Indulge in this exquisite Homemade Sugar Cookies Recipe featuring soft butter and vanilla that create a melt-in-your-mouth treat. The irresistible balance of crispy edges and gooey centers elevates these confections into an experience to savor. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they transform moments into celebrations as some of the Best Sugar Cookies.

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I’ve been experimenting a lot with my Homemade Sugar Cookies Recipe lately and I gotta say, these are by far the Best Sugar Cookies I’ve ever made. I started off with 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt for a steady base.

I always mix in 1 cup unsalted butter that’s softened along with 1 cup granulated sugar to create that creamy, dense dough everyone loves. Adding 1 large egg and 2 tsp vanilla extract gives the cookies that essential flavor punch.

I appreciate that the recipe creates cookies that are chewy yet dense with a crispy edge and a gooey center; it’s kind of like the classics you might think of during Christmas Baking Recipes or those beloved cutout sugar cookies from Broma Bakery. I’m also mindful of the nutritional details, like the idea of a 100 Calories treat, which makes these Christmas Sugar Cookies a sweet yet balanced treat.

Enjoy baking!

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it gives me cookies that are perfectly balanced in texture – the edges come out crispy while the middle stays gooey and soft. I love how buttery and sweet they taste, making every bite a little bit of heaven. Plus, the steps are pretty simple and easy to follow even when I mess up a little, which makes baking way less stressful. Lastly, chilling the dough before baking is a game changer for me since it makes handling the cookie dough so much easier and fun.

Ingredients

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All purpose flour gives our cookies structure and important carbohydrates for energy.
Baking soda helps cookies rise and keeps them tender and soft.
Baking powder adds extra lift so the cookies come out more fluffier.
Salt enhances flavor and balances sweetness in our yummy tasty cookies.
Butter gives richness and a melt in your mouth texture to every cookie.
Sugar makes cookies sweet and adds a crisp edge when baked just right.
Egg binds the dough and creates a slightly chewy cookie centre.
Vanilla extract adds warm aroma and depth to the overall cookie flavor.

Ingredient Quantities

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

How to Make this

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1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper so the cookies dont stick.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.

3. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until the mixture gets light and fluffy.

4. Crack in 1 large egg and stir it into the butter and sugar, then mix in 2 tsp vanilla extract until well combined.

5. Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the butter mixture while stirring until the dough comes together.

6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes; this makes it easier to handle.

7. Scoop small portions of the dough onto your prepared baking sheet. You can gently flatten each ball with your hand if you like a chewier cookie.

8. Bake the cookies for about 10-12 minutes, or until you see crisp edges and a gooey center.

9. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

10. Enjoy your delicious sugar cookies warm, maybe with a glass of milk or your favorite beverage!

Equipment Needed

1. Preheated oven that can go to 350°F
2. Baking sheet
3. Parchment paper
4. Medium bowl and a whisk (or fork will do)
5. Large bowl
6. Electric mixer (or a hand whisk if you prefer)
7. A spatula or large spoon for stirring
8. Plastic wrap to cover the dough
9. Refrigerator to chill the dough
10. A cookie scoop or spoon for portioning the dough
11. Cooling rack to let your cookies chill off after baking

FAQ

Q: Can I use margarine instead of unsalted butter?

A: You can in a pinch, but unsalted butter gives the best flavor and texture so I'd stick with it for these cookies.

Q: How long should the dough chill before baking?

A: Let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, that way the cookies wont spread too much in the oven.

Q: Can I add extra toppings like sprinkles?

A: Absolutely, you can mix in some sprinkles or even decorate the cookies after baking if you want a fun twist.

Q: Is it okay to substitute vanilla extract with another flavor?

A: Sure, you can try using almond extract instead but keep in mind it has a stronger flavor, so use a bit less.

Q: What's the best way to store these cookies to keep them fresh?

A: Store them in an airtight container at room temperature and eat them within about 5 days for best results.

The BEST Sugar Cookies (like Ever) Recipe Substitutions and Variations

All-Purpose Flour: You can try using cake flour for a lighter texture or mix in a bit of whole wheat flour (about 25%) but you might need to adjust the liquid a tad
Unsalted Butter: If you only have salted butter, drop a little less added salt; you can also substitute with vegetable shortening for a different, but fun, twist
Granulated Sugar: Consider swapping half of it with light brown sugar for a richer flavor or use superfine sugar so it blends in faster
Egg: For a vegan option, mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water to create a flax egg—it works pretty well as a binder
Vanilla Extract: If you’re out, almond extract or a splash of maple syrup can give a unique flavor, though it might alter the traditional taste slightly

Pro Tips

1. Let the dough chill longer if you can – it helps the butter firm up so your cookies keep their shape better. I’ve found that when I skip this, my cookies spread too much and can turn out too thin.

2. Keep an eye on the oven – every oven is different and you might need to take the cookies out a minute or two earlier than the recipe states, so you still get that perfect gooey center.

3. When you’re flattening the dough balls, don’t press too hard. A gentle flattening gives you those yummy crisp edges without ruining the chewy inside.

The BEST Sugar Cookies (like Ever) Recipe

Recipe by Dan Coroni

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

297

kcal

Equipment: 1. Preheated oven that can go to 350°F
2. Baking sheet
3. Parchment paper
4. Medium bowl and a whisk (or fork will do)
5. Large bowl
6. Electric mixer (or a hand whisk if you prefer)
7. A spatula or large spoon for stirring
8. Plastic wrap to cover the dough
9. Refrigerator to chill the dough
10. A cookie scoop or spoon for portioning the dough
11. Cooling rack to let your cookies chill off after baking

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper so the cookies dont stick.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until the mixture gets light and fluffy.
Crack in 1 large egg and stir it into the butter and sugar, then mix in 2 tsp vanilla extract until well combined.
Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the butter mixture while stirring until the dough comes together.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes; this makes it easier to handle.
Scoop small portions of the dough onto your prepared baking sheet. You can gently flatten each ball with your hand if you like a chewier cookie.
Bake the cookies for about 10-12 minutes, or until you see crisp edges and a gooey center.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Enjoy your delicious sugar cookies warm, maybe with a glass of milk or your favorite beverage!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.