The Ultimate Sugar Cookie Recipe: Perfectly Sweet & Easy to Make
Are you ready to bake some incredibly delicious sugar cookies? This recipe will guide you through creating the perfect, melt-in-your-mouth treats, guaranteed to impress your family and friends. We'll cover everything from the perfect dough consistency to simple decorating ideas. Let's get started!
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe yields approximately 24 cookies. Adjust accordingly if you need more (or less!) deliciousness.
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened: This is key for a tender cookie. Make sure it's truly softened, not melted.
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with browning.
- 2 large eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add richness.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor profile. Don't skip this!
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour: The base of our cookies.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: Helps the cookies rise beautifully.
- ½ teaspoon salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Cream Together Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. A stand mixer is ideal, but you can use a hand mixer or even do it by hand (it will take a bit longer!).
2. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; slightly lumpy dough is okay.
5. Chill the Dough: This step is crucial! Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or even longer, up to 2 hours). This prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
6. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
7. Roll and Cut Cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes. Reroll scraps as needed.
8. Bake the Cookies: Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between each cookie. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
9. Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, decorate with your favorite frosting, sprinkles, or other fun toppings!
Tips for Perfect Sugar Cookies:
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
- Chill the dough thoroughly: This prevents spreading and ensures perfectly shaped cookies.
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the cookies will taste.
- Get creative with decorations: Let your imagination run wild!
Delicious Variations:
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies: Add ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder to the dry ingredients.
- Spiced Sugar Cookies: Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
- Lemon Sugar Cookies: Add the zest of one lemon to the wet ingredients.
Enjoy baking and sharing these delightful sugar cookies! Let us know in the comments how yours turned out!
