The Best Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies Recipe (No Spreading)
I am so glad you are here to make these perfect sugar cookies. This recipe delivers soft, thick, bakery-style cookies that hold their shape perfectly for decorating, making them ideal for holidays or any sweet treat.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 160 min
- Yield: 3 dozen 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key for a soft cookie.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. Chilling prevents spreading.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Place the cut-out sugar cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely set and lightly golden. For softer cookies, err on the shorter baking time.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before you decorate them.
Notes
- For the best cut out sugar cookies that do not spread, make sure your butter is softened but still cool, not melted.
- Chilling the dough is not optional; it ensures your shapes stay crisp when baking.
- If you plan to decorate, wait until the cookies are completely cool. Use royal icing for the best decorating results.
- These are melt in your mouth cookies when eaten plain, too!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 85
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 19
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 30