5 from 45 votes
Best Soft Sugar Cookies
Best Soft Sugar Cookies yield tender, chewy treats with lightly golden edges and a soft center. The dough is creamed well and chilled to keep cookies soft and prevent excess gluten development. After baking, sparkling sugar is sprinkled on top for a bright, sweet finish. These cookies can be shaped perfectly round by using a cookie cutter immediately after baking, making them ideal for occasions where presentation matters.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Servings:
24
Calories:
166 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
French, American
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter unsalted
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt (if using salted butter, use 1/8 teaspoon)
- Sparkling Sugar or sanding sugar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar for 4 minutes or until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add egg and egg yolk and vanilla and mix for 1 minute longer.
- Fold in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Don't overmix or it creates too much gluten, which leads to tough cookies.
- Chill the dough. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. After the dough has chilled, remove from the refrigerator. Line baking sheets with parchment paper sheets. Roll into balls and place on the light colored baking sheet.
- Place on a light-colored baking sheet and bake for 9-12 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges but still soft in the center. As soon as you remove from the oven, sprinkle with sparkling or sanding sugar. See below for making round circles. Let cool.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use unsalted butter for better salt control; reduce salt to 1/8 teaspoon if using salted butter.
- Chill dough at least 1 hour before baking to maintain soft texture and shape.
- For perfectly round cookies, press a cookie cutter around warm cookies immediately after baking to shape edges.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft and chewy.
- Cookie dough and baked cookies freeze well; thaw dough balls before baking or reheat baked cookies gently.
Nutrition Information
Calories
166kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
25g
(8%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Trans Fat
0.001g
(0%)
Cholesterol
15mg
(5%)
Sodium
101mg
(4%)
Potassium
95mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
14g
(28%)
Vitamin A
21IU
(0%)
Calcium
17mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 24 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 166
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 166kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 25g | 8% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.001g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 101mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 95mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 21IU | 0% |
| Calcium | 17mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.