Sweet Joy of Cooking Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sweet & Simple Sugar Cookie Recipe: Baking Joy Unleashed!

Sweet sugar cookies dance with memories of grandma’s kitchen and cozy Sunday afternoons.

These delectable treats emerge from a symphony of simple ingredients that blend magical culinary nostalgia.

Flour, butter, and sugar transform into golden-edged delights that melt on your tongue.

Crisp exteriors give way to tender, pillowy centers that signal pure comfort.

Each cookie carries a whisper of vanilla and a promise of happiness, waiting to be savored.

Home bakers and professionals alike treasure this classic recipe that bridges generations.

The aroma of freshly baked sugar cookies will make everyone rush to grab a warm, delicious bite!

Serving Ideas for Homemade Sugar Cookies

  • Pair with Beverages: Serve these soft, sweet sugar cookies alongside a cold glass of milk, hot coffee, or soothing herbal tea for a delightful flavor combination.
  • Create Dessert Platter: Arrange the cookies on a beautiful ceramic plate with other bite-sized treats like chocolate truffles or fruit tarts to create an elegant dessert spread.
  • Gift with Love: Package these freshly baked cookies in a charming mason jar or decorative tin, tied with a ribbon, for a heartwarming homemade gift perfect for birthdays or holiday celebrations.
  • Customize with Toppings: Sprinkle powdered sugar, drizzle melted chocolate, or add colorful sprinkles on top of the cookies to enhance their visual appeal and add extra flavor layers.

Storage Tips for Sugar Cookies That Last

  • Preserve Freshness: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, keeping them soft and delicious.
  • Freezing Magic: Wrap cookie dough balls or baked cookies tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months, ensuring a quick treat whenever cravings strike.
  • Smart Separation: Place parchment paper between cookie layers to prevent sticking and maintain their perfect shape during storage.
  • Temperature Matters: Keep cookies away from direct sunlight and heat sources to maintain their texture and prevent crumbling or becoming too dry.

Quick Recipe Overview

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 210 kcal

Servings: 24

Ingredients You’ll Need for Sugar Cookies

For Dry Ingredients:
  • Flour: Select all-purpose flour with consistent, fine texture for smooth cookie dough.
  • Baking Soda: Choose fresh, recently purchased for maximum leavening power.
  • Baking Powder: Ensure container is sealed tight to maintain rising effectiveness.
For Wet Ingredients:
  • Butter: Use high-quality, unsalted butter at room temperature for optimal creaming.
  • Sugar: Select fine granulated sugar for smooth, even sweetness.
  • Egg: Pick fresh, large eggs at room temperature for better incorporation.
  • Vanilla Extract: Opt for pure vanilla extract with rich, complex flavor profile.
For Finishing Touches:
  • No Additional Ingredients Needed.

Tools to Get the Best Sugar Cookies

  • Electric mixer: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar to silky smoothness.
  • Small bowl: Ideal for whisking dry ingredients together.
  • Large mixing bowl: Spacious container for combining wet and dry ingredients.
  • Baking sheets: Flat surfaces for creating perfectly shaped cookies.
  • Wire rack: Essential for cooling cookies and keeping them crisp.
  • Whisk: Great tool for blending dry ingredients evenly.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements for ingredient accuracy.

Instructions for Soft and Sweet Sugar Cookies

Instructions for Soft and Sweet Sugar Cookies
  • Fire Up the Oven

Get your oven toasty warm and ready for baking magic at 190 degrees C, creating the perfect cozy baking atmosphere.

  • Mix Dry Magic

Grab a bowl and whirl together flour, baking soda, and baking powder until they become best friends, creating a smooth dry blend that promises deliciousness.

  • Whip up Sweet Goodness

Grab your mixer and transform butter and sugar into a cloud-like creamy mixture. Splash in an egg and vanilla, then gently fold in your dry ingredients until a luscious dough emerges.

  • Shape Tasty Treasures

Roll the dough into adorable walnut-sized spheres and nestle them comfortably on baking sheets, giving each cookie plenty of personal space.

  • Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide your cookie-laden sheets into the warm oven and watch the edges transform into a gorgeous golden hue in about 8-10 minutes.

  • Cool and Celebrate

Let your freshly baked treats rest briefly on the sheets, then transfer to a cooling rack. Your homemade sugar cookies are ready to bring joy and sweetness to any moment!

  • Customize Cookie Creativity: Add chocolate chips, sprinkles, or nuts to the dough for extra crunch and flavor excitement.
  • Freeze Dough Brilliance: Prepare cookie dough balls in advance and freeze up to 3 months for instant sweet treats whenever cravings strike.
  • Decorating Magic: Once cooled, drizzle melted chocolate, royal icing, or dust with powdered sugar to transform simple cookies into stunning desserts.
  • Texture Twist: Experiment with different sugar types like raw, brown, or powdered sugar to create unique cookie textures and deeper flavor profiles.
Print
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Sweet Joy of Cooking Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sweet Joy of Cooking Sugar Cookie Recipe


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4.6 from 23 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet sugar cookies from delightful American bakeries promise pure happiness in each carefully crafted bite. Home bakers can easily create these classic treats with simple ingredients and warm kitchen memories.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (340 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) white sugar
  • 1 cup (227 g) butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) baking powder
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preparation Groundwork: Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 190 degrees Celsius, ensuring an optimal baking environment for crisp, delicate cookies.
  2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl until completely homogeneous, eliminating any potential lumps that could disrupt cookie texture.
  3. Butter-Sugar Transformation: Utilize an electric mixer to cream butter and sugar, whipping until the mixture becomes ethereally light, fluffy, and transforms to a pale, inviting hue.
  4. Liquid Integration: Blend whole egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar base, creating a silky, uniform mixture that promises rich, aromatic cookies.
  5. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture at low speed, stopping precisely when ingredients are just combined to preserve the cookie’s tender crumb.
  6. Shaping and Positioning: Craft uniform dough balls using hands or a cookie scoop, arranging them with strategic spacing on ungreased baking sheets to allow proper expansion during baking.
  7. Baking and Monitoring: Slide sheets into the preheated oven, baking for 8-10 minutes until edges turn a delicate golden tone and centers appear subtly set.
  8. Cooling Protocol: Allow cookies to rest briefly on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack, permitting complete cooling and ensuring optimal texture and structural integrity.

Notes

  • Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for the perfect creamy texture, ensuring it’s soft but not melting.
  • Avoid Overmixing Dough: Mix dry ingredients just until combined to keep cookies tender and prevent tough, dense results.
  • Consistent Cookie Size: Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to create uniform balls, guaranteeing even baking and consistent shape.
  • Cooling is Crucial: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to a wire rack, allowing them to set and prevent breaking.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Sodium: 140 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine

Education

Southwestern Oregon Community College

  • Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
  • Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.

Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care. 

After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.

Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.

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