Cookies are a versatile and delicious treat that can be made for any occasion. Whether you’re celebrating a holiday, having a get-together, need snacks, or holding a bake sale, cookies are the perfect choice. Allrecipes has thousands of cookie recipes, but this particular sugar cookie recipe is highly rated and reviewed by our community of home cooks, making it one of our best.
Sugar cookies are a timeless classic in the world of baking, and they hold a special place in the hearts of many. This recipe for The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies is a wonderful canvas for unleashing your creativity in the kitchen. Whether you're crafting cookies for a special occasion, holiday, or simply a delightful treat, these cookies offer endless possibilities for decorating and personalizing. They're not just a delicious treat but a canvas for edible art!
With this recipe for The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies, you can roll out the sugar cookie dough, cut it into a variety of shapes, and decorate them. to suit the occasion. Let’s learn how to make sugar cookies from scratch with this recipe, along with plenty of tips and tricks to ensure success.
Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- Butter: Use unsalted butter that is pliable but not greasy. Finger press should leave slight indentation.
- Sugar: Measure white granulated sugar by spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling it off with a flat edge.
- Eggs: For best results, it is recommended to use large eggs at cool or room temperature.
- Vanilla extract: For optimal taste, it is recommended to use real vanilla extract rather than imitation vanilla.
- Flour: To use the right amount of flour when baking, fluff it up with a spoon, then scoop into a measuring cup and level it off. Don’t pack it in. Use all-purpose flour for best results.
- Baking powder: Baking powder is an ingredient that acts as a leavening agent and is used to help the cookie dough rise during the baking process.
- Salt: For this recipe, please make sure to use regular table salt.
How to Make Rolled Sugar Cookies
You will find the complete step-by-step recipe below. Here is a brief summary of what you can expect when preparing homemade rolled sugar cookies.
- To make light and fluffy cookies, the first step is to cream together the butter and sugar. This involves using an electric mixer (hand-held or stand mixer) to beat the butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Depending on your mixer, this may take four to five minutes. The reason for creaming the butter and sugar is to incorporate air into the mixture. The micro pockets of air created by creaming will cause the dough to rise as it bakes, resulting in cookies with a light texture instead of being flat and dense. It is important to use cool (not cold) butter for this process, as butter that is too warm will not allow you to create the necessary structure.
- Once you have creamed the butter and sugar together, it’s time to add the eggs and vanilla. Some cooks prefer to add the eggs one at a time. You should make sure that the eggs and vanilla are mixed thoroughly with the butter and sugar before you add the dry ingredients.
- To prepare the dry ingredients, you need to measure the flour, baking powder, and salt into a separate bowl. Then, whisk them together thoroughly. After that, turn your mixer to a lower speed and stir the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture. Don’t forget to scrape the sides of the mixing bowl a couple of times to ensure that there are no streaks of flour left in the dough.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. This will firm up the butter in the dough and prevent the cookies from spreading while baking.
How to Make Sugar Cookie Cutouts
First, take the dough out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes. While it’s warming up, turn on the oven, prepare your baking sheets, and gather your cookie cutters. After a few minutes, the dough will be easier to handle. To prevent the dough from sticking, dust your countertop and rolling pin with flour. Roll the dough into an even thickness of about ¼ to ½ inch. Dip the sharp edge of your cookie cutter into flour and cut out the shapes. Place the cookie cutouts on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and make sure to leave an inch or more of space between each cutout. This will allow the dough to spread slightly and the hot oven air to circulate around each cookie for even baking.
How to Bake Sugar Cookies
In order to bake something perfectly, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Firstly, every oven has its own unique way of heating up, so it’s essential to use an oven thermometer to ensure the temperature is accurate before you start baking. Additionally, different areas of the oven may be hotter than others, so it’s a good idea to rotate your pan halfway through the baking process to ensure even baking. This tip applies to all baked goods, not just cookies.
To bake these sugar cookies, you should set the oven timer for six to eight minutes. The ideal outcome is for the edges to be slightly browned, while the overall color remains light. Afterward, allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack completely. They will become firmer as they cool down.
From the Editor
- When baking cookies, it’s a good idea to line your baking sheet with parchment paper. This will help you avoid touching the warm cookies and potentially bending or breaking them while trying to remove them with a spatula. This is particularly important when making sugar cookie cutouts with intricate shapes. Once the cookies have cooled for about 10 minutes, you can easily slide them off the parchment paper. This will allow you to reuse the same parchment paper for another batch of cookies.
- Make sure your baking sheet has completely cooled down before adding more cookies to it. This will prevent the cookies from melting before they bake.
How to Decorate Sugar Cookies
The most important thing to remember when icing cookies is to allow them to cool completely before applying icing or frosting. This prevents the heat from the cookies from melting the icing or frosting off.
How to Store Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies can stay fresh for up to three days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you have decorated your cookies with royal icing, which dries hard to the touch, you can stack them. However, if the cookies are decorated with soft frosting, it’s better to store them in single layers. If you have to stack them, put parchment paper or waxed paper between the layers. Sugar cookies can be frozen in airtight freezer bags, and they can last up to three months. Make sure to seal the bags properly before freezing to avoid freezer burn.
A rather classic cookie recipe that contains a high amount of sugar, flour, and saturated fats, making it unsuitable for healthy eating. These ingredients can lead to a sharp increase in blood sugar levels and an increase in the calorie content of the dish without adding nutrients. Consuming such cookies is often associated with excess weight, problems with the cardiovascular system, and overall energy decline. For a healthier alternative, one can seek recipes that use sugar substitutes, whole grains, and healthy fats such as nuts or avocado.
1 Gather all the necessary ingredients.
2 Using an electric mixer, beat softened butter and sugar together until smooth in a large bowl.
3 Beat eggs and vanilla. Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt. Chill dough for at least 1 hour or overnight.
4 To begin, turn on your oven and set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
5 Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll out the dough to a thickness between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch.
6 Cut the cookie dough into shapes using any cutter and place them 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
7 Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Carefully transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating.
8 Enjoy!
Calories: 110
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
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When it comes to rolling out sugar cookie dough, consistency is key. Ensure that your dough is rolled to a uniform thickness to achieve evenly baked cookies. A consistent thickness of about ¼ to ½ inch works well for most sugar cookies. To maintain this uniformity, you can use rolling pin guide rings, which come in various sizes to help you achieve the desired thickness. Another helpful tip is to chill the dough before rolling it out. This not only makes the dough easier to work with but also helps the cookies hold their shape during baking. And remember, when decorating, allow the cookies to cool completely to prevent the icing or frosting from melting. With a little attention to detail, you'll create not only delicious but visually stunning sugar cookies that everyone will adore.
