• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
101 Cooking For Two
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
    • 📋About
    • ❓FAQs/Help
    • 🛒Shop
    • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    🏠Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Easy Homemade Sugar Cookies

    Dec 13, 2019 · Modified: Jan 25, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 3 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    5 from 3 votes

    Classic homemade sugar cookies are a delicious classic that every parent and grandparent needs in the recipe box. These soft and chewy sugar cookies are perfect rolled cookies to cut into shapes and decorate with the kids. The recipe is adjusted for a smaller household but can be scaled as needed.

    sugar cookie on spatula ready to decorate
    Jump To:
    • 👨‍🍳How to make homemade sugar cookies
    • 🧂Ingredients
    • ❓FAQs
    • 📋Easy Sweet Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    'Tis the season for... Christmas Cookies. So here is an excellent quick and easy sugar cookie recipe that even the cookie rookie can handle.

    All sugar cookie recipes are similar, not identical, but very similar. The inspiration recipe is The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies from All Recipes. I cut the recipe in half, expanded the discussion/options, and added an optional frosting to get you started.

    👨‍🍳How to make homemade sugar cookies

    1. Start with softened butter in a large bowl. Add sugar and beat with a stand mixer or hand electric mixer until creamy,
    2. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add all the dry ingredients, mix well, form into a ball, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to cool for at least one hour.
    3. Roll to about ¼ inch thickness on a surface dusted with powdered sugar. Cut into desired shapes and place on baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
    4. Bake cookies in a preheated 400° oven for 7 to 8 minutes until the edge is browning.
    5. After removal from the oven, let the cookies stay on the tray for 2 minutes, then move them to a wire rack.
    6. Decorate as desired with frosting and sprinkles.

    🧂Ingredients

    • Butter - Use soft real butter. Salted is fine, but unsalted butter will do; add a pinch more salt.
    • Eggs - Use two, which will help hold things together. Many recipes will use only one.
    • Vanilla - Use only real vanilla extract, please.
    • Baking Powder - Use aluminum-free to avoid an aftertaste.
    • Other ingredients - Salt, sugar, and all-purpose flour.

    ❓FAQs

    What texture should the raw dough be for sugar cookies, and how to adjust it?

    The final dough should have a texture close to Play-Doh. Not sticky and wet but also not hard. If the dough is sticky and wet, add a little flour. If dry, then a touch of milk.

    Can sugar cookie dough be made ahead?

    Yes. The cookie dough can be refrigerated for 2-3 days before use. It should be sealed tightly since it can easily pick up flavors from other foods.

    Raw dough can also be frozen for 2-3 months. Thaw completely before proceeding.

    How to store baked sugar cookies.

    After cooking, the baked cookies are excellent for about three days. Sealed in an airtight container, they are very good for a week. After that, they will start to dry some. Two weeks is about the maximum time.

    Sugar cookies will freeze well for 3-4 months.

    📋Easy Sweet Recipes

    Christmas Candy Recipes

    New York Cheesecake Bars

    Easy Cheesecake Cupcakes

    Berry Crisp for Two

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Dessert Recipes, Holiday Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    sugar cookie ingredients

    Start with ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) of butter. Soften a little by resting at room temperature or in a microwave for 10-15 seconds.

    bowl with sugar and butter and mixer ready to beat

    Add 1 cup of sugar to the butter in a large bowl. Cream together with an electric mixer.

    mixing eggs into whipped butter and sugar

    Add 2 eggs and ½ teaspoon vanilla—mix well.

    ball of dough in a covered bowl

    Add 2 ½ cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for at least one hour. Preheat oven to 400°. Prep baking sheets by covering them with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

    dough rolled onto floured mat

    Dust a prep area with some powdered sugar. Form the dough into a ball and place it on the mat. Flatten and then roll out with a rolling pin. Use lots of powdered sugar on the mat and on top of the dough to prevent sticking. Roll to a thickness of about ¼ inch or a bit thicker.

    cutting shapes in rolled dough

    Cut with a cookie cutter.

    raw cookies on baking tray ready for the oven

    Layout the cookies on a cookie sheet, keeping them about one inch apart. They will spread out during cooking. Work quickly, reuse the scraps, and keep dusting the surface and dough with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Continue to cut cookies until done. Recool dough scraps if it gets too soft to work.

    graphic pointing to browning edge of cookie on cooking mat

    Bake until the edge of the cookies is starting brown a little. It takes about 7-8 minutes. Do not overbake.

    cookies on a cooling rack

    Remove from oven and allow to sit on the pan for a few minutes, then move to a wire cooling rack.

    powder sugar with milk and frosting ingredients

    After cooling, it is time for decoration. Make a simple sugar cookie icing by mixing 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of butter, 2 drops of vanilla, and 3-4 teaspoon of milk. Add a few drops of food coloring of your choice—mix well.

    graphic Subscribe to 101 Cooking for Two

    📝Recipe

    sugar cookie on spatula

    Easy Homemade Sugar Cookies

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    Classic homemade sugar cookies are a delicious classic that every parent and grandparent needs in the recipe box. These soft and chewy sugar cookies are perfect rolled cookies to cut into shapes and decorate with the kids. The recipe is adjusted for a smaller household but can be scaled as needed.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 24

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • ¾ cup butter - softened - 1 ½ stick
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 ½ cup flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Optional Glaze

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2 drops vanilla
    • 3-4 teaspoon milk
    • food coloring as desired
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Start with ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) of butter. Soften a little by resting at room temperature or in a microwave for 10-15 seconds.
      sugar cookie ingredients
    • Add 1 cup of sugar to the butter in a large bowl. Cream together with an electric mixer.
      bowl with sugar and butter and mixer ready to beat
    • Add 2 eggs and ½ teaspoon vanilla—mix well.
      mixing eggs into whipped butter and sugar
    • Add 2 ½ cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for at least one hour. Preheat oven to 400°. Prep baking sheets by covering them with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
      ball of dough in a covered bowl
    • Dust a prep area with some powdered sugar. Form the dough into a ball and place it on the mat. Flatten and then roll out with a rolling pin. Use lots of powdered sugar on the mat and on top of the dough to prevent sticking. Roll to a thickness of about ¼ inch or a bit thicker.
      dough rolled onto floured mat
    • Cut with a cookie cutter.
      cutting shapes in rolled dough
    • Layout the cookies on a cookie sheet, keeping them about one inch apart. They will spread out during cooking. Work quickly, reuse the scraps, and keep dusting the surface and dough with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Continue to cut cookies until done. Recool dough scraps if it gets too soft to work.
      raw cookies on baking tray ready for the oven
    • Bake until the edge of the cookies is starting brown a little. It takes about 7-8 minutes. Do not overbake.
      graphic pointing to browning edge of cookie on cooking mat
    • Remove from oven and allow to sit on the pan for a few minutes, then move to a wire cooling rack.
      cookies on a cooling rack

    Optional Frosting

    • After cooling, it is time for decoration. Make a simple sugar cookie icing by mixing 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of butter, 2 drops of vanilla, and 3-4 teaspoon of milk. Add a few drops of food coloring of your choice—mix well.
      powder sugar with milk and frosting ingredients
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

    Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. This an easy recipe to cut half or double.
    2. Room temperature or slightly softer butter is important to get the right texture.
    3. Real butter is not required, but you will be happy if you do—salted is fine.
    4. Cool the dough to cut and if you don't work fast, cool again before proceeding.
    5. Use real vanilla if possible.
    6. Never use aluminum-containing baking powder for anything. There is an aftertaste.
    7. The dough should have a texture close to Play-Doh. If sticky and wet, add a bit of flour. If dry, then a touch of milk.
    8. I suggest a thickness of about ¼ inch. Thinner will cook faster, and thicker will take longer.
    9. I recommend powdered sugar, not flour, on the surface when making out the dough and on the top as your roll out the dough.
    10. Your oven and the pans will also affect cooking time, so watch the lower edge of the cookie for a hint of brown. Usually about 8 minutes. DO NOT OVER COOK.
    11. Allow cooling on the tray for a few minutes before moving it to the cooling rack.
    12. After cooking, the baked cookies are excellent for about three days. Sealed in an airtight container, they are very good for a week. After that, they will start to dry some. Two weeks is about the maximum time.
    13. Raw dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days but can easily pick up odors from the refrigerator. The dough can also be frozen for about 3 months.
    14. Nutrition includes optional frosting. Of course, nutrition will also vary by the size of the cookies. You will get about 24 average-size cookies from this recipe.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Homemade Sugar Cookies
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 160 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 4g20%
    Cholesterol 30mg10%
    Sodium 109mg5%
    Potassium 38mg1%
    Carbohydrates 23g8%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 13g14%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 212IU4%
    Calcium 14mg1%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Dessert
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Originally Published December 3, 2014. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

    Lilly in light snow

    More Dessert Recipes

    • Apple Cinnamon Muffins
    • Blueberry Crumb Pie—Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pie
    • Berry Crisp for Two or More
    • Banana Cake with Walnuts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment (Policy Link in Footer) Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Bronzi

      December 14, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      Will try.

      Reply
    2. kate

      December 14, 2019 at 10:01 am

      5 stars
      "Sugar cookies are not and can not be made into health food. Don’t even try." 🤣 I love your writing style! Thanks for the yummy recipe, too! :-)

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        December 14, 2019 at 10:17 am

        Hi Kate,
        Welcome to the blog.
        I can be a bit blunt at times... it is the old doctor in me.
        You know on food blogs, somebody will want to try to change things. I want to stop a few of those questions.
        It is nice to see somebody reads my sarcasm.
        Thanks for the note and rating. Have a great holiday.
        Dan

    Primary Sidebar

    DrDan image Hi, I’m DrDan, and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions. About DrDan

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Small Ribeye Roast
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    • Pan Seared Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
    kitchen reference sheet graphic wide blue
    graphic of sites that I work with or have had recipes featured or referenced.
    SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top ↑

    About

    • About DrDan and the Blog
    • Business Questions
    • Comment Policy

    Content

    • Food FAQ
    • Kitchen Reference Sheets
    • Recipes Featured in the Videos
    • Guide To Cooking for Two
    • Saved Recipes Collections

    dogs by the pond

    Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2010-2023 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME