a favorite. It’s simple, delicious, and a go-to recipe with dough that delivers beautifully shaped cookies. Every time.

A Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe (1)

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Regardless of which season or shape you’re baking for, this sugar cookie recipe is simply the best I’ve ever made.

And when the holiday season comes around, there isn’t a more quintessential Christmas cookie than cutout sugar cookies.

I use this same recipe for all the cutouts seasons: fall pumpkin cookie cutouts, turkey cutouts, snowflakes, Santas, and trees… and all things Christmas. Only to make it again for Valentine’s Day in the shape of hearts, and St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks, and Easter bunnies.

Well, you get the idea. I make them all year long.

There’s always a season for shaped sugar cookies!

And this recipe is the one I come back to every season. It just works. And it tastes really good.

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

For the exact measurements, see the recipe card below, but here’s all you need to make these simple cookies:

  • Butter, softened to room temperature
  • Granulated sugar: see note below on using brown sugar
  • Large egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt: I prefer fine sea salt, but use what you have.

Sugar in these Sugar Cookie Cutouts

I’ve written the recipe using granulated sugar. However… I love to substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar when I can. The flavor is rich and a little unexpected. But, it does yield a darker-hued dough… which doesn’t work with all shapes and seasons.

The dough doubles easily, which I do often.

Happy baking!

More Cookie Recipes You Would Love!

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  • A Sweet Iconic Snickerdoodle Recipe
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A Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe (2)

A Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe (3)

Favorite Sugar Cookie Cutouts Recipe

It’s the season for Sugar Cookie Cutouts! Beginning with pumpkin cutouts, followed by turkey cutouts, followed by snowflakes and Santas and trees… and all things Christmas. Then comes Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter.

4.8 from 6 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 cookies

Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla; beat to combine.

  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the butter mixture and combine. Continue to beat until the dough comes together, pulling away from the sides of the bowl.

  • Divide the dough in half and roll out on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into shapes and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate cut-out cookies on the baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cold.

  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350° F.

  • Bake cookies for 9 to 10 minutes, or until set and light brown around the edges. Let sit on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.

Notes

Icebox Variation: This dough works great as an icebox cookie. Instead of forming the dough into a disk, form into a log, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until ready to bake. Then simply slice and bake. Or… roll the log in sprinkles or chopped nuts and then slice and bake. As you can see, there are endless variations!

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe? Pin it Today!Follow me on Pinterest for more and use the "Pin" button at the top of the recipe card.

Course: Cookies

Keyword: christmas cookies, christmas cutout cookies, easy sugar cookies, sugar cookies

A Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix better? ›

Easy Add-In: After creating the dough according to the sugar cookie mix instructions, Add 2 tablespoons of sour cream to create a tangier, cakier and all-around more flavorful cookie. Flavor Twist: For a punchier twist, swap the water in the sugar cookie mix instructions for rum, bourbon or coffee liqueur.

What is are some key tips in ensuring a successful sugar cookie? ›

Sugar Cookie Tips for the Best-Ever Treats
  • Add an Egg Yolk. This is one of those sugar cookie tips you may have heard of before: Add an extra egg yolk to your cookies. ...
  • Use Brown Sugar. ...
  • Chill the Dough. ...
  • Add a Secret Ingredient. ...
  • Keep an Eye on the Clock. ...
  • Store Cookies the Right Way.
Jun 20, 2018

How to spice up sugar cookie mix? ›

Take plain sugar cookies up a notch with exciting mix-ins like chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, toasted chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit or M&M's. Add these after blending your butter and egg into the sugar cookie mix. This is our favorite hack for holiday Pillsbury cookie dough.

What makes a cookie the best? ›

The best cookies have layers of texture. A slightly crisp outer shell that holds up to some heat with an inner core that's soft and chewy. Premium cookies taste great at room temperature, straight out of the fridge or slightly heated. Creating cookies in small batches is key.

What is the secret to making the best cookies? ›

The key is to always use top-quality ingredients as they'll result in a better cookie; it really is that simple.
  1. Always use butter.
  2. Choose the right sugar.
  3. Choose the right flour.
  4. Check your flour is in date.
  5. Choose the right kind of chocolate.
  6. Cream the butter and sugar.
  7. Beat in the eggs.
  8. Fold in the flour.

How long should you chill sugar cookie dough? ›

Bake cookies on parchment paper: Sometimes greasing a baking sheet can cause sugar cookies to spread. Instead, use parchment paper to prevent sticking and help the cookies keep their shape. Don't let the dough get warm. Notice the dough needs to be chilled for at least 2 hours.

What is the secret to making cookies soft? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

How to jazz up sugar cookies? ›

5 Ways to Get Fancy with Your Sugar Cookies
  1. Make a fancy thumbprint cookie. ...
  2. Turn them into sandwich cookies. ...
  3. Decorate with melted chocolate. ...
  4. Try different flavorings in the sugar cookie dough. ...
  5. Roll cookie dough logs in sparkly sugar.
May 1, 2019

How to make cookie mix taste like bakery? ›

How to improve store bought cookie mix?
  1. Use browned butter (add about 10% more than what's suggested on the box).
  2. chill the dough for at least two hours if you want less spread.
  3. add cocoa powder or espresso powder into the dry ingredients, maybe vanilla extract too.
  4. yes adding marshmallow should be good. Or choco chips.
Nov 2, 2022

Can you over mix sugar cookie dough? ›

Over-working the dough yields a tough cookie, which is not at all what you want. The very best sugar cookies are soft and tender. → Follow this tip: One of the keys to great sugar cookies is mixing the dry ingredients only until they're just incorporated, and not a second longer.

What is the most loved cookie? ›

Chocolate chip cookies

What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one. Ever the crowd-pleaser, the chocolate chip cookie is renowned for its balance of richness and sweetness.

What is the most important thing in cookies? ›

Flour is the main ingredient that provides structure in a cookie – without it, there would be no cookie! The gluten in flour forms a web of sorts – the framework that catches the air bubbles/gasses given off during rising. This helps provide the structure.

What is the number one best selling cookie? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co. But did you know Oreos are a copycat product?

Why is my Betty Crocker sugar cookie dough crumbly? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

Why are my Betty Crocker sugar cookies hard? ›

You also might want to make sure your oven temp is accurate. Be gentle. If you handle the dough too much when making cutout sugar cookies, they'll get tough.

Can you add milk to Betty Crocker cookie mix? ›

With Betty Crocker's new Batchables Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, that's exactly what you can do. Whether you're craving 4 or 24 cookies, simply measure the mix, add milk or water and bake! The resealable package means you can save the rest of the mix for another day.

What is a substitute for butter in Betty Crocker cookie mix? ›

You can use olive, canola or vegetable oil. Depending on the type of oil, it can add complex flavor to your baked goods. You can replace about 3/4 of the butter in a recipe with olive, canola or vegetable oil. So, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, use ¾ cup oil.

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