Using basic ingredients, this sugar cookie recipe comes together quickly and effortlessly. Enjoy them just the way they are or with some candy tossed in. They taste fantastic when my friend tops them with chocolate mints!
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this top-rated sugar cookie recipe. It comes together with just a few ingredients you likely already have on hand — and the sugar cookies turn out perfect every time.
How to Prepare Sugar Cookies
The recipe is below, along with a thorough ingredient list and step-by-step instructions, but first, let's review the fundamentals:
Ingredients for Sugar Cookies
The following basic components will enable you to create the most delicious sugar cookies of your life:
- Flour: This easy sugar cookie recipe starts with all-purpose flour.
- Leaveners: Baking soda and baking powder act as leaveners, which means they help the cookies rise.
- Butter: Two sticks of butter add moisture and richness.
- Sugar: Of course, you'll need sugar for sugar cookies!
- Egg: An egg lends more moisture and helps bind the cookie dough togethe
How to Make Completely Handmade Sugar Cookies
Here's a brief rundown of what to anticipate from making sugar cookies from scratch:
- In one bowl, beat together sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla; in another, combine flour and leaveners.
- Blend the flour mixture into the butter mixture bit by bit.
- Form dough into balls and bake until brown around the edges.
What Is the Duration of Sugar Cookies?
After cooling, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to one week. If your cookies are iced, place wax paper between each layer to keep them from sticking.

Can Sugar Cookies Be Freeze-Stored?
Indeed! Both sugar cookie dough and cooked cookies can be frozen.
- To freeze dough for cookies:Give the baked cookies time to cool fully. Put them on a baking sheet in a single layer, cover, and freeze for at least three hours or overnight. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. For further protection, wrap in at least one sheet of foil. For up to two months, freeze.
- To freeze dough for cookies: Form the dough into balls and transfer to a baking sheet covered with parchment. For up to three hours or overnight, cover and freeze. Move the frozen cookies into a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. For further protection, wrap in at least one sheet of foil. For up to two months, freeze.
Recipes Community Advice and Accolades
"Perfection," TSAF exclaims. I was asked to bake wedding drop sugar cookies, and I'm really happy with how they turned out. Creamed butter and sugar with a stand mixer for at least three minutes, scraping down the bowl several times."
"I know this will sound melodramatic, but I've been looking for a good sugar cookie recipe my whole life," writes ILOVEFOOD! "When I tried this recipe, I had come to terms with the notion that I would never find it. The cookies remained chewy for days after baking up crispy and buttery with the perfect amount of sweetness."
The recipe is "perfect for a Saturday morning when your 3-year-old wants to make cookies," according to jkozelj. I'm glad to report that the recipe is safe for toddlers! Add a generous teaspoon of salt and some vanilla flavor for the adults among us."
Ingredients
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Stir flour, baking soda, and baking powder together in a small bowl.
Beat sugar and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in flour mixture. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets briefly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
86 Calories 4g Fat 12g Carbs 1g Protein Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 48 Calories 86 % Daily Value * Total Fat 4g 5% Saturated Fat 3g 13% Cholesterol 14mg 5% Sodium 60mg 3% Total Carbohydrate 12g 4% Dietary Fiber 0g 1% Total Sugars 6g Protein 1g 2% Calcium 6mg 0% Iron 0mg 2% Potassium 11mg 0% * The 2,000 calorie diet is the basis for the percent daily values. Depending on how many calories you require each day, your figures may be greater or lower.
** Not all ingredients have nutrient information accessible. The amount is determined by the available nutritional data.
(-) This nutrient does not yet have any information available. Before making this dish for your own use, please check with your physician or qualified dietitian if you are on a medically restricted diet.