Description
Soft and chewy sugar cookies with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, subtle sweetness, and delicate crisp edges. These classic cookies are easy to make, customizable with toppings or flavors, and perfect for holidays, parties, or everyday snacking. Their versatility also allows for gluten-free, vegan, or low-sugar adaptations.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups (318 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 sticks (226 g) unsalted butter, cool room temperature
- 1¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, for rolling
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional dietary substitutions
(Provided in article but optional—not part of the base recipe)
- Gluten-free flour
- Plant-based butter
- Sugar substitute
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and 1¼ cups sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl.
- Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla; beat until combined.
- Slowly beat in flour mixture until fully incorporated.
- Place remaining ¼ cup sugar in a shallow dish.
- Scoop dough into 3-tablespoon balls, roll in sugar, and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
- Flatten slightly with the bottom of a measuring cup.
- Bake 10–12 minutes, until cookies are set and just beginning to brown.
- Cool 5 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use cool room-temperature butter for ideal creaming.
- Do not overmix the dough to avoid dense cookies.
- If dough feels too soft, chill 15–30 minutes before baking.
- Customize with spices (cinnamon, nutmeg), extracts (almond), or mix-ins (sprinkles, chocolate chips).
- Vegan option: plant-based butter + flax eggs.
- Low-sugar option: sugar substitutes like monk fruit or stevia.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (estimated from typical cookie prep)
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American (implied by typical sugar cookie style)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: ≈ 205
- Sugar: ≈ 15 g
- Sodium: ≈ 85 mg
- Fat: ≈ 9 g
- Saturated Fat: ≈ 5.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ≈ 3.2 g
- Trans Fat: ≈ 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: ≈ 28 g
- Fiber: ≈ 0.3 g
- Protein: ≈ 2 g
- Cholesterol: ≈ 36 mg