If you’re searching for that perfect, timeless treat to fill your kitchen with the warm aroma of vanilla and almond, look no further than this delightful Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe. These cookies are pure joy packaged in simple ingredients, perfectly crisp yet tender, and ready for decorating with all the colors and sprinkles your heart desires. Whether it’s for the holidays, a birthday, or just because, this recipe brings a nostalgic charm and endless creativity to your baking adventures.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a key role in creating that classic buttery texture and sweet flavor. The combination is simple yet essential to getting cookies that hold their shape and taste irresistibly good.
- Unsalted butter (1 cup, softened): The foundation of richness and softness in your cookies, softened for easy mixing.
- Granulated sugar (1 cup): Adds sweetness and helps with the tender crumb, giving that classic sugar cookie flavor.
- Egg (1): Binds the dough together and adds moisture for chewiness.
- Vanilla extract (1½ tsp): Provides the familiar aromatic warmth that makes sugar cookies absolutely irresistible.
- Almond extract (½ tsp, optional): This small addition amps up the bakery-style flavor, adding depth and complexity.
- All-purpose flour (2½ cups): The structure of the cookie, ensuring a perfect sturdy base to hold your cut-out shapes.
- Baking powder (¾ tsp): Gives a slight lift so the cookies aren’t too dense but beautifully tender.
- Salt (¼ tsp): Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
How to Make Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Workspace
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This simple step ensures your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick, which is especially important when working with delicate cut-out shapes.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture turns light and fluffy — about 2 to 3 minutes. This step is crucial as it incorporates air, which gives your cookies that soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Step 3: Incorporate Egg and Extracts
Next, add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if you’re using it). Beat these together until everything is well combined and smooth, creating a fragrant, luscious dough base that smells like cookie magic in the making.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Form Dough
Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add this dry mixture into your wet butter and sugar mixture. Mix just until the dough forms — be careful not to overwork it, so your cookies stay tender.
Step 5: Roll and Cut the Dough
Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough out to about a quarter-inch thick. Then take your favorite cookie cutters and press them into the dough to create fun shapes. This is where your creativity gets to shine and where the “cut-out” magic happens!
Step 6: Arrange on Baking Sheets
Transfer your cut cookies to the lined baking sheets, placing them about 1 inch apart. Giving them a little room helps the edges bake perfectly crisp without merging into one another.
Step 7: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn a lovely golden color. Once out of the oven, let them cool completely on a wire rack before decorating — this step ensures your icing won’t melt and your designs stay sharp.
How to Serve Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
The fun of this Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe really shines with beautiful garnishes. Think classic royal icing in bright hues, sprinkle-covered sugar, edible glitter, or even delicate piped patterns. Let your imagination run wild to make each cookie uniquely special.
Side Dishes
While these cookies stand perfectly well on their own, serving them alongside a warm cup of tea, fresh milk, or hot cocoa turns snack time into a cozy celebration. They also pair wonderfully with light fruit or a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgently sweet treat.
Creative Ways to Present
Present your cookies in decorative tins, layered on colorful plates, or tied up with festive ribbons to turn them into edible gifts. Grouping assorted shapes around a beautiful centerpiece can brighten up any holiday party or family gathering, making your Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe the star of the show.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers (a rare occurrence!), store your cut-out sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to a week, preserving their tender texture beautifully.
Freezing
You can freeze the dough or the baked cookies! Wrap dough tightly in plastic and freeze for up to 3 months — just thaw, roll, and cut when ready. Baked cookies can also be frozen in a sealed container for up to 2 months and thawed at room temperature before enjoying.
Reheating
Reheating isn’t often necessary, but if you like your cookies slightly warm, a few seconds in the microwave or a low oven setting will do the trick. Be careful not to overheat, so you keep that perfect balance of soft interior and crisp edges intact.
FAQs
Can I substitute the almond extract in the Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! The almond extract is optional and adds a lovely bakery-style twist, but you can leave it out or replace it with a little more vanilla extract for a straightforward classic flavor.
How thick should I roll out the cookie dough?
Rolling your dough to about ¼-inch thickness is ideal for sturdy yet tender cookies that hold their shape well while baking.
Do I need to chill the dough before cutting out shapes?
While not required, chilling the dough for 30 minutes can make it easier to handle and help cookies keep their shape better. However, this recipe works great without chilling too!
Will these cookies spread much in the oven?
No, these cookies hold their shape nicely thanks to the proper flour ratio and baking powder. Just be sure not to over-flour the surface when rolling to avoid dry edges.
How should I decorate these cut-out sugar cookies?
After cooling, decorate with royal icing, buttercream, sprinkles, or edible markers. Let your creativity guide you—these cookies are perfect canvases for festive designs.
Final Thoughts
I hope you feel inspired to whip up this Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe and make some magical memories in your kitchen. There’s just something so satisfying about rolling out dough, pressing in your favorite shapes, and decorating each cookie with love. Trust me, once you try this recipe, it’ll become a go-to classic for every special occasion you want to celebrate with a sweet smile.
Print
Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 medium-sized cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These classic Cut-Out Sugar Cookies are buttery, soft, and perfect for decorating. Featuring a delightful hint of almond extract, they offer a bakery-style flavor that’s easy to make and fun for holiday or special occasion baking. Roll out the dough, cut with your favorite shapes, bake until just golden, and decorate to your heart’s content.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional but adds a bakery-style flavor)
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, which takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Add eggs and extracts: Beat in the egg, then stir in the vanilla and almond extract until fully combined, enhancing the cookies’ flavor.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt throughout the flour.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms without overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Roll out dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness, making it easier to cut and ensuring even baking.
- Cut out cookies: Use your favorite cookie cutters to shape the dough and transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn a light golden brown.
- Cool: Remove baked cookies from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheets before decorating as desired.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter to achieve the right texture when creaming with sugar.
- Almond extract is optional but recommended to provide a bakery-style flavor that distinguishes these sugar cookies.
- Be careful not to overbake to keep cookies soft and tender.
- Rolling dough between two sheets of parchment paper can make rolling and transferring easier and reduce the need for additional flour.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
