Dreamy Sugar Cookies Recipe: Soft Bites of Sweetness

Sweet aromas of buttery sugar cookies waft through kitchens, promising a delightful homemade sugar cookie experience that sparks joy.

Crafting these delectable sugar cookies becomes a delightful adventure for bakers seeking pure comfort.

Each golden-edged cookie carries memories of cozy afternoons and warm gatherings.

The classic recipe blends simple ingredients into extraordinary treats that melt in your mouth.

Crisp edges and soft centers create the perfect textural harmony.

Generations have cherished these sweet morsels as symbols of love and comfort.

You’ll fall in love with every bite of these irresistible cookies that connect us through simple, delicious moments.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 160 kcal

Servings: 24

Sugar Cookie Ingredient List

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides essential structure and creates soft, tender cookie texture with careful measuring.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread beautifully, ensuring light and airy result.
• Baking Powder: Adds extra leavening power for perfect cookie height and delicate crumb.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness with subtle complexity.

• Unsalted Butter: Delivers rich, creamy flavor and creates tender cookie texture; use room temperature for smooth blending.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create crisp, golden edges while maintaining soft center.

• Large Egg: Binds ingredients, adds richness, and contributes to chewy cookie consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings deep, warm flavor profile and rounds out sweet notes.
• Almond Extract: Optional ingredient that adds elegant, nutty undertone and sophisticated aroma.

Tools That Help You Get the Soft Texture

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing ingredients thoroughly.
• Medium bowl: Perfect for whisking dry ingredients together.
• Electric mixer or hand mixer: Crucial for beating butter, sugar, and creating a smooth cookie dough.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Necessary for precise ingredient measurements.
• Baking sheets: Used for placing and baking cookie dough.
• Parchment paper: Helps prevent cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Whisk: Helps combine dry ingredients smoothly.
• Spatula: Useful for scraping bowl sides and folding ingredients.

Bake Sugar Cookies That Stay Chewy and Light

• Wake Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 350 degrees and spread parchment paper on two baking trays.

• Mix Dry Ingredients

Grab a bowl and whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until they’re buddies.

• Cream Butter and Sugar

Grab your mixer and beat butter and sugar into a fluffy cloud of deliciousness, about 2-3 minutes.

• Splash in Moisture

Drop in egg and vanilla (and almond extract if you’re feeling fancy). Mix until silky smooth.

• Marry Wet and Dry

Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Don’t go crazy mixing – just until they’re friends.

• Shape Cookie Balls

Scoop out dough, roll into cute little balls, then give them a sugar bath. Place them on baking sheets with some personal space.

• Bake to Perfection

Slide trays into the oven and bake 8-10 minutes. Look for golden edges and soft centers.

• Cool and Enjoy

Let cookies chill on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Devour when ready!

Tips That Help Dough Stay Soft After Baking

• Soft sugar cookie secrets to elevate your treat game.
• Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to develop a soft, chewy center without falling apart.
• Experiment with different extracts like lemon, orange, or coconut to create unique flavor profiles that surprise your taste buds.
• Swap wheat flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for a celiac-friendly version. Use dairy-free butter alternative for vegan guests, ensuring everyone can enjoy these delightful cookies.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place a slice of bread in the container to maintain moisture and keep cookies wonderfully soft and fresh.

Serve Plain or Decorated

• Sweet Party Platter: Create a gorgeous cookie display with different sizes and heights of serving platters, adding visual excitement for gatherings.
• Festive Sugar Sprinkle Fun: Decorate cookies with colorful sparkling sugar, rainbow sprinkles, or edible glitter for a playful and celebratory touch.
• Perfect Milk Pairing: Serve alongside cold whole milk, creamy hot chocolate, or vanilla almond milk to complement the cookie's sweet flavor profile.
• Dessert Gift Charm: Package cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbons as delightful homemade gifts for friends, teachers, or holiday celebrations.

Store in Tins for Days of Snacking

• Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days, ensuring maximum freshness and soft texture.
• Stack cooled cookies between parchment paper layers, seal in freezer-safe bags, and store for up to 3 months without losing quality.
• Shape cookie dough balls in advance, refrigerate for 24 hours, or freeze unbaked dough for spontaneous baking moments.
• Shield cookies from direct sunlight and heat sources, maintaining their delicate texture and preventing crumbling or hardening.

FAQs

• How do I ensure my sugar cookies stay soft and chewy?

Use room temperature ingredients, avoid overmixing the dough, and remove cookies from the oven when edges are just turning golden. This prevents overbaking and keeps cookies tender.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 3 days before baking. Alternatively, you can freeze the dough balls for up to 2 months. Just add an extra minute to baking time if using frozen dough.

• Why should I roll the dough balls in sugar before baking?

Rolling in sugar creates a delightful crispy exterior while maintaining a soft interior. It also adds a sweet, sparkling finish that makes the cookies look more appetizing and provides a subtle crunch.

• What if my cookies spread too much during baking?

Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking, ensure your butter isn’t too soft, and check that your baking soda and powder are fresh. These steps help prevent excessive spreading and maintain the cookies’ shape.

Heavenly Sugar Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Grandma’s Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies deliver sweet nostalgia with classic American comfort. Buttery dough creates melt-in-mouth treats perfect for family gatherings and holiday celebrations. You’ll savor each tender bite of childhood memories.

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Ingredients

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• 2 ¾ cups (340 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (230 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional, for extra flavor)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper, creating an optimal baking environment.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl to create a consistent dry foundation for the cookies.
3. Butter Transformation: Cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, developing a smooth, aerated base that ensures soft cookie texture.
4. Flavor Integration: Blend egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the butter mixture, ensuring complete incorporation and depth of flavor.
5. Dough Development: Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, gently combining until just mixed to preserve the cookie’s delicate structure. Roll dough into uniform balls, coating each generously with granulated sugar for a sparkling, sweet exterior.
6. Baking Precision: Arrange sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets, spacing to allow gentle spreading. Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges while maintaining a soft, tender center.
7. Cooling Technique: Rest cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling, locking in their signature soft and chewy consistency.

Notes

• Prevent Tough Cookies: Avoid overmixing the dough, which can develop gluten and lead to hard, dense cookies. Mix ingredients just until combined for a soft, tender result.
• Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter and egg for smoother blending and consistent cookie texture. Cold ingredients can create uneven mixing and affect the final outcome.
• Sugar Coating Technique: Roll dough balls generously in granulated sugar before baking to create a delightful crisp exterior and add extra sweetness to each cookie.
• Watch Baking Time Carefully: Remove cookies when edges are slightly golden but centers appear slightly underbaked. They’ll continue setting on the baking sheet, ensuring a perfectly chewy texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 155
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 75 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg