Description
Sweet, buttery easy sugar cookies melt in your mouth with classic simplicity. Crisp edges and delicate centers invite bakers of all skill levels to enjoy a timeless treat that sparks childhood memories.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cream softened butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale yellow, using an electric mixer at medium speed for about 3 minutes.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, blending until completely smooth and uniform in texture.
- Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl to ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing gently with a spatula until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing the butter to firm and flavors to meld.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove chilled dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface to approximately 1/4-inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to shape the dough, transferring each cut-out carefully to the prepared baking sheets with about 1 inch of space between cookies.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional: Dust with powdered sugar or decorate with simple icing if desired.
Notes
- Chill the dough for extra firmness and prevent spreading during baking, ensuring crisp cookie edges and clean shapes.
- Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming, which creates a more uniform and lighter cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough, dense cookies; mix just until ingredients are combined for tender, delicate results.
- Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals, maintaining the same delightful cookie experience.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 144
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 22 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg