Soft Sugar Cookies

Name: Soft Sugar Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 10 - 12
Ingredients: 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; 1 c. (2 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature; 1 1/3 c. sugar, plus 1/4 c. for rolling; 2 large eggs, at room temperature; 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Just like your favorite treat from a bakery.

By Ree DrummondPublished: Nov 12, 2024

1 Rating

Jump to recipe

the pioneer woman's soft sugar cookies recipe

C.W. Newell

Yields:

10 - 12

Prep Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

55 mins

Sugar cookies are such a classic Christmas dessert, but some days I don't have the time or energy to roll out dough or dig out cookie cutters, much less deal with icing and sprinkles. I just need a sugar cookie and I need it now (with a glass of eggnog while I'm at it). These simple, unadorned sugar cookies are soft in the center, delicately crisp around the edges, and are just about the best thing you'll ever taste fresh out of the oven.

Beyond the mouthwatering flavor and texture, my favorite part about these Christmas cookies is that they're ready in under an hour. My second favorite part is that the recipe only requires seven ingredients. If you've got the baking basics on hand, you're all set! Now go make a batch.

What is the secret to soft sugar cookies?

It starts with the ingredients. These cookies contain a higher butter to flour ratio than other sugar cookie recipes, plus there's two eggs in the dough. Both the butter and eggs add a lot of moisture to the cookies which contributes to their softness. The cookies also contain baking powder which gives them a light, caky texture. Another contributing factor is the size of these cookies. I use a 1/3 cup scoop to scoop them, so they're quite large. Because of their size, they take longer to spread out in the oven, leaving you with soft centers. Whatever you do, don't overbake these! (If you form smaller cookies, they'll need less time in the oven.) Once the cookies start to look golden, pull them out. They'll continue to set up on the baking sheet as they cool.

Can this recipe be used for cut-out cookies?

No, this recipe won't work for cut-out cookies. The dough spreads when it's baked which will cause the cookies to lose their shape. Use my favorite cut-out Christmas sugar cookies recipe instead.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups
all-purpose flour
2 tsp.
baking powder
1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
1 cup
(2 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature
1 1/3 cups
sugar, plus 1/4 c. for rolling
2
large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp.
vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Directions

1. Step 1Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Step 2In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Step 3In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter with 1 1/3 cups of the sugar until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, followed by the vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture until just combined.
4. Step 4Put the remaining 1/4 cup sugar on a shallow plate. Using a 1/3-cup scoop, scoop the dough directly into the sugar. Roll to coat well and place on the prepared baking sheet. Press lightly to flatten the tops. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
5. Step 5Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.
6. Step 6Arrange the cookie dough mounds on 2 unlined baking sheets, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cookies are just set and the edges are lightly golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Allow to cool slightly on the baking sheets, about 5 minutes, before transferring the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Tip: Soft sugar cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or in the freezer for up to three months. Let the cookies thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. The unbaked scooped dough can be frozen for up to three months; bake them from frozen, adding 1 to 2 minutes to the bake time.