Soft cut out sugar cookie recipe that keeps its shape and dough does not need to be chilled before baking- perfect edges every time!
Prep time: PT30M
Total time: PT38M
Rating
4.6 stars (1118 reviews)
Keywords
best, christmas, cookie, frosting, sugar cookie
Ingredients
1 Cup unsalted butter (226 grams)
1 Cup granulated white sugar (200 grams)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups all purpose flour (360 grams)
Categories
Dessert
Cuisine
American
Steps
PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
In the bowl of your mixer, CREAM butter and sugar until smooth, at least 3 minutes
BEAT in extracts and egg. (PLEASE NOTE there is 1 egg in this recipe.)
In a separate bowl, COMBINE baking powder and salt with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the dough looks crumbly keep mixing for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer. The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the mixer.
If the dough still looks too dry or stiff for your mixer, turn out the dough onto a countertop surface, flour surface as needed. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.
DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches (2-3 chunks), roll out onto a floured surface, and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8).
Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 107 kcal
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Protein: 1 g
Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Cholesterol: 18 mg
Sodium: 59 mg
Sugar: 6 g
Reviews
Rachel Burton on 2026-01-10 (5 stars): Would I be able to use this recipe as a cookie cake?
Gabby on 2026-01-08 (5 stars): If someone is allergic to almond extract, should I do 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla or just omit it?
Kelly on 2025-12-30 (5 stars): Love this recipe so much! I use it every year at the holidays and whenever the need for a sugar cookie arises. We needed to make GF sugar cookies this year, so I followed the recipe as usual, subbing in King Arthur GF Measure for Measure flour, but it came out very sandy. Ended up adding in about 1/4 of a cup of more milk and it was perfect!
Casey on 2025-12-26 (5 stars): Delicious recipe! I only had to make one batch and we had plenty to decorate. The cookies baked without expanding. I will forever use this recipe! Thank you!
Laura Morse on 2025-12-24 (5 stars): This is our 6th year making your recipe. They are the BEST! Especially coming from a non-baker! So easy to do. Soft, flavorful and so fun to decorate. Thank you!
Rachel on 2025-12-23 (5 stars): This recipe is literally impossible to mess up. I am relatively new to baking and these consistently turn out great. My family now demands that I make them for Christmas every year, because they are that good. Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe!!
Amanda on 2025-12-23 (4 stars): I use this recipe year after year and my kids just eat them up, no frosting. But it barely makes 15 cookies. I usually double my recipe !
Lisa on 2025-12-23 (5 stars): truly amazing cookies 🍪
Stephanie on 2025-12-23 (5 stars): Replying to myself 😂 as I’m about to make these again this year!
Briana on 2025-12-22 (5 stars): Best sugar cookie recipe around! So simple and always turn out perfect!!
Christine on 2025-12-21 (5 stars): The perfect recipe. This is the best sugar cookie recipe. I sent it to everyone. I do refrigerate my dough and it still turns out great. Just add a couple minutes to the baking time.
Tracey Howlett on 2025-12-20 (5 stars): I just made these for my grandkids! They are amazing! I followed directions as written and I’m so impressed how the cookies hold their shape. Best of all… no refrigeration ❤️
ANN S on 2025-12-20 (5 stars): Super easy and good cookies. Will make again. Love that there is no chilling needed. Makes it so easy to do with kids.
Lana Stevens on 2025-12-19 (5 stars): Is it ok if you need to chill the dough?
