BEST Easy Sugar Cookies
User Reviews
4.9
BEST Easy Sugar Cookies
Description
BEST Easy Sugar Cookies use room temperature butter creamed with sugar, salt, vanilla or almond extract, and egg yolks combined with all-purpose flour to make a dough that can be rolled out and cut into shapes for baking. The dough is chilled briefly to firm up for clean cutting. Baking time varies slightly based on thickness to ensure a delicate balance between soft centers and tender edges. A soft cream cheese-based frosting can be prepared while cookies cool, adding a creamy topping that complements the cookie's buttery flavor.
The cookies develop slight golden edges while remaining soft inside, giving a pleasant contrast to the creamy frosting. Adjusting the dough thickness before baking allows control over the final texture, from thinner crispy-edged versions to thicker, more bakery-style cookies. The frosting blends softened cream cheese and butter with almond or vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and milk to a spreadable or drizzle consistency for decoration or flavor balance.
After baking and cooling, cookies can be decorated and enjoyed fresh. They are ideal for making holiday shapes or special occasions where cut-out shapes and colored frosting add appeal. The dough can also be divided into portions to roll and chill separately for easier handling and shaping. These cookies keep well when stored properly, maintaining their texture and taste.
Ingredients
- 2 cups butter at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla + 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 4 egg large yolks
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
frosting/icing
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup butter softened, 8 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup milk or as needed
- Food Coloring optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar.
- Mix in salt, vanilla (and/or almond extract) and egg yolks until blended.
- Add flour 1 cup at a time, mixing after each, until just combined.
- Divide dough in half and shape each half into a ball.
- Place on top of a sheet of parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness (slightly thinner for more cookies, slightly thicker for bakery-style cookies though this will yield fewer cookies).
- Chill rolled dough for 15 minutes.
- Cut into shapes with cookie cutters and place at least 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.
- Bake in preheated oven for 8-9 minutes (for 1/4 inch thick cookies. for thicker cookies they'll need an extra minute or so, for thinner cookies take them out by 8 minutes.) and allow to cool on baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
prepare the frosting/icing
- While the cookies are cooling, prepare the icing. In a large bowl cream together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add extract and salt and mix til smooth.
- Add 1 cup powdered sugar, followed by 1 tablespoon milk, mix until incorporated, and repeat (1 cup powdered sugar + 1 tablespoon milk) until all of the powdered sugar is incorporated. Mix on high speed until light and fluffy, add additional milk 1 tablespoon at a time as needed to get a light and airy frosting. Add a couple drops of food coloring if desired.
- Spread on cooled cookies and add sprinkles if desired. Store at room temperature or chilled in airtight container up to 1 week.
Notes
- This recipe makes approximately 22 to 32 cookies depending on cutter size.
- Rolling dough to 1/3 inch thickness produces thicker, bakery-style cookies requiring 1-2 minutes extra baking time.
- Doubling the recipe requires a large mixing bowl and dividing dough into four portions for rolling and cutting.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 441 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 441kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 61g | 20% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 76mg | 25% |
| Sodium | 252mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 44mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 42g | 84% |
| Vitamin A | 722IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 20mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
You'll Also Love
