These Homemade Sugar Cookies have crispy edges and soft yet somewhat chewy centers. They are delicious and easy to make. The recipe includes helpful hints on getting these cookies just right.
Today is the second day of fall and with this gorgeous season comes lots of neat things. I just love mums, pumpkins, apple picking, and of course, cookies. Cookie season is almost upon us. Sugar cookies are indeed heavenly. They are perfect with a tall glass of milk or cup of warm coffee. These homemade sugar cookies are easy to whip up and with some helpful hints, you can have classic better than bakery-style cookies.
How to make Homemade Sugar Cookies
First, in a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Now in a large bowl, using a hand mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add one egg at a time and mix just until incorporated. Mix in vanilla and add flour mixture in three parts stirring until just blended. Scrape down the bowl and beat again for less than one minute. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Roll the sugar cookie dough balls in sugar and place on parchment-covered baking sheets. Gently press the balls down with the palm of your hand until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Bake 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown and centers are set.
Helpful hints on making Homemade Sugar Cookies!
- Whip the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about five minutes on high using a mixer or stand mixer.
- Don’t overwork the dough when adding the eggs, vanilla or flour.
- Don’t be overly concerned with getting the cookie balls perfectly round. You don’t want to overwork the dough.
- Make sure the sugar cookie dough is at the right temperature when rolling the balls. If the dough is too warm it will stick to your hands and not roll out into balls quickly. Place back in the refrigerator for 30-40 minutes. This is probably the most important step as the cookies will spread out too fast in the oven if the dough is not cold enough. When in doubt, refrigerate for 1-2 hours after mixing dough and in between batches.
- For best results use parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Always preheat your oven and load the cookies on the middle rack in the center of the oven.
- Make the first batch a test run. Bake one or two cookies. This allows you to make sure the dough has been chilled enough so the cookies do not spread too much and to test baking time.
Homemade Sugar Cookies are a DELICIOUS TREAT that the whole family can enjoy. If you are watching your sugar and can only enjoy one here and there then freeze them double wrapped in freezer bags and stored in a sturdy freezer container. Remove from freezer containers and thaw at room temperature so the condensation does not ruin the cookies. As soon as they are thawed, store in air-tight containers.
Other cookies you will love!
- Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
- Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Buttery Pecan Snowball Cookies
- Small Batch Almond Joy Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
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This post was originally published September 23, 2018 and was republished October 30, 2019 with new content.
Homemade Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup butter
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar.
- Using mixer cream butter with 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Turn mixer to low and add eggs one at a time and mix just until incorporated. Add vanilla and mix just until blended. Stir in flour mixture in three parts; scraping down the bowl and beaters.
- Cover and refrigerate dough for 1-2 hours.
- Roll the dough in 1 inch balls. Roll balls in remaining sugar and place on parchment covered baking sheets. Gently press the balls down with the palm of your hand until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Bake 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown and centers are set. Cool on cookie cooling racks.
Notes
- Whip the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about five minutes on high using a mixer or stand mixer.
- Don’t overwork the dough when adding the eggs, vanilla or flour.
- Don’t be overly concerned with getting the cookie balls perfectly round. You don’t want to overwork the dough.
- Make sure the sugar cookie dough is at the right temperature when rolling the balls. If the dough is too warm it will stick to your hands and not roll out into balls quickly. Place back in the refrigerator for 30-40 minutes. This is probably the most important step as the cookies will spread out too fast in the oven if the dough is not cold enough. When in doubt, refrigerate for 1-2 hours after mixing dough and in between batches.
- For best results use parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Always preheat your oven and load the cookies on the middle rack in the center of the oven.
- Make the first batch a test run. Bake one or two cookies. This allows you to make sure the dough has been chilled enough so the cookies do not spread too much and to test baking time.
Heather Johnson
perfect sugar cookies – so good you don’t even need to decorate – love them!
Cookilicious
love the fact that they are so easy to make. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Chef Mireille
These cookies are absolutely perfect when the muchies attach or now when boredom attacks. With kids at home, hunger many times is just boredom. This is the most delicious excuse for boredom!
Anita
A great sugar cookies recipe is a must to master. Plus, it’s really great for time like this when we probably don’t have many fancy ingredients at home to bake complicated cookies.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
I love a good sugar cookie. I love that it uses minimal ingredients: all ingredients I have on hand!! Definitely making this! 🙂
Jessica
This looks like a great chewy cookie good for any time of the year.
Bonnie
Can you put Icing on these sugar cookies?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can!
Deanne
These cookies baked up just how we love them – crispy and chewy at the same time! A make again recipe for sure!
Danielle Wolter
sugar cookies have always been a favorite of mine. Simple and delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!
kim
These were absolutely amazing! My family ate them up! Will definitely be making again!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
These look so easy to make and I like the idea of chewy cookies too. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Angela
What a simple and delicious recipe. These turned out perfect! Will be my go-to all season long. Thanks so much for sharing.
Kate Hackworthy
Crispy and chewy makes for the perfect sugar cookie! You’ve nailed it.
Liz
Crispy edges + chewy centers = a winning cookie! These are so perfect for a party!
Traci
Everybody needs a solid recipe for homemade sugar cookies. Bring on the holidays with this great recipe! 🙂
Cindy
Interesting—this is one of the few cookie recipes that I’ve seen use cream of tartar! I also like how these cookies are so soft but crisp on the outside.