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These perfectly soft and chewy sugar cookies are the best! They are wonderful rolled out or just pressed, and perfect for decorating for the holidays!
I love soft sugar cookies! They are one treat I have ZERO self control over. I always have to make sure to take them to friends before I eat them all myself!
What is the best sugar cookie recipe?
Now everyone’s definition of the “best” sugar cookies definitely varies. In my opinion, a super soft, chewy center (but not under-baked) with just barely crisp edges is the only way to go. So if this is also your definition of “best” then you have got to try these cookies! I promise, you will love them.
One of the reasons I love to make sugar cookies is that they are one of the few treats that are so easy to customize. You can make them super simple by rolling them into balls and pressing down the tops with a glass cup, or you can roll them out and use fun holiday cookie cutters. Either way, they are delicious!
Also, I feel like sugar cookies are perfect for making with the kiddos! My three year-old son loves to help me in the kitchen. Any time I start to cook or bake, he pulls over a chair from the kitchen table and climbs up onto the counter to try to “help momma”. It’s so fun having him there with me, yet it’s hard to find a balance between letting him help, without controlling him to achieve a pretty end result. With sugar cookies, he loves the freedom of full creativity with designing his own cookie (usually a dinosaur) and decorating it exactly how he likes. While at the same time, I get to design and decorate the rest how I like! Win Win!
Today, I used two of Sprinkle Pop’s Holiday mixes, Fahoo Fores and Winter Wonderland. Aren’t they fun?! I love how simple and refreshing the classic white and silver Winter Wonderland mix is. On the other hand, the Fahoo Fores mix is so bright and unique! I wouldn’t normally think “pink” for Christmas, but it totally works!
How Do You Make Homemade Frosting For Sugar Cookies?
Now these sugar cookies by themselves are super yummy, but the homemade buttercream frosting is what takes them over the top. None of that waxy store bought frosting! If you haven’t ever tried homemade buttercream frosting, you are really missing out and need to fix that asap!
This buttercream is light, fluffy and tastes deee-vine! Plus, it’s super easy and can be made in less than 5 minutes.
Here’s how the magic happens:
First, add the soft (room temperature) butter to the powdered sugar, along with about half of the liquid (milk or heavy cream). In my experience, adding a little of the milk at the start helps to prevent the powdered sugar from clumping into little balls with the butter. This helps you to achieve a smooth, soft buttercream.
Next, Whisk on low and increase the speed to high as the powdered sugar gets mixed in so as not to make a giant powdered sugar cloud that you inhale and choke on. Trust me, I’ve done it lol.
Lastly, add in the rest of the liquid along with the vanilla extract. Continue to beat on medium high until the ingredients are incorporated. Stop and scrape down the sides and beat again briefly until the buttercream is smooth and creamy.
Done! It’s that simple. Oh, and don’t forget to lick the beater!
PS – I once made a simple store bought cake and frosted it with this homemade buttercream frosting, and won first place in a “taste test” at a Halloween cake contest at work. I laughed so hard and never told anyone that the cake was from a box. I honestly hadn’t even been trying to win, I was just trying to help since the event was for a fundraiser. Regardless, the frosting was a huge hit and I received compliments on it for days. Yep, it’s that good!
How Do You Keep Sugar Cookies Soft?
Make sure to frost (or freeze) your sugar cookies as soon as they are completely cooled. This helps them to stay soft and chewy, otherwise they can dry out. Honestly, I think they taste the best the day after you’ve frosted them, because the buttercream helps to soften the centers even more! Yum!
Why Do My Cookies Spread and Loose Their Shape?
First, I want to say that these sugar cookies truly are amazing at holding their shape. However here are some tips you should make sure to follow. To prevent your cookies from spreading and loosing their shape, make sure you chill your dough well (1 hour minimum or overnight) before rolling them out. Also, try not to re-roll the dough too many times, this could result in the cookies spreading and loosing their shape when baking.
Extra Tips for Making Perfect Sugar Cookies:
- Make sure you knead your dough well when you are mixing them up (not when you are rolling them out!!). If not it can result in crinkled tops.
- If you are in a time pinch, you can chill the dough in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes. However for best results, chill in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight.
- Don’t roll out the dough too thin! For perfectly soft, puffy cookies, your dough needs to be about 1/3 of an inch thick once rolled out.
- If your cookie cutter is sticking, dip it in flour first before using it to cut out each cookie. Here’s some fun Christmas cookie cutters I love!
Also, these cookies freeze perfectly! Just stack them in an airtight container, with parchment paper between the layers, and then wrap the whole container in tin foil and plastic wrap. They store really well for one to two months. When you decide to use them, just remove from the freezer and bring them to room temperature (still in the container so they don’t dry out) before frosting and decorating.
I hope you enjoy these sugar cookies as much as we do! Consider making a double batch, cause they will go fast! Don’t forget to enter our #ChristmasCookiesWeek Giveaway below! Check out the giveaway details and awesome prize packages from our sponsors here!
The BEST Soft Sugar Cookies
These perfectly soft and chewy sugar cookies are the best! They are wonderful rolled out or just pressed, and perfect for decorating for the holidays!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: about 18-20 medium cookies 1x
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- 6 tablespoons softened butter
- 6 tablespoons shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour plus 1-3 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Buttercream Frosting
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 2/3 cup salted butter, softened
- 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (or 4 tablespoons milk)
- 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Decorations
- Fahoo Fores Sprinkle Pop Mix
- Winter Wonderland Sprinkle Pop Mix
- Gel food coloring for frosting
- Sparkling Sugar
- Cookie Cutters (here’s the snowflake I used)
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
- With the paddle attachment, beat together the softened butter, shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract.
- Add 2 1/2 cups flour, baking powder and salt and mix well until combined.
- Touch the dough, if sticky add 1-3 tablespoons flour until it is just barely not sticky to the touch. It should still be really soft. (Remember, you will end up adding a little more flour as you roll out the dough to keep it from sticking to your surface, so don’t add to much now). Continue to beat/knead the dough for a minute or two.
- For pressed cookies, roll into balls and press with the back bottom of a glass cup until about 1/3-1/2 inch thick and the sides are cracked.
- For rolled out shapes, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or overnight.
- Flour your surface, hands, and rolling pin. Knead the dough for a minute and then roll out with rolling pin until it’s about 1/3 of an inch thick.
- Use desired cookie cutters (I used this snowflake cookie cutter), dipping them in flour if they are sticking to the dough.
- Bake cookies at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes. You want to take them out before they start to turn golden brown on the top. They will look under cooked, don’t worry, they will continue to cook a little more on the cookie sheet as they are cooling.
- Leave the cookies on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
- Once cool, frost and decorate as desired. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Buttercream Frosting
- Add all ingredients to a mixer with the whisk attachment.
- Beat on low and slowly increase the speed.
- Continue to beat for 2-3 minutes, or until the ingredients are well combined and the frosting is nice and fluffy.
Keywords: cookies, sugar cookies, holidays, Christmas, baking, dessert, treats, buttercream frosting, sprinkles
Also, check out these other #ChristmasCookiesWeek Recipes from today!
#ChristmasCookiesWeek Tuesday Recipes
- Authentic Italian Pizzelles by House of Nash Eats
- Chocolate Cherry Totos by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Dipped Fluffernutter Cookies by Cooking With Carlee
- Christmas Tree Whoopie Pies by The Freshman Cook
- Cranberry Kit-Kat Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Delicious Cookies by Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
- Gingernuts by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Havreflarn Norwegian Oatmeal Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Honey Sugar Cookies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Iced Cutout Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
- Peppermint Snowball Cookies by Family Around the Table
- Soft Gingerbread Cut Out Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
- The Best Soft Sugar Cookies by The Saucy Fig
- White Christmas Kiss Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- White Christmas Peppermint Holiday Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
Disclaimer: Thank you #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsors: Adams Extract, Sprinkle Pop, YumGoggle and Silpat for providing the prizes free of charge. The #ChristmasCookiesWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Four (4) winners will be selected at random from entries received. The prize packages will be fulfilled by and sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. #ChristmasCookiesWeek bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household are not eligible to enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookiesWeek posts or entry.
I love soft sugar cookies and these are gorgeous and perfect for Christmas!
★★★★★
You have made these classic Christmas cookies look like something extraordinary. I am sure they are tasty as heck and if these were served to me, I know I would be feeling like the design alone would let me know that I was about to eat something that took care to make. Thanks for sharing this recipe and great job!
These are ridiculously pretty and I love that you decorate them with buttercream instead of royal icing. SO much tastier. My 4 year old would love to “help with these”! Definitely trying these with him!
★★★★★
Would you make These w/out shortening if you dont have it on hand?
Yes! You can substitute butter or stick margarine for the shortening in equal proportions 🙂 However, a couple of things to note:
1.There may be some slight differences in texture
2.They will probably be a little darker in color (more golden)
3.They may spread a little and not hold their shape as well.
A lot of people prefer to use butter in their sugar cookies, because it does add a deeper flavor. However shortening helps cookies to hold their shape, and I’ve found I prefer it for these cookies (they still taste amazing!!). So it’s really just a matter of preference (flavor vs. holding shape) and I think the butter would work great for you!
I love soft sugar cookies. These are beautifully decorated.
Thank you! They were so fun to decorate with the family!
I love a classic like sugar cookies so good!
I need to spend quality time with my tips so I can make pretty cookies like these!! I can never pass up a sugar cookie. So simple but oh so delicious.
★★★★★
These are all just so cute! Don’t you just love playing with sprinkles?
I love a good, soft sugar cookie. You did a beautiful job decorating your cookies too! They are almost too pretty to eat 😉