Simple Sugar Cookie Recipe: A Delightfully Easy Treat
This simple sugar cookie recipe is perfect for beginner bakers and seasoned pros alike. It's quick, easy, and yields delicious, melt-in-your-mouth cookies that are perfect for any occasion. Whether you're decorating for the holidays, making a batch for a bake sale, or simply satisfying a sweet craving, this recipe is your go-to.
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe uses readily available ingredients, making it incredibly convenient. You likely already have most of them in your pantry!
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened: Soft butter is key for easy mixing. Make sure it's not melted, but pliable.
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar: This provides sweetness and helps create a tender crumb.
- 2 large eggs: These bind the ingredients together and add richness.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: This adds a delightful flavor. Feel free to experiment with other extracts like almond or lemon!
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour: This is the structural component of the cookie.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: This helps the cookies rise slightly.
- ½ teaspoon salt: This balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
Instructions for Perfectly Soft Sugar Cookies:
Follow these step-by-step instructions for consistently delicious results:
Step 1: Cream Together the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This is best done with an electric mixer, but you can do it by hand if you're feeling ambitious!
Step 2: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Make sure everything is well combined before moving on.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent.
Step 4: Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, resulting in more tender cookies. Chilling also makes the dough easier to handle.
Step 6: Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Step 7: Roll Out the Dough
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create your desired shapes.
Step 8: Bake the Cookies
Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each one. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
Step 9: Cool and Enjoy!
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your delicious homemade sugar cookies!
Tips for Sugar Cookie Success:
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing develops the gluten, resulting in tough cookies.
- Chill the dough: Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Use parchment paper: This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Don't overcrowd the baking sheets: Give the cookies enough space to spread evenly.
- Let them cool completely: This prevents the cookies from becoming soft and soggy.
Variations and Decorating Ideas:
- Add sprinkles: Sprinkle your favorite sprinkles on top of the cookies before baking.
- Use different extracts: Experiment with almond, lemon, or peppermint extract.
- Add chocolate chips: Fold in some chocolate chips for a chocolate chip sugar cookie variation.
- Frost and decorate: Once cooled, frost your cookies with your favorite frosting and decorate them with sprinkles, candies, or other decorations.
This simple sugar cookie recipe is a fantastic starting point for your baking adventures. Enjoy the process and the delicious results! Remember to share your creations with friends and family – happy baking!
