Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe | Easy Classic Cookies for Every Occasion

Craving soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet cookies? This sugar cookie recipe is your ticket to classic treats that are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, endlessly customizable, and ready for any holiday or celebration. With simple steps, pantry staples, and plenty of SEO-highlighted words, this post is crafted for both search engines and real-life cookie lovers!

✨ Why You’ll Love These Sugar Cookies

• Soft and chewy with slightly crisp edges

• Easy to roll and cut for shapes or use as drop cookies

• Ideal for holiday decorating or simple snacking

• Simple ingredients you probably already have on hand

• Dough can be made ahead and frozen

📋 Ingredients for the Best Sugar Cookies

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for bakery flavor)

Optional for Rolling:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for coating cookies before baking)

👩‍🍳 How to Make Sugar Cookies at Home – Step-by-Step

Step 1: Whisk Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.

Step 2: Cream Butter & Sugar

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using), beating to combine.

Step 3: Combine & Chill

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until just combined—don’t overmix!
For roll-out cookies, shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour. For drop cookies, chilling 30 minutes yields thicker, chewier results (optional but recommended).

Step 4: Preheat & Shape

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). For drop sugar cookies, scoop dough into balls, roll in sugar, and place on lined baking sheets.
For cut out sugar cookies, roll chilled dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, cut shapes, and transfer to the baking sheet.

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 8–10 minutes or until edges are just starting to turn lightly golden. Remove and cool on the sheet 2 minutes before transferring to a rack.

Step 6: Decorate & Enjoy

Cool completely before decorating with icing or sprinkles, or devour as-is for classic easy sugar cookies!

Pro Tip: For ultra-soft cookies, be careful not to overbake—edges should be set, but centers look just barely done.

🍬 Fun Ways to Decorate Sugar Cookies

• Classic: Dust with colored sugar before baking

• Fancy: Pipe with royal icing or buttercream for holidays

• Kid-Friendly: Add sprinkles, nonpareils, or edible glitter

• Seasonal: Use cookie cutters for shapes like stars, hearts, or snowflakes

📝 Recipe Variations

• Lemon Sugar Cookies: Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest for a fresh twist

• Confetti Sugar Cookies: Mix in 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles

• Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend

❄️ Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

• Store baked sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temp for up to 1 week

• Freeze dough (disks or scoops) for up to 2 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to bake time.

• Undecorated cookies freeze well—decorate after thawing for perfect texture.

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💬 Did You Try These Sugar Cookies?

Share your prettiest, tastiest sugar cookie creations in the comments! What’s your favorite way to decorate or flavor these classic cookies? Post your pics with #SugarCookieJoy and let’s spread some sweetness!