If you’re searching for the best sugar cookie recipe that’s soft, chewy, and easy to make, I have one.
This is the one I rely on for consistently soft, chewy, and utterly delicious results.
It’s a simple sugar cookie recipe that I think you’ll love making.
These cookies are a hit for every occasion, from Christmas to summer picnics, and they come together in just 30 minutes with pantry staples.
Let’s make some sugar cookies together!
Why This is the Best Sugar Cookie Recipe You’ll Ever Try
- This sugar cookie recipe creates the perfect texture: wonderfully tender, soft, and chewy, ensuring no dry, crumbly cookies.
- This easy sugar cookie recipe is fast, letting you enjoy homemade sugar cookies quickly.
- Uses common kitchen ingredients to produce cookies with a bakery-quality taste.
- These versatile cookies are great all year, ideal for Christmas cookie boxes, Valentine’s Day sugar cookies, or festive 4th of July sugar cookies with sprinkles.
Key Ingredients for Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
- All-purpose flour. Accurate measurement is crucial. Too much flour means dry, dense cookies; too little, and they’ll spread.
- Baking powder. Provides lift and those signature crinkly tops.
- Fine sea salt. Balances the sweetness for a more complex flavor.
- Unsalted butter (cool room temp). The right butter temperature keeps cookies thick and tender.
- Granulated sugar. The star ingredient—don’t cut back!
- Egg + extra egg yolk. Adds richness and chew.
- Vanilla extract. Rounds out the flavor.
Why These Ingredients Matter:
The extra egg yolk makes the cookies moist and chewy, while the butter at cool room temperature (about 67°F) helps the cookies hold their shape and prevents excess spreading. Rolling the dough in sugar before baking creates a crisp, sparkly exterior.
How to Make Sugar Cookies (Step-by-Step)
Making these sugar cookies is simple, but a few small details make a big difference. Here’s how to get perfect results every time.
- First, heat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Then, line baking sheets with parchment paper for even baking.
- Next, in a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and fine sea salt to evenly distribute them for the sugar cookie recipe.
- Now, in a large bowl, use an electric mixer (a hand mixer works well) to beat cool room temperature butter and sugar on medium-high for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl as needed.
- Then, beat in the large egg, extra egg yolk, and vanilla extract until just combined.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low until just combined. Avoid overmixing for tender sugar cookie dough. The dough will be soft.
- Place ¼ cup granulated sugar in a shallow dish. Use a large (3-tablespoon) cookie scoop for uniform, evenly-shaped cookies, then roll each dough ball in sugar.
- Bake the sugar cookies for 10-12 minutes, until set and lightly browned at the edges. For an ultra-soft center, centers should look slightly ‘wet’.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
How to Decorate Your Soft Sugar Cookies (Optional)
These soft and chewy sugar cookies are beautiful plain, but cookie decorating can be fun.
- Simple: Roll in Colored Sugar. For easy color, roll dough balls in colored sugar before baking. This is great for Christmas sugar cookies.
- Easy Frosting Options. If you’re craving sugar cookies with icing, these cookies are a great canvas for your favorite frostings.
- Classic Buttercream Frosting. A simple buttercream frosting is a dream on these. You can easily find basic recipes for buttercream (usually butter, powdered sugar, a little milk or cream, and vanilla). Feel free to tint it with food coloring for a colorful treat.
- Tangy Cream Cheese Frosting. A cream cheese frosting also pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of these sugar cookies. Basic recipes typically involve cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. The slight tang is a delicious contrast.
- Tips for Frosting Drop Cookies. Simply spread your chosen sugar cookie frosting on top with a knife or a small offset spatula once the cookies are completely cool. Add sprinkles for an extra festive touch!
Pro Tips for Making the Best Sugar Cookies Every Time
To truly master this sugar cookie recipe and achieve bakery-quality results, keep these essential baking tips in mind.
These little details make a big difference.
- Don’t Overbake. For soft centers, take cookies out when edges are set and centers look slightly underdone.
- Use Cool Room Temp Butter. Butter at about 67°F prevents cookies from spreading too much.
- Get Crinkly Tops. Use fresh baking powder, cool butter, and roll dough in sugar.
- Roll Dough in Sugar. This gives a crispy edge and sparkly look. Don’t skip it!
- Use a Cookie Scoop. For even size and baking. A 3-tablespoon scoop is good.
- Pick Good Baking Gear
- Best Baking Sheets. Use light-colored aluminum pans.
- Lining Sheets. Parchment paper is preferred for this recipe.
- Mixer. A hand mixer works great.
Customizing Your Sugar Cookie Recipe
While this classic sugar cookie recipe is delicious as is, feel free to get creative, especially for holiday baking.
1. Flavor Twists
A touch of almond extract (about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) with the vanilla is fantastic. You could also try lemon zest or a pinch of cinnamon.
2. Festive Fun with Sprinkles
Fold in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of holiday sprinkles with the dry ingredients for a festive touch, perfect for Christmas sugar cookies.
3. Can I make these sugar cookies smaller?
Yes! For smaller cookies, use a 1.5-tablespoon scoop and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Note that smaller cookies might not be quite as ultra-soft.
4. Can This Be Used for Cut-Out Cookies?
No, this particular sugar cookie recipe was designed for simple drop-style sugar cookies. For cookie cutters, you’ll need a different recipe, like a soft cut out sugar cookie recipe.
Troubleshooting Common Sugar Cookie Issues
Even the best sugar cookie recipe can have small problems. Here’s some simple sugar cookie troubleshooting:
- Cookies Spread Too Much?
- Problem: Butter was likely too warm.
- Solution: Make sure butter is cool (not melty). Use parchment paper. This helps with why sugar cookies spread.
- Cookies Puffy, Didn’t Spread?
- Problem: Maybe too much flour, or oven too hot.
- Solution: Measure flour carefully. Check your oven temperature.
- Dough Too Sticky?
- Problem: Butter might be too warm, or flour amount off.
- Solution: Check flour. You can chill dough for 15-20 minutes if it’s very soft.
- Cookies Hard, Not Soft?
- Problem: Baked too long, or mixed too much.
- Solution: Take cookies out when centers look a bit soft. Mix gently.
- Dough Crumbly?
- Problem: Butter might be too cold, or too much flour.
- Solution: Make sure butter isn’t ice cold. A tiny bit of milk can help.
Storing and Freezing Your Homemade Sugar Cookies
Proper storage keeps your homemade sugar cookies fresh. Here’s how to store sugar cookies and how to freeze sugar cookies.
1. How to Store Sugar Cookies to Keep Them Soft
Store cooled sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep them extra soft, add a slice of bread.
So, how long do sugar cookies last well? About 3 days.
2. Can You Freeze Sugar Cookie Dough?
Can you freeze sugar cookie dough balls? Yes! This sugar cookie recipe freezes beautifully.
- Scoop dough into balls.
- Freeze on a baking sheet until solid.
- Transfer to a freezer bag. Keeps for up to 3 months.
- Bake from frozen (add a few extra minutes) or thaw slightly, roll in sugar, then bake.
3. Freezing Baked Sugar Cookies
Can you freeze baked sugar cookies? Yes, if un-frosted.
- Allow cookies to cool completely.
- Store in a freezer container, separating layers with parchment.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
Conclusion
So, this is my guide to baking delicious, soft and chewy sugar cookies.
This sugar cookie recipe is a true keeper, perfect for your holiday cookie recipes collection.
I’m excited for you to try these! They are a crowd-pleaser.
What did you think of this recipe? Did you make any tasty modifications?
Please rate the recipe below and leave a comment with your feedback!
Sugar Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Get Ready: Heat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Stuff: In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat cool room temperature butter and 1 ¼ cups sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Scrape bowl.
- Add Wet Stuff: Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until mixed.
- Combine: Slowly beat in flour mixture on low until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Scoop & Roll: Put remaining ¼ cup sugar in a dish. Use a scoop to make dough balls. Roll each in sugar.
- Place & Flatten: Put dough balls on baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly.
- Bake: Bake 10-12 minutes, until edges are set and light brown. Centers should look slightly soft.
- Cool: Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Butter Temperature: Cool room temp butter (67°F) is important.
- Measure Flour: Weigh flour or use spoon-and-level method.
- Don’t Overbake: For soft cookies, pull when centers are slightly soft.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temp up to 3 days.
- Freezing Dough: Freeze unbaked dough balls up to 3 months. Thaw slightly, roll in sugar, bake.
- Variations: Add ½ tsp almond extract or ½ cup sprinkles if you like.