Description
- This cut out sugar cookie recipe bakes up soft, buttery cookies that hold their shape—perfect for decorating with icing or sprinkles. Great for holidays, parties, or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy (about 3 minutes).
- Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat until combined.
- Add dry ingredients and mix on low until a soft dough forms.
- Divide dough in half and roll each to 1/4-inch thickness on floured parchment.
- Stack, cover, and chill rolled dough for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
- Cut shapes, reroll scraps, and place cookies 3 inches apart.
- Bake for 11–12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool on sheet 5 minutes, then move to wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with royal icing, glaze, or buttercream. Let icing set before storing.
Notes
- Dough can be chilled for up to 2 days or frozen for 3 months.
- For flavor variations, try lemon zest, maple, or pumpkin spice.
- Decorated cookies stay fresh for 5 days at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg