Soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet, these Perfect Sugar Cookies are everything a classic sugar cookie should be. Whether you want to decorate them with royal icing for the holidays or enjoy them plain with a glass of milk, this recipe delivers cookies with crisp edges and a tender center every time.
The dough rolls out beautifully and holds its shape in the oven, making these a go-to for cut-out cookie designs. With just the right balance of vanilla and buttery richness, they’re equally delightful for cookie decorating parties or cozy weeknight baking.
What Kind of Sugar Should I Use in Sugar Cookies?
For these sugar cookies, stick with classic granulated white sugar. It gives the perfect light sweetness and supports the cookie’s crisp-tender texture. Avoid brown sugar, which adds moisture and changes the flavor profile.
Ingredients for the Perfect Sugar Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
How To Make the Perfect Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This takes about 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Add Egg and Extracts
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Mix until fully combined.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Step 4: Chill the Dough
Divide the dough in half, flatten into discs, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour or until firm.
Step 5: Roll and Cut
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to shape.
Step 6: Bake
Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges just begin to turn golden. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
How to Serve and Store These Cookies
Serve these sugar cookies plain, iced, or dusted with sanding sugar for a festive touch. They’re perfect for gifting, parties, or freezing for later.
To store, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze baked cookies or the raw dough (wrapped well) for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep sugar cookies from spreading?
Make sure to chill the dough before baking. This helps the cookies keep their shape and not spread out too much in the oven.
Can I skip the almond extract?
Absolutely. The almond extract adds a subtle extra flavor, but these cookies taste great with just vanilla.
How thick should I roll out the dough?
¼ inch is ideal. It gives a nice balance of softness and structure, especially for cut-out cookies.
Do these cookies work well with royal icing?
Yes! They’re a favorite base for decorated cookies because they bake flat and don’t puff up excessively.
Can I make these ahead?
Definitely. You can make the dough a day in advance, or freeze it for longer storage.
Want More Cookie Ideas with a Twist?
If you love these Perfect Sugar Cookies, you’ll probably enjoy these other favorites:
- Christmas Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Cookies
- Peanut Butter Balls with Chocolate Rice Krispies
- Salted Caramel Pecan Cookies
- Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
Save This Pin + Share Your Results
📌 Save this recipe to your Pinterest dessert board so you can come back to it any time.
And let me know in the comments how yours turned out. Did you use icing or sprinkles? Did you try fun holiday shapes?
I love hearing how others make these cookies their own. Questions are welcome too—let’s make sweet baking memories together.
Find even more inspiration on my Pinterest Nina Dishes.
Perfect Sugar Cookies
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Perfect Sugar Cookies are buttery, soft, and perfect for decorating or enjoying plain. They’re easy to roll, hold their shape when baked, and offer the perfect balance of vanilla sweetness in every bite.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
0.5 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
0.5 teaspoon baking powder
0.25 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
2. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
4. Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.
6. Cut into shapes and place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
7. Bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are just beginning to brown.
8. Let cool 5 minutes on the sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
Chill the dough well before rolling to help prevent spreading.
Use parchment paper for even baking and easy cleanup.
For decorating, let cookies cool completely before icing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: sugar cookies, easy sugar cookies, cut-out cookies
