If you’ve ever hunted for that perfect sugar cookie recipe, I’m excited to share The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe with you. This one truly holds a special place in my kitchen rotation because it strikes the perfect balance between tender and sturdy—it’s soft around the edges but holds its shape beautifully when you roll and cut it. Whether it’s for the holidays, a birthday party, or just a cozy afternoon treat, these cookies never fail to impress.
What I love most is how versatile these cookies are—you can keep them plain for a simple sweet bite or decorate them with colorful icing for a festive flair. I discovered this recipe after trying dozens and it quickly became my go-to, especially since the dough chills easily, making it perfect to prepare ahead of time. You’ll find that The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe is not only delicious but also dependable, making your baking experience smooth and enjoyable.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Reliable Texture: The dough crisps just enough while staying tender inside, making every bite perfect.
- Chill-Friendly: You can make the dough ahead and chill it, saving you time and improving flavor.
- Perfect for Decorating: Holds shape well and creates a smooth surface, ideal for royal icing or sprinkles.
- Big Batch Friendly: Yields about 60 cookies, great for sharing or holiday gift-giving.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients for The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe come together with simple pantry staples, but each one makes a big difference for texture and flavor. Using softened butter ensures a smooth dough, and the balance of baking powder and salt helps the cookies rise just right without getting cakey.
- White Sugar: Provides sweetness and crispness to the cookies’ edges.
- Butter, softened: Use unsalted butter softened to room temperature for creamy, tender dough.
- Large eggs: They add richness and help bind the dough together.
- Vanilla extract: Just a teaspoon amps up the flavor beautifully.
- All-purpose flour: The sturdy base that gives the cookie structure.
- Baking powder: Adds a little lift without making the cookies too fluffy.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
Variations
I love to mix things up depending on the season or the occasion—once you’ve nailed The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe, it’s easy to personalize and make it your own. Feel free to experiment with flavors or toppings to keep your cookie game exciting!
- Citrus Zest: Adding a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest gives a fresh twist that brightens up the flavor—I tried it once for a spring party and everyone asked for the recipe!
- Spiced Version: A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg blends wonderfully for holiday cookies that taste warm and cozy.
- Gluten-Free: Swap in a gluten-free flour blend, just watch the dough consistency and chill a bit longer if needed to make it easier to roll.
- Chocolate-Dipped: After baking, dip half the cookie in melted chocolate for a delicious upgrade that’s easy to do and loved by kids and adults alike.
How to Make The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Start by beating the white sugar and softened butter together in a large bowl with your electric mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This is a step I never skip because proper creaming creates tiny air pockets that help give you that delicate crumb we all love in sugar cookies. Make sure your butter is really soft—not melted—to achieve the perfect texture.
Step 2: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition. This helps the ingredients emulsify and keeps your dough from separating. You’ll notice it gets nice and fluffy here—exactly what you want before incorporating the dry ingredients.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients and Chill the Dough
Next, gently stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt until the dough just comes together. Resist the urge to overmix—this keeps your cookies tender instead of tough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for at least an hour; I sometimes leave it overnight. This chilling step is key to rolling the dough easily and helping the cookies keep their shape during baking.
Step 4: Roll, Cut, and Bake
When you’re ready, preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly flour your work surface and roll the chilled dough out to between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutters (I love classic shapes like stars and circles) to cut out the cookies. Place them about an inch apart on ungreased baking sheets—trust me, you don’t need to grease here, it actually helps the edges crisp up.
Bake them for 6 to 8 minutes until they’re just lightly browned at the edges. Keep a close eye—they bake fast! Let them cool on the baking sheet a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pro Tips for Making The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Softened Butter Matters: Make sure the butter is soft but not melted—too warm and your dough won’t hold shape well.
- Chill Twice: I like to chill the dough before rolling and then pop cut cookies back in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
- Flour Your Workspace Lightly: Too much flour when rolling can dry the dough out; just a light dusting keeps it pliable.
- Watch the Bake Time: Cookies go from perfect to overdone quickly—set a timer and pull them once edges just start to brown.
How to Serve The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep things simple with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of colorful royal icing, especially for festive occasions. Sprinkles or edible glitter add that extra sparkle kids love. The smooth top of these cookies takes decorating beautifully without cracking.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair perfectly with a cozy cup of hot chocolate, spiced tea, or freshly brewed coffee. I’ve also served them alongside fresh fruit platters at brunches to balance sweetness with something light and refreshing.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I’ve arranged these cookies on tiered trays decorated with fresh greenery and ribbon, turning simple cookies into an elegant centerpiece. Wrapping them in clear bags tied with colorful twine makes an easy, thoughtful gift that always delights friends and family.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature, layered between sheets of parchment paper to avoid sticking. They usually stay perfect for about a week—if they last that long!
Freezing
I often freeze the unbaked dough discs wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil. When I want cookies, I thaw the dough in the fridge overnight and then roll and bake as usual. You can also freeze fully baked cookies for up to 3 months—just make sure they’re sealed well.
Reheating
If you want to enjoy cookies warm, I pop a few in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or gently warm them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. I find this refreshes their soft, buttery texture without drying them out.
FAQs
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Can I make The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe without chilling the dough?
Technically yes, but chilling the dough is crucial for easy rolling and ensuring your cookies hold their shape while baking. I’ve found skipping the chill leads to dough that spreads too much and cookies that lose their crisp edges.
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What’s the best way to keep my cookies soft?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature with a slice of bread or a damp paper towel—this adds just enough moisture to keep the cookies soft without making them soggy.
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Can I use margarine or shortening instead of butter?
Butter gives the best flavor and texture for these rolled sugar cookies. Margarine or shortening can change the taste and how the dough behaves, often resulting in a less tender cookie that doesn’t brown as nicely.
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How thick should I roll the dough for The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe?
Between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick works best. Thinner than 1/4 inch, and the cookies can become too crispy; thicker than 1/2 inch, and they might not bake evenly or lose their classic crunch.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe feels like a little gift every time I bake it—it’s simple, reliable, and turns out cookies that bring smiles. Whether you’re baking with friends, surprising neighbors, or indulging on your own, this recipe makes you feel like a cookie pro. Give it a try—you might find it becomes your favorite too, just like it did for me.
Print
The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
- Yield: 60 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These classic rolled sugar cookies are buttery, tender, and perfect for decorating. Made with simple ingredients and chilled dough for easy handling, they bake into lightly browned, melt-in-your-mouth treats ideal for any occasion or holiday celebration.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients: Gather all ingredients to ensure you have everything on hand before you start, which will streamline the baking process.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. This step creates a light texture in the cookies.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla extract until fully incorporated, offering moisture and flavor to the dough.
- Combine dry ingredients and mix: Add flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet mixture. Stir everything together until a cohesive dough forms.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour or overnight. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll out and cut without sticking.
- Preheat oven and prepare workspace: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly dust a clean surface with flour to prevent the dough from sticking when rolling.
- Roll out the dough: Roll the chilled dough to a thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, ensuring even thickness for uniform baking.
- Cut into shapes: Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut the dough into desired shapes. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets to allow for proper spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned, indicating they are perfectly done.
- Cool cookies: Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before decorating or serving to ensure they set properly.
- Enjoy: Once cooled, decorate if desired, then serve and enjoy your delicious sugar cookies!
Notes
- Chilling the dough is important for easy handling and to prevent spreading during baking.
- Ensure cookies are spaced 1 inch apart to allow even baking and avoid them sticking together.
- Use ungreased baking sheets for crisp edges.
- Rolling thickness can be adjusted to get thinner crispier cookies or thicker softer ones.
- Decorate cooled cookies with icing or sprinkles as preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 4.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2.9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
