Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
&w=3840&q=75){kind=small}
&w=3840&q=75){kind=small}
- 1 cups unsalted butter – softened
- 1 cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg – large
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- all-purpose flour – for dusting (for rolling)
- sanding sugar – for sprinkling before baking (optional)
Instructions
1. Beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2–3 minutes.
2. Add the large egg and vanilla extract and beat until smooth, about 30 seconds.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and fine salt until evenly combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in two additions, mixing on low just until a soft, cohesive dough forms and no dry spots remain.
5. Divide dough in half, shape each portion into a 1-inch-thick disk, wrap, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Lightly dust your work surface with all-purpose flour (for dusting). Working with one disk at a time, roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
8. Cut out shapes and transfer them to the prepared sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Gather and reroll scraps once.
9. If using, sprinkle the tops with sanding sugar.
10. Bake until the edges look set and the bottoms are just barely golden, 8–11 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through; cookies should look pale on top.
11. Let cookies cool on the sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or decorating.
Sugar cookies are buttery, lightly sweet cookies with a fine crumb, crisp edges, and tender centers. They carry a clean vanilla aroma that makes them versatile for everyday treats or celebrations. Rolled and cut into shapes, they hold details well and bake up with minimal spread, making them ideal for decorating or a simple sprinkle of sugar.
Their roots trace back to early American baking, notably the Nazareth sugar cookie from Pennsylvania in the 18th century. As refined sugar became more available, these cookies evolved from simple biscuits into the holiday staples recognized today. Over time, regional and family variations emerged, but the core—flour, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla—remains central to their enduring popularity.