The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies

These classic rolled sugar cookies are a sweet treat that never goes out of style. With a tender, buttery flavor and a crinkly surface, they’re perfect for decorating with colorful sugar or sprinkles to make them your own.

Simple to make and always a crowd-pleaser, they’re a staple for any holiday or celebration.

Ready Time

2 hrs

Yields

4 servings

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Colored sugar or sprinkles for decorating

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Set aside.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.

Gradually mix in the dry ingredients (flour mixture) until a dough forms.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.

Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters.

Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once the cookies are cool, decorate with colored sugar or sprinkles as desired.

Notes

Make sure to chill the dough for the right amount of time, as this will help the cookies to hold their shape while baking.

Don’t over-chill, though – 30 minutes to 2 hours is the sweet spot! If you’re new to working with sugar cookies, keep in mind that the dough might be a bit sticky when you first start working with it.

Don’t worry, just flour your surface and rolling pin as needed, and you’ll be all set! To ensure your cookies are all the same size and bake evenly, try to cut them out so they’re roughly the same size.

You can also use a ruler or other straightedge to help you get straight cuts.

When you’re decorating your cookies, feel free to get creative with your colored sugar or sprinkles! You could also try using frosting to add extra details or write out messages.

Since this recipe only makes 4 cookies, you might want to consider doubling or tripling the recipe if you’re planning a party or need a bigger batch.

Happy baking!