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    Home » Food » Holiday Sugar Cookies

    Holiday Sugar Cookies

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Holiday Sugar Cookies are soft, delicious, and hold their shape after baking. You can use all your favorite cookie cutters!

    various sugar cookies including stars, snowmen, trees, and circles.

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase through my link, I may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

    the best cut out sugar cookie recipe

    This is the best cut-out sugar cookie recipe you'll find. Some sugar cookies don't cut well, need to be formed into balls to cook, or when they bake they lose shape. With these, they still remain soft, they're delicious, they are easy to cut and retain their shape when they bake.

    With this recipe, you get the best of both worlds. You'll have a cut-out recipe that maintains its shape when baked but is also soft and delicious. Everyone who tries them will be asking you for the recipe!

    sugar cookie ingredients

    • unsalted butter 
    • sugar
    • vanilla extract
    • egg
    • all purpose flour
    • baking powder
    • salt
    ingredients for homemade sugar cookies

    how to make homemade sugar cookies

    Detailed instructions and measurements to make holiday sugar cookies are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

    1. Cream together the butter and sugar for approximately 2 minutes. You want the mixture to be light and fluffy.
    2. Add in the vanilla and egg until fully combined.
    3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. If you are using a stand mixture, be sure to switch to the paddle attachment at this point in time. Slowly add in the flour mixture about ½ cup at a time until it is fully incorporated.
    4. Remove the dough and place on a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Cover with another sheet of wax or parchment paper and roll out to between ¼ - ½" thickness.
    5. Place on a cookie sheet and put in the refrigerator to chill for about 20 minutes.
    6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    7. Once chilled, remove from the fridge and remove the top sheet of paper. Cut out all the shapes, cover in sprinkles if you'd like and place on a silpat lined cookie sheet.
    8. Bake in the oven for 8-9 minutes. If you have to go in batches, keep an eye on them as you progress. If the dough has had time to come closer to room temperature, it will need less time to bake. You want them to firm up, but pull them from the oven before they begin to brown at all. Remove from the oven and allow to sit on the cookie sheet for about 30 seconds and then transfer to a cooling rack. Leaving them on the sheet will cause them to over cook.
    9. Once they've cooled completely, you can top with icing if you choose. Have fun baking and enjoy!
    • butter and sugar creamed together for sugar cookies
    • egg and vanilla added to the creamed butter and sugar in a mixing bowl
    • dry ingredients mixed together in a bowl for sugar cookies
    • dry ingredients added to the creamed butter and sugar in a mixing bowl for sugar cookies
    • sugar cookie dough mixed together in a mixing bowl with the mixer attachment
    • sugar cookie dough on wax paper
    • sugar cookie dough rolled out between two sheets of wax paper
    • sugar cookie dough being cut out with a circle cookie cutter
    • unbaked sugar cookies on a baking sheet

    tips, tricks and faqs

    The secret to making really easy cookie cutouts, especially if you're baking with children is to roll out the dough between two sheets of wax or parchment paper before chilling. If you do this and lay it on a cookie sheet, it only needs to chill for about 20 minutes. When you go to cut them out, it's very easy and they hold together much better. You also don't have to fight to roll out the dough and the best part is that there is no flouring your surface or your rolling pin!

    Be sure to spoon the flour into your measuring cup instead of scooping it. By spooning it into the measuring cup, you get an accurate measure and you won't end up with too much. Scooping can cause it to compact in the measuring cup resulting in too much flour. Too much and your sugar cookie dough becomes a sand texture and you have to start over. If you have too much flour, they also get a different flavor and don't bake upright.

    How long do sugar cookies last?

    If stored properly, sugar cookies will last up to a week.

    Why do sugar cookies spread when baking?

    Sugar cookies spread when baking because of the amount of fat melting in the oven. The flour to fat ratio needs to be perfect to maintain its shape. With this recipe, you'll have cookies that keep their shape even after baking.

    Can sugar cookie dough be made ahead of time?

    Sugar cookie dough can be made ahead of time. It will remain fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months when stored properly.

    Can sugar cookie dough be frozen?

    Yes! Sugar cookie dough works well frozen. You can choose to freeze it whole or after cutting out the cookies.

    snowman, star, tree and circle sugar cookies

    products and tools you'll need to make sugar cookies

    Image of baking sheet

    baking sheet

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    measuring spoons

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    measuring cups

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    Image of parchment paper

    parchment paper

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    Image of KitchenAid Stand Mixer

    KitchenAid Stand Mixer

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    Image of wax paper

    wax paper

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    Image of rolling pin

    rolling pin

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    Image of glass mixing bowls

    glass mixing bowls

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    how to store sugar cookies

    Sugar cookies need to be stored in an airtight container on the countertop. They'll remain fresh and soft as long as they are stored properly.

    other cookie recipes you might like

    • Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Cheesecake Cookies
    • Cookies & Cream Cookies
    sugar cookies cut into snowmen, trees, stars, and circles

    Homemade Sugar Cookie Recipe

    These sugar cookies not only hold their shape, but they are flavorful and soft! No more crispy, crunchy cookies. They make the perfect base for royal icing, or they are great just left plain.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 8 mins
    Total Time 38 mins
    Course Cookies
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 cookies
    Calories 113 kcal
    Protein 0 g

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 sticks unsalted butter room temperature
    • 1 ¼ cup sugar
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 large egg
    • 3 cups flour
    • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
    • ¼ tsp salt

    Instructions
     

    • Cream together the butter and sugar for approximately 2 minutes. You want the mixture to be light and fluffy.
    • Add in the vanilla and egg until fully combined.
    • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. If you are using a stand mixture, be sure to switch to the paddle attachment at this point in time. Slowly add in the flour mixture about ½ cup at a time until it is fully incorporated.
    • Remove the dough and place on a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Cover with another sheet of wax or parchment paper and roll out to between ¼ - ½" thickness.
    • Place on a cookie sheet and put in the refrigerator to chill for about 20 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • Once chilled, remove from the fridge and remove the top sheet of paper. Cut out all the shapes, cover in sprinkles if you'd like and place on a silpat lined cookie sheet.
    • Bake in the oven for 8-9 minutes. If you have to go in batches, keep an eye on them as you progress. If the dough has had time to come closer to room temperature, it will need less time to bake. You want them to firm up, but pull them from the oven before they begin to brown at all. Remove from the oven and allow to sit on the cookie sheet for about 30 seconds and then transfer to a cooling rack. Leaving them on the sheet will cause them to over cook.
    • Once they've cooled completely, you can top with icing if you choose. Have fun baking and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Homemade Sugar Cookie Recipe
    Serving Size
     
    1 cookie
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    113
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    8
    g
    12
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    31
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    28
    mg
    9
    %
    Sodium
     
    32
    mg
    1
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    11
    g
    4
    %
    Fiber
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword christmas, christmas cookies, cookies, sugar cookies
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy. It should only be used for estimation purposes and is not a guarantee of any kind. Nutritional information varies widely between brands and types of ingredients used. It is recommended that you calculate the nutritional information based on your own ingredients and brands used. Sweetly Splendid, LLC makes no guarantees as to the exact nutrition information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Binky Bell

      December 15, 2019 at 9:59 pm

      This is the absolute best sugar cookie recipe I’ve used. It’s incredibly easy to make, they hold their shape when baked, they stay soft and the flavor is amazing. I’ve already passed the recipe to a dozen people.

      Reply
    2. Cristina Schackman

      November 25, 2020 at 9:16 am

      5 stars
      Super easy and fun with the kids! I never thought about rolling the dough between two pieces of parchment paper before but it is a game changer.

      Reply
    3. Annette

      December 22, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      Just made a triple batch. Do you have the royal ucing recipe? Ty.

      Reply
      • kara

        December 28, 2021 at 4:14 pm

        Hi Annette! I usually don't ice mine, but when I do, I use a combination of 4 cups powdered sugar, 3 tbsp meringue powder, and 3-5 tbsp of milk. The milk is what I use to get my desired consistency. I also sometimes add a little vanilla extract.

        Reply

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    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes. Learn more about Kara...

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