The BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe

Name: The BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 88 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 Cups Butter (softened); 2 Cups Sugar; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract; 1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract (optional); 4 Eggs; 5 Cups All-Purpose Flour; 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder; 1 Teaspoon Salt; 3 Cups Powdered Sugar; 2-4 Tablespoons Milk; 2 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract; Gel Food Coloring

December 6, 2023 by Mindy 31 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

If you're looking for an amazing rolled sugar cookie recipe that will never let you down, you've come to the right place! These sweet, chewy cookies are soft but still firm enough to hold up to being decorated. This is the best sugar cookie recipe and is simply delicious!

The BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe dough rolled out with a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter.

This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on these links, I get a small percentage back at no cost to you! For more information see my disclosure policy.

Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap "Jump to Recipe" at the top of the page.

Recipe Contents show

Graphic for Adults at Kids Prices for Disneyland and Disney World.

SALE EXTENDED! With this Disneyland and Disney World Ticket Sale you can get Adults at Kids Prices on all 3-Day or longer Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort Tickets! Combine this sale in a vacation package and get a 3rd or 4th night FREE at select hotels. Don't forget to use the coupon code: Clubhouse10 to save even more. Tap the yellow button below to check prices and see more Disneyland Deals from Get Away Today!

Get This Deal Now!

Why You'll Love this Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe

There are certain things that you just have to make each Christmas, and for my family it's sugar cookies. Every year we make sugar cookies with Santa Claus faces to leave for the "Big Guy" on Christmas Eve.

I've been using this sugar cookie recipe for many years and it has never failed me, and it makes the best sugar cookies. The only problem that I've run into is that sometimes I eat too much of the dough before I have the chance to bake them.

I call it The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe because I have found it to be just that. Sweet, chewy, soft, but still firm enough to hold up to being decorated.

What is a Rolled Sugar Cookie?

A rolled sugar cookie is a type of sugar cookie that is made by rolling out the dough, using cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and then baking.

This type of sugar cookie, sometimes called cut-out cookies or cut-out sugar cookies, is often decorated with icing or other decorations. If you are looking for regular sugar cookies that can be topped with buttercream frosting, check out my easy sugar cookies recipe here.

Can You Make Sugar Cookies without Milk and Butter?

Yes, you can make sugar cookies without milk and butter. Just substitute vegetable shortening, vegan butter, coconut oil, or dairy-free butter in place of the butter.

Instead of milk, you can use any dairy free milk like almond milk or soy milk. Using these ingredients can help you make diary-free sugar cookies or vegan sugar cookies.

Eight Christmas sugar cookies with smooth icing and sprinkles.

Ingredients for Classic Sugar Cookies

*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted butter, just make sure that it is at room temperature.
Sugar: Use granulated white sugar in this recipe.
Vanilla Extract: This is for flavor, you can use either clear or regular vanilla extract.
Almond Extract: You can use this in addition to the vanilla extract, it just adds a little bit of almond flavor to the cookies.
Eggs: Make sure that the eggs are at room temperature so that they mix in well with the other ingredients.
Flour: All purpose flour is what you'll need for this recipe.
Baking Powder: This helps the cookies to rise just a bit.
Salt: This also helps with the flavor of the cookies.

Order These Ingredients from Instacart Here!

Ingredients for the Best sugar cookie recipe without milk.

How to Make this Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe

[Step 1] Begin by creaming the butter and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer at medium-high speed with a paddle attachment or use and hand mixer.

Butter and sugar mixed in a stand mixer.

[Step 2] Add the eggs and vanilla and continue mixing.

Eggs and vanilla added to sugar cookie dough.

[Step 3] Combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture at low speed, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

[Step 4] When the dough is combined, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least an hour to overnight. Don't skip this step! Having cold dough will ensure that your cookie holds it shape and doesn't flatten when baked.

[Step 5] Roll out your dough with a rolling pin on a floured surface until the dough is about ¼ - ½ inch thick.

Cookie cutters pressed into rolled out sugar cookie dough.

[Step 6] Use different cookie cutters (Mickey Mouse ) to cut out shapes. I picked up my Mickey Mouse cookie cutter at the cute little gift shop outside Splash Mountain at Disney World, but you can find one HERE on Amazon.

Shapes cut out of rolled sugar cookie dough.

[Step 7] Place the cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake the cookies at 400 degrees for 6 - 8 minutes until the edges of the cookies begin to turn golden brown.

Cut out sugar dough on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

[Step 8] Allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 1 minute before transferring to a cooling rack.

Sugar Cookie Icing Ingredients

To make the sugar cookie icing you will need powdered sugar, milk, light corn syrup, vanilla extract, and gel food coloring.

Milk and powdered sugar in a food processor.

How to Make Sugar Cookie Frosting

[1] Mix together the powdered sugar and ¼ cup milk. Add in the vanilla and corn syrup and mix well.

[3] The outline icing should be the consistency of toothpaste. To make the flood/fill icing, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time until the icing is the consistency of syrup.

[5] Color your icing with gel food coloring in your desired colors. If you're going to make your cookies for a special occasion, I would suggest making them at least the day before to allow the icing to harden. Just store the cookies in an airtight container placed in a cool dry place.

A cookie being iced with icing that hardens.

Helpful Sugar Cookie Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How Thick Should I Roll Sugar Cookies? I like to roll my sugar cookie dough to be about ¼ - ½ inch thick. This thickness allows the cookies to hold their shape well and prevents them from being too thin and crisp.
Do I Need to Refrigerate the Dough? Yes, you should refrigerate the dough for at least an hour, or overnight if possible. This will help the cookies keep their shape when baked.
Can I Freeze the Dough? Yes, you can freeze the dough. Just place it in a freezer safe container and thaw it in the refrigerator when you're ready to use it. You may need to let it sit at room temperature for a bit before you can easily roll it out.
What is the Best Way to Store Sugar Cookies? Sugar cookies are best stored in a cool, dry place. They will last for several days, although they may start to get a little hard after a few days. You can also freeze sugar cookies, just make sure to wrap them tightly so they don't get freezer burn.
How Do I Get Perfectly Round Cookies? There are a few things you can do to get perfectly round cookies. First, make sure you're using a good quality cookie cutter. Second, chill the dough well before cutting out the cookies. Finally, don't twist the cookie cutter when you're cutting out the shape, just press straight down.
How Do You Prevent Sugar Cookies from Spreading? There are a few things you can do to prevent sugar cookies from spreading. First, make sure you use butter that is at room temperature, not melted. Second, don't over-mix the dough. Third, chill the dough well before baking. Finally, don't put too many cookies on one baking sheet.
What are other ways to decorate sugar cookies besides icing? There are many different ways to enjoy sugar cookies. You can use a small cookie scoop to measure a dough ball, then roll it in extra sugar. Another idea would be to press sprinkles into the cut out cookie dough shapes before baking. You can also top them with classic buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting.

Sugar Cookie Variations:

A Christmas cookie with icing that hardens and sprinkles.

More Christmas Cookies:

Did you try this recipe? Make sure to give it a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below!