How to Make Perfect Sugar Cookies from Scratch

Have you ever craved for sugar cookies that melt in your mouth? Don’t worry, because you can make them from scratch and it’s easier than you might think! With just a few ingredients and little bit of patience, you can create delicious sugar cookies that will impress your friends and family.

To make sugar cookies from scratch, you will need all-purpose flour, sugar, butter, egg, vanilla extract, baking powder, salt, and up to 40 minutes of preparation and cooking time. You can also try adding different flavorings or decorations to make your sugar cookies unique. Whether you’re an experienced baker or a beginner, follow these simple steps to create sweet, crumbly, and soft sugar cookies that everyone will love.

Gather the ingredients

Sugar cookies are simple to make, and the ingredients needed are probably already in your pantry. Here are the ingredients that you’ll need to get:

Butter: You can either use unsalted or salted butter, whichever is more convenient for you. Let it soften before use.

Sugar: Both granulated and powdered sugar are used. Granulated sugar adds sweetness, while powdered sugar makes the cookies tender.

Egg: A beaten egg helps to bind the dough together.

All-Purpose Flour: Flour is used to give the cookies their structure.

Baking Powder: Baking powder gives the cookies their rise.

Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the cookies.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract gives a distinct aroma and flavor.

Milk: Depending on the recipe, milk can be added to enrich the dough.

Preheat the Oven and Prep the Baking Sheet

It’s essential to prepare your baking sheet to ensure that your sugar cookies are perfectly baked. First, preheat your oven to 350 F. Next, line the baking sheet with parchment paper. It will make cleanup easy and prevent the cookies from sticking to the sheet.

Cream the Butter and Sugar

To start making the sugar cookie dough, you’ll need to cut the butter into smaller pieces and add it to a large mixing bowl. Beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until it’s light and fluffy. You can also use a stand mixer.

Gradually add the granulated and powdered sugar to the butter and beat it until it is fully incorporated. The mixture should be creamy and light-colored.

Add the Egg and Vanilla Extract

Incorporate the beaten egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture. Beat on medium speed until it’s well-combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.

Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Sifting the flour is optional but recommended as it makes the dough more uniform and smoother.

Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a cookie dough forms. Avoid over-mixing, which can make the cookies tough.

Refrigerate the Dough

Once the dough has come together, it’s time to chill it before baking. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or until it’s firm to the touch. Chilling is an essential step as it helps the cookies hold their shape and prevents them from spreading too much during baking.

Roll Out and Cut the Cookies

When the dough has chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for several minutes. Then place it on a lightly floured surface and roll it out evenly with a rolling pin.

Cut the dough into desired shapes using cookie cutters. To prevent sticking, dip the cutters in flour before each cut. Place each cookie onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the Cookies

Bake the sugar cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Avoid opening the oven door while baking to keep the temperature and bake time consistent.

Cool and Decorate the Cookies

Let the sugar cookies cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack. Decorating the cookies is a fun and creative way to make them more appealing. You can use frosting, sprinkles, colored sugar, or whatever decorations you desire.

Store the Cookies

To keep the cookies fresh, store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. You can also freeze the cookies for up to three months if you want to enjoy them later. Ensure that they are well-wrapped before storing them in the freezer.

Ingredients for making sugar cookies from scratch

Making sugar cookies from scratch is a classic recipe that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. The best part about making sugar cookies from scratch is that it’s easy to do and requires simple ingredients that are readily available in your kitchen. Here’s a list of ingredients you’ll need to make homemade sugar cookies:

1. All-purpose flour

All-purpose flour is a key ingredient in making sugar cookies from scratch. It gives the cookies structure and texture. When measuring flour, ensure you spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the top with the flat side of a knife.

2. Baking powder

Baking powder is another essential ingredient in this recipe. It is responsible for making the cookies rise and become fluffy. Ensure your baking powder is fresh and not expired to avoid any unwanted taste in the cookies.

3. Salt

Salt brings out the flavor of the cookies and enhances the sweetness. A pinch of salt goes a long way in this recipe.

4. Unsalted butter

Butter adds flavor and richness to sugar cookies. Make sure your butter is at room temperature, so it creams well with the sugar, giving the cookies a fluffy and soft texture.

5. Granulated sugar

Granulated sugar provides sweetness to the cookies. Creaming together the butter and sugar is an important step in this recipe – it ensures the sugar is fully dissolved, and the mixture is light and fluffy.

6. Egg

Egg acts as a binder in this recipe and helps create structure in the cookies. Ensure your eggs are at room temperature to ensure even mixing.

7. Vanilla extract

Vanilla extract adds flavor and aroma to sugar cookies, making them taste heavenly. Use pure vanilla extract rather than imitation for the best flavor.

8. Milk

Milk plays a role in adding moisture to the cookie dough, resulting in a softer texture once baked. Ensure you add just enough milk to the dough to avoid making it too wet.

9. Sprinkles (optional)

Sprinkles add color and pop to sugar cookies. You can choose to use them or leave them out of the recipe.

10. Parchment paper

Parchment paper helps prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheet and ensures even baking. It’s a must-have when making sugar cookies.

Now that we know what ingredients we need let’s move on to the next section – baking instructions.

Ingredients Needed for Making Sugar Cookies

Making sugar cookies from scratch is quite easy, and the best part is you can customize the recipe to fit your personal taste. Before starting to bake, it is important to gather all the necessary ingredients. Here are the ingredients you will need:

Step 1: Preparing the Dough

Before anything else, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a mixing bowl, sift your flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Set the mixture aside and get your wet ingredients ready. In a separate mixing bowl, cream your butter and sugar until well-combined. Remember to scrape down the sides of your bowl to ensure even mixing.

Next, add in your egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture, and mix until it’s smooth. Now, gradually incorporate your dry ingredients into the wet ingredients bowl. Mix until well combined but stop once cracks start to show in the dough – overmixing will make your cookies turn out tough.

Step 2: Shaping the Cookies

Now that your dough is ready, it’s time to start shaping your cookies. Prepare your cookie sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Roll your dough into small balls of about an inch thick and space them out on the sheet pan to allow for spreading while baking.

For more variation, you can roll the balls of dough in granulated sugar or add sprinkles to make them more festive. Don’t forget to flatten the dough balls down slightly with the bottom of a glass – this will give you evenly shaped cookies to bake.

Step 3: Baking the Cookies

Place the cookie sheet into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 8-10 minutes, or until the edges start to brown slightly. Be careful not to overcook your cookies because they will continue to bake on the hot sheet even after removal from the oven.

Once they are done, remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Once they are cool enough to handle, move them into an airtight container, and store them at room temperature or the refrigerator.

Step 4: Decorating Your Cookies

Sugar cookies are great canvases for decorating. Once you have baked and cooled your sugar cookies, unleash your creativity by decorating them with frosting, sprinkles, or edible glitter. You can also try using food coloring to dye the frosting.

Remember that sugar cookies are very delicate, so handle them carefully while decorating. Give yourself plenty of time to decorate each cookie and allow them to dry before stacking them in a container.

Step 5: Enjoying Your Sugar Cookies

You’re now ready to enjoy your sugar cookies! Whether you’re sharing them with friends or family, or just eating them on your own, sugar cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Remember to store them well to prevent them from drying out or becoming stale.

Now that you know how to make sugar cookies from scratch, it’s time to start baking and get creative with your decorating. Follow this recipe, and soon you will have a batch of the most scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies!

Enjoy Your Delicious Homemade Sugar Cookies!

That’s it, you did it! You’ve made scrumptious sugar cookies from scratch. How amazing is that? Baking can be a fun and wonderful experience, especially when you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any other tips or tricks, please share them in the comments section below. Thank you for taking the time to read our article. We hope you come back again soon for more delicious recipes and baking techniques that you can enjoy with your loved ones. Happy baking!