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A freshly baked batch of easy sugar cookies on a cooling rack.

Classic Easy Sugar Cookies

These classic sugar cookies are simple to make and perfect for any occasion. With a buttery flavor and tender texture, they are endlessly customizable for decorating.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt

Equipment

  • Electric Mixer
  • Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Whisk
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Cookie cutters
  • Rolling pin
  • Wire rack

Method
 

Preperation
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Baking
  1. If time allows, cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to handle and prevent spreading.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness and use cookie cutters to create shapes, re-rolling scraps as needed.
  3. Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them, and bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
  4. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential for preventing the cookies from spreading too much and allows for cleaner cuts with cookie cutters.