Soft Sugar Cookies

This is the best soft sugar cookie recipe we’ve ever tried and results in delicious cookies with the perfect texture and a fantastic flavor.

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Table of Contents

Soft Sugar Cookies Ingredients
How to Make This Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
More Recipes You’ll Love
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These chewy soft sugar cookies with frosting are a classic recipe you will love adding to your cookie jar. Made with simple pantry staples, you will be rewarded with a delicious treat that will melt in your mouth.

Soft Sugar Cookies Ingredients

Soft Sugar Cookies raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

2½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup salted butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
Lofthouse frosting and sprinkles (optional)

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

COATING: You can also roll the cookies in a little bit of granulated sugar for a little crisp around the outside. This will change the texture of these chewy cookies just a bit.

How to Make This Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

For best results, make sure to use room temperature butter and eggs for this recipe.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside.

STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set dry ingredients aside.

flour, baking soda, and baking powder whisked in a bowl

STEP THREE: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy (about 1 minute).

PRO TIP:

Creaming the ingredients as instructed is important to achieve the right texture for the cookie. The dough will turn visibly lighter in color as it creams together.

STEP FOUR: Add vanilla and almond extracts, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until well combined.

vanilla and almond extract, sugar, and brown sugar combined in a cup

STEP FIVE: Add the egg and egg yolk. Beat for 3 to 4 minutes on high speed, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl occasionally to fully cream the wet ingredients.

STEP SIX: Add ½ of the flour mixture and beat in on low speed just until combined. Add the other half of the flour mixture and beat in until combined. Do not overbeat.

PRO TIP:

The sugar cookie dough does not need to be chilled. Cookies will spread less if the dough is chilled, but you will still achieve a nice soft, chewy texture. Cook time may need to be adjusted.

flour mixture added to the vanilla mixture in a cup

STEP SEVEN: Use a cookie scoop to scoop 2½ tablespoon-size balls of dough. Roll between your fingertips to form smooth balls. Place balls on a prepared baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart. Press down the center of the ball just slightly.

PRO TIP:

Pressing down the cookie dough balls isn’t necessary, but it helps them to spread more evenly. I would especially recommend this if your dough is cold.

press dough ball slightly into the cookie sheet

STEP EIGHT: Bake for 8 to 9 minutes or until cookies have just a hint of brown around the bottom edges and are set on top. Allow to cool for 3 to 4 minutes, then transfer to a cooling 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.

Soft Sugar Cookies baked in a baking sheet

STEP NINE: Frost cooled cookies and garnish with sprinkles if desired.

How To Serve

Serve these soft cookies with a warm mug of hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte for an evening snack. You could also add them to a tray along with our spritz cookies and shortbread cookies.

For more classic recipes for delicious sugar cookies, our lemon sugar cookies and swig sugar cookie recipe are two of our favorites.

MORE COOKIE RECIPES

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Peanut Butter Cookies

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Italian Cookies

Storage

ON THE COUNTER: Store the unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can also freeze these soft, chewy sugar cookies for up to 3 months.

a close up shot of Soft Sugar Cookies piled on top of each other

This delicious cookie recipe creates super soft cookies with a nice bit of chew to them. Change the color of icing depending on the time of year, and add them to your cookie jar for a fun and sweet snack.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the best way to transport homemade sugar cookies, so they stay looking nice?

Store and transport these soft frosted sugar cookies in a single layer so that the icing and sprinkles don’t get flattened.

Does sugar cookie dough need to be chilled?

Chilling this soft sugar cookie dough is optional, and they will turn out perfectly even if the dough has not been chilled.

Can I freeze these cookies?

You can freeze easy sugar cookie recipe stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

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Soft Sugar Cookies

5 from 50 votes

This is the best soft sugar cookie recipe we’ve ever tried and results in delicious cookies with the perfect texture and a fantastic flavor.

Prep Time 8

Cook Time 8

Total Time 16

Servings

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Ingredients

2½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup salted butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 large egg yolk
Lofthouse frosting and sprinkles, optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy (about 1 minute).
Add vanilla and almond extracts, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in until well combined.
Add the egg and egg yolk. Beat for 3 to 4 minutes on high speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally to fully cream the wet ingredients.
Add ½ of the flour mixture and beat in on low speed just until combined. Add the other half of the flour mixture and beat in until combined. Do not overbeat.
Scoop 2½ tablespoon size balls of cookie dough. Roll between your fingertips to form smooth balls. Place balls on prepared sheet pans spaced 2 inches apart. Press down the center of the ball just slightly.
Bake for 8 to 9 minutes or until cookies have just a hint of brown around the bottom edges and are set on top. Allow to cool for 3 to 4 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Frost cooled cookies and garnish with sprinkles if desired.

Notes

For best results, make sure to use room temperature butter and eggs for this recipe.
Creaming the ingredients as instructed is important to achieve the right texture for the cookie. The dough will turn visibly lighter in color as it creams together.
The sugar cookie dough does not need to be chilled. Cookies will spread less if the dough is chilled, but you will still achieve a nice soft, chewy texture. Cook time may need to be adjusted.
Pressing down the cookie dough balls isn’t necessary, but it helps them to spread more evenly. I would especially recommend this if your dough is cold.
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.

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!

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Layne Kangas Marketing
Rhadonda Sedgwick Creative Director
Stefanie Knaus Photographer
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant

Soft Sugar Cookies

Soft Sugar Cookies Ingredients

How to Make This Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe

How To Serve

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Storage

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