Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

These cut-out sugar cookies are a soft, buttery treat that you can cut into any shape you’d like depending on the time of year.

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Table of Contents

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How to Make This Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
How To Serve Frosted Sugar Cookies
Storing This Recipe For Frosted Sugar Cookies
Why We Love This Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
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Just in time for the holidays, we’ve got a delicious (and easy!) recipe for soft cut-out sugar cookies. Whether you’re making them for Santa or your friends and family, these cookies are delicious and sure to sweeten up any celebration year-round!

a close up shot of Cut-Out Sugar Cookies stacked on top of each other with one having a bite taken out of it

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Ingredients

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies raw ingredients that are labeled

Cut-out sugar cookies are the perfect indulgence. Crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, they seem to melt in your mouth with each bite.

Simple ingredients create a buttery texture which is combined with a hint of vanilla and almond to create a recipe for frosted sugar cookies that is simply heavenly.

You’ll need:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Substitutions And Additions

ICING: Our sugar cookie icing recipe is an excellent choice for decorating these soft sugar cookies.

VANILLA EXTRACT: Experiment with different extracts to infuse unique flavors into your cookies.

This is one of the simplest recipes to make. The batter comes together easily with a mixer. You’ll want to chill the dough for about an hour to ensure that the cookies don’t spread very much during baking.

Once chilled, roll out the cookie dough and use your cookie cutter to create simple circles or even other shapes. Bake the cookies and either serve them as is or add frosting and sprinkles on top.

STEP ONE: Prepare a baking sheet by either spraying it with baker’s spray (Baker’s Joy or generic) or lining it with parchment paper.

STEP TWO: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl and mix until combined, set aside.

STEP THREE: Add the room-temperature butter and sugar to a medium to large mixing bowl.

Beat with an electric mixer until creamy and well-combined, about nine minutes.

STEP FOUR: Add the eggs and extracts to the butter mixture, then mix until combined.

eggs and extract added to the butter mixture in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Add the dry ingredients in three parts and mix well.

STEP SIX: Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and chill the sugar cookie dough for at least an hour.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

It is important not to skip the chilling step. Chilling the dough will cause less spreading when the cookies bake.

STEP SEVEN: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

STEP EIGHT: Flour a work surface and roll dough out with a rolling pin until thin – about ¼-inch thickness.

STEP NINE: Use a cookie cutter(s) to cut cookies into the desired shape and place cookie shapes on prepared baking sheets.

Combine the excess dough from around the shapes and continue cutting shapes with the remaining dough until you don’t have any left.

PRO TIP:

The cookie dough is perfect for all different shapes of cookie cutters and any time of year.

using a cookie cutter cut mixture and place in a baking sheet

STEP TEN: Bake cookies for nine minutes or until just slightly beginning to brown.

Using a spatula, remove cookies from the pan and place them on a wire rack.

PRO TIP:

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cookies at the lower end of the recommended bake time.

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies placed in a baking sheet

STEP ELEVEN: Allow cookies to cool, then serve or decorate.

PRO TIP:

If you’re adding sprinkles, be sure to add them right away after frosting. If you wait too long, the frosting will dry enough that the sprinkles will not stick as well.

How To Serve Frosted Sugar Cookies

Cut-out sugar cookies are an iconic favorite, and they pair perfectly with a tall glass of cold milk.

If you’re looking for a more decadent treat to serve alongside them, try a homemade hot chocolate or mint chocolate chip milkshake.

These cookies have plenty of versatility and can be made for any special occasion throughout the year.

Add them to a Christmas cookie tray along with our Christmas pinwheels and peppermint snowball cookies, or turn them into hearts for Valentine’s day.

If you are looking for even more delicious cookie recipes, our Italian cookies, and thumbprint cookies are two yummy choices.

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No Spread Sugar Cookies

Storing This Recipe For Frosted Sugar Cookies

Now that you’ve baked up a delightful batch of our cut-out sugar cookies, it’s essential to know how to store them properly to keep them fresh and enjoyable.

MAKE AHEAD: These cookies are perfect for making ahead of time.

Once you’ve cut and baked your cookies, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

IN THE FRIDGE: You can store decorated or plain cut-out cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

IN THE FREEZER: You can store the undecorated cookies in a freezer-safe, airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for up to three months.

Make sure to label the container to ensure that you enjoy your cookies while they are the freshest.

Why We Love This Recipe

BUTTERY PERFECTION: The cookies are incredibly buttery and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The combination of butter, sugar, and vanilla creates a flavor that’s both rich and subtly sweet, making them perfect for pairing with various frostings, glazes, or toppings.

FUN FOR ALL AGES: Baking these cookies is a delightful activity for the whole family. It’s an excellent way to get kids involved in the kitchen, from rolling out the dough to decorating their own cookies.

CUSTOMIZABLE DECORATIONS: The cookies are a perfect canvas for decorating with various colored icing, sprinkles, and edible decorations. You can let your imagination run wild, making them suitable for any celebration or holiday.

There’s nothing quite like the smell of these cut out sugar cookies baking in the oven. The sweet, buttery aroma is enough to make your mouth water, and the sight of these soft, fluffy cookies is enough to send you into a sugar shock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze these cookies?

This easy sugar cookie recipe can be frozen for up to three months in an airtight container. Just make sure to thaw them on the counter before serving.

Do I have to chill the dough?

For best results, you need to chill the dough so that it is easier to roll and cut using the cookie cutters.

Can I use store-bought icing for this classic sugar cookie recipe?

Any cookie decorating icing, whether homemade or store-bought, is perfect for making your soft cookies fancy.

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Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

5 from 1 vote

These cut-out sugar cookies are a soft, buttery treat that you can cut into any shape you’d like depending on the time of year.

Cook Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or baker’s spray.
Add flour, baking powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl and mix until combined, set aside.
Add butter and sugar to a medium to large mixing bowl and beat until creamy and well-combined, about 9 minutes.
Add the eggs and extracts to the butter mixture, then mix until combined.
Add the flour mixture in three parts and mix well.
Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Flour a work surface and roll out the dough until about ¼-inch thick.
Use a cookie cutter(s) and place shapes on prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 9 minutes or until just slightly beginning to brown. Using a spatula, remove cookies from the pan and place them on a cooling rack.
Allow the cookies to cool, then serve or decorate.

Notes

It is important not to skip the chilling step. Chilling the dough will cause less spreading when the cookies bake.
The cookie dough is perfect for all different shapes of cookie cutters and any time of year.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cookies at the lower end of the recommended bake time.
If you’re adding sprinkles, be sure to add them right away after frosting. If you wait too long, the frosting will dry enough that the sprinkles will not stick as well.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Rhadonda Sedgwick Creative Director
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant

Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Ingredients

Substitutions And Additions

How To Serve Frosted Sugar Cookies

Magic Cookie Bars

No Spread Sugar Cookies

Storing This Recipe For Frosted Sugar Cookies

Why We Love This Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes You’ll Love