Sugar cookies prepared with just three cupboard items and no egg! This sugar cookie recipe is so easy and foolproof that you may make it at any time. Sweet, buttery, and really excellent!
If you want cookies that come together quickly, try our most popular recipe. No Bake Cookies and Rolo Cookies .
Sugar Cookies
Next to pies and pudding Cookies are my undeniable weakness. Admittedly, I much prefer my cookies soft, either gooey or with goodies tucked throughout, as opposed to a crunchy cookie. One exception is a sugar cookie, which I like soft or crispy, iced or plain. But I never seem to have the time or patience to manufacture them.
Typically with sugar cookies, the dough needs to be divided, chilled for several hours, then rolled out, shaped, the scraps re-rolled, etc. Is it worth it for a flawless sugar cookie? What if I told you that you could make absolutely delicious sugar cookies in less than an hour with just three ingredients? Isn’t it thrilling?!
Sugar Cookie Recipe
I’m so in love with this simple sugar cookie recipe that I may never make standard ones again. In fact, over the last several years, they have been my go-to. They’re more simpler to make and taste comparable to shortbread and crispy sugar cookies.
Unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and flour are all you need. (A touch of vanilla added to the dough and sprinkles on top make them even nicer, but these two ingredients are not required for this sugar cookie recipe.)
How to Make Sugar Cookies
It’s almost criminal how easy these cookies are to make, but nobody is getting arrested! HA. There are simply four easy steps. Here’s a quick rundown
- Make the dough : cream together the butter, sugar, and flour until smooth.
- Form the cookies Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in sugar, then flatten them with a glass or measuring cup.
- Bake Bake until the sides and bottom are just slightly brown.
- Rest Allow at least 10-15 minutes to rest and cool before eating.
That’s all. No rolling, no dividing, no chilling, and barely any waiting!
Recipe Tips
- Use a cookie scoop: It’s ideal to use a tiny cookie scoop for simplicity and cookie consistency, so they all cook at the same pace.
- The thickness matters When the raw dough balls are flattened, they should be between 1/8-1/4 inch thick, or 3/16 inch to be accurate. (They will look pretty small in circumference, but they will spread to a normal size cookie.)
- Leave space in between: Because cookie dough spreads when baking, it should be positioned at least 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.
- Cool properly: After baking, these cookies need to remain on the cookie sheet for at least 10-15 minutes before moving them to cool completely, because they are fragile at first. They are, nevertheless, strong once chilled.
- Take them up a notch: While vanilla extract and sprinkles are not required for this recipe to function, they are highly encouraged!
Recipe Notes
Can this recipe be used for cut-out cookies? No, unfortunately. Since the recipe doesn’t include any eggs, the dough doesn’t bind well enough and the cookies could end up crumbling when you use a cookie cutter.
Can these be frosted? Yes, you can definitely frost these with royal icing or drizzle a simple icing on top. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the desired consistency is reached. Drizzle and put aside.
Decorate with sprinkles or nonpareils: Before baking, lightly press some sprinkles or nonpareils onto the cookies.
How many calories in a sugar cookie? One of these sugar cookies is only 90 calories. Excellent with a cup of coffee.
How to Store
Allow the cookies to cool fully before storing them in single layers with parchment paper in between in an airtight container.
How long do sugar cookies last? They may be kept on the counter for up to 5 days if properly stored.
Can you freeze sugar cookies? If you want to freeze these, I recommend forming the dough balls and freezing those. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then roll in the sugar and bake according to package directions. The dough may be stored in the freezer for up to two months.
Watch them Being Made
These easy sugar cookies are a great recipe for a novice baker to try out, or if you’ve got young kids at home and want to introduce them to baking. No muss, no bother, and it comes together in minutes!
Other Easy Cookie Recipes
- Flourless Chocolate Cookies
- Coconut Macaroons
- Ritz Cracker Cookies
Easy Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies prepared with just three cupboard items and no egg! This sugar cookie recipe is so easy and foolproof that you may make it at any time. Sweet, buttery, and really excellent!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Cool down 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 34 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter , room temperature
- 2/3 cup + 3 tablespoons granulated sugar , divided
- 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, leveled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional, but recommended)
- Nonpareils or rainbow sprinkles (optional, but recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat together butter and 2/3 cup sugar until combined. (It will be a touch grainy, which is OK.)
- Mix in the flour well (then blend in the vanilla, if using.)
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls using a cookie scoop.
- Roll the balls in the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar until lightly covered; place 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.
- With the bottom of a measuring cup or glass, press down on the balls to flatten. If used, sprinkle with nonpareils and softly press down again to ensure they stay. (The dough should be between 1/8-1/4 inch thick, or 3/16 inch to be precise. They will look pretty small in circumference, but they will spread a bit to a normal size cookie.)
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the sides and bottom are just little brown.
- Remove form the oven and let rest on the baking sheets for at least 10-15 minutes (don’t skip this step!) Then serve or place on a cooling rack to cool fully.
- Enjoy!
- TROUBLESHOOTING: see note below
Notes
This recipe produces a little crunchier sugar cookie, but it should not produce dry or crumbly cookies. Whether they are too dry, check to see if you 1) used too much flour. 2) make the balls of dough too small 3) flatten them too much, 4) baked them at 350 instead of 325, or 5) baked them too long.
Nutrition
Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these figures are critical to you, I suggest calculating them yourself.
Related Questions
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What does sugar and butter make?
Creaming is the process of combining butter and sugar on a medium-high speed until thoroughly combined, frothy, and light yellow. It’s often the first step in a cookie or cake recipe and forms the base to which other ingredients are added.
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What can be made from flour and water?
So, if you’re wondering what to do with flour, create flour and water tortilla dough! Yes, you can make flour tortillas with only flour and water – this is the easiest method! All you need to do is combine white flour and lukewarm water!
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What can I produce with flour?
Flour is used to produce breads, pasta, pastries, pancakes, and dumplings when mixed with fat, liquid, eggs, or yeast. It is also used as a thickener in sauces and stews.
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What are the 6 basic cookies?
Terms in this set (6)
- Cookies in the form of bars. Baked in a shallow pan before cutting into bars or squares.
- Drop Cookies. Soft dough is put onto a cookie sheet
- Rolled Cookies. Made using firm cold dough cut into various shapes with cookie cutters.
- Molded Cookies. Shaped by hand.
- Refrigerator Cookies.
- Pressed Cookies.