Best Sugar Cookie Recipe EVER
This is the BEST sugar cookie recipe– no chilling the dough, cookies keep their shape when baked, soft and flavorful, perfect for decorating.
Every year millions of people print this Best Sugar Cookie Recipe EVER from In Katrina’s Kitchen. I have been using this recipe for over 25 years, and it has never failed me.
The texture is medium-soft, but you can bake them longer if you prefer a crisp cookie. This cookie is my absolute favorite, and I have spent many years perfecting it for friends and family.
Why is This the BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe?
The dough comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients.
It does NOT need to be chilled.
The recipe can be doubled easily.
Cookies hold their shape with very little expanding when baked.
Baked cookies freeze well.
The recipe I am giving you makes a large batch of dough because I like to bake many cookies. Also, I like to roll and cut my cookies fairly thick…to hold a lot of frosting.
Incorporating the last cup of flour may look dry and look crumbly. Turn out the dough onto your countertop and work with wet hands and/or more flour until the dough is smooth and ready to roll.
Most asked Q and A about this Recipe
Butter questions
- It is most important to note that the butter does not have to be at room temperature. We do not recommend rock-hard butter but allow the butter to sit on the countertop for 10-15 minutes while you assemble your ingredients.
- If you can press your finger into the butter and you can easily make a deep indent then the butter is too soft.
- You should be able to press the butter and make a small fingerprint.
- A tip for mixing butter is to cut it into cubes (or just small pats) before creaming with the sugar.
The dough is sticky and/or crumbly. What can I do?
- The final dough really comes together and has a texture close to Play-Doh. Wet your hands if you need to. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface. Don’t be afraid to use more flour and incorporate it in while you are “kneading” it into a smooth ball.
- Forget everything you know about sugar cookie dough. Don’t be afraid of sprinkling more flour as you roll it out. Use the scraps! Mix them back into the unused dough and keep going.
Can I chill the dough? I want to chill the dough. Actually, I need to make these 3 days in advance, is that okay?
- If you need to make the dough in advance, you can chill it. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator.
- Bring the dough to room temperature before rolling and cutting. You may need to use more flour on the countertop.
The cookies look under-baked. Can I bake them longer?
- I almost always suggest pulling out these cookies and the 8-9 minute mark for large cookie cutters, and 6-8 minutes for small cookie cutters. They will continue baking on the cookie sheet for a few minutes while they cool and set.
- After cooling for about 5 minutes, I use a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack.
Can I omit the almond extract?
- You can omit the almond extract.
- If not using almond extract, replace it with an equal amount of pure vanilla extract.
- You can use any of your favorite flavorings in this cookie. I have used peppermint, maple, and lemon with great success.
How Do I Make these Cookies Gluten-Free?
- To make these the best gluten-free Sugar Cookie, swap out the flour for your favorite gluten-free 1:1 flour.
- I use King Arthur Flour Measure for Measure Flour
What is your favorite Christmas Cookie Frosting Recipe?
- I’m happy you asked! I like a soft, sweet frosting. Here is my favorite Christmas Cookie Frosting.
- Click here for my Small Batch Royal Icing recipe (it dries smooth and hard and is perfect for holding together gingerbread houses, too!).
- You could also try our Three Ingredient Chocolate Glaze
I hope you love this Best Sugar Cookie recipe as much as our family does! Merry Christmas!
Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup unsalted butter, 226 grams
- 1 Cup granulated white sugar, 200 grams
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all purpose flour, 360 grams
Instructions
- PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
- In the bowl of your mixer, CREAM butter and sugar until smooth, at least 3 minutes
- BEAT in extracts and egg. (PLEASE NOTE there is 1 egg in this recipe.)
- In a separate bowl, COMBINE baking powder and salt with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: If the dough looks crumbly keep mixing for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer. The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the mixer.
- If the dough still looks too dry or stiff for your mixer, turn out the dough onto a countertop surface, flour surface as needed. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.
- DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches (2-3 chunks), roll out onto a floured surface, and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8).
- Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Troubleshooting Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
Scooping and dumping your flour may be the problem! Even with level scooping measurements can vary. Try getting a digital kitchen scale and adding your ingredients by weight.
If your cookies seem to consistently need a longer or shorter baking time consider calibrating your oven with an oven thermometer.
Bake with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
Invest in a small metal cookie spatula to transfer cookies.
If left on the counter top for about an hour your butter should be the right consistency- a finger pressed onto the butter will make a slight indent but not sink down into it. (Read more about room temperature butter in this post about XL Bakery Style Cookies.)
Whenever a recipe calls for room temperature butter you should use room temperature eggs. To take the chill off of eggs I place them in a shallow bowl of warm (not hot) water for 2-3 minutes. You can then crack them for use in your recipe.
Looking for more Christmas Cookies?
Try my Christmas Cookie archive for some of the most adorable and delicious Christmas cookies.
Some of my favorites are Grinch Cookies and Ugly Christmas Sweater Sugar Cookie Bars.
For something different, try Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies.
2,347 Comments on “Best Sugar Cookie Recipe EVER”
How many cookies does this delicious recipe make?
Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Ever! Comes out perfect. Almost melts in your mouth if you bake it perfectly.
I haven’t made this yet, but if I only have salted butter, could I use that and just omit the salt?
Definitely!
I’ve been making these cookies for Christmas the past few years and everyone loves them! However, I make them as gifts for all of my family members, and it can be very time-consuming making 200+ cut-out cookies! I was just wondering if I could just roll the dough into balls and flatten them for baking? As opposed to rolling out the dough, cutting out shapes, and repeating?
My daughter taught me this a few years ago to save time. Roll the dough into a log and slice, bake as usual. So simple!
Help!!! I am new to cookie cut out recipes. Read all ur comments b4 starting. Made this a couple of weeks ago and it was so crumbly. Altho I read if u use 2 much flour it will be but followed recipe to a t. They tasted very good so thot I’d try again tonite; making sure I didn’t use 2 much flour. Had same results. I use gluten free flour but as ur notes say use same amount as gluten (which I always do with all my recipes). What am I doing wrong?
I made this recipe with my kindergarten students at school and they were perfect! The recipe was easy to follow and so much fun to make!
I’m a grandma, and this is the first recipe I’ve ever found that made perfect sugar cookies.
Making these cookies was almost effortless, and they turned out beautiful and delicious. They are sturdy and ready to be frosted. I was skeptical when the directions said the dough did not have to be refrigerated before cutting out the cookies. But the cookies held their shape just fine. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. My grandchildren took home a batch of cookies to decorate today!
WOW! Great recipe and OH so EASY!!!!
This recipe is easy and delicious!
This recipe is great!
I make this recipe every Christmas and anytime a cutout cookie is needed. The flavor is wonderful and it truly keeps its shape. So glad I found this so many years ago.
Best Sugar Cookie recipe ever!
Just made these. I haven’t eaten them, but I am sure they will be yummy. The first sugar cookie I have made that rolled out beautifully and cut easily with my cookie cutters. Cannot wait to decorate them this weekend with our two little grandsons. The mess will be a joy with them! Thank you!
Just tried this recipe and I love it! I followed it carefully and weighed out the flour as recommended. I am giving it 4 stars only because the edges of the shapes weren’t quite as defined after baking, compared to other recipes that I have used. But the dough was very easy to roll out and the flavour and texture of the cookies is delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!
Never again will I avoid making cut out sugar cookies! This recipe is so easy and it took me no time to make the whole batch of cookies. They are also delicious. Thank you!
Absolute best sugar cookies ever! Love the almond extract for something slightly different from the normal sugar cookie recipe. I’ve made this recipe every December for years.
These cookies r so easy and yet come out perfectly! Plus, the fact u don’t have to chill the dough is just amazing! This will be added to our cookie list for every year. Thank u so much for sharing this recipe, it’s a keeper ❤️
Just used this recipe for the first time. I was very skeptical, but now I’m hooked! I will never use another recipe for sugar cookies. They’re excellent with frosting or without.
This is truly the best Sugar Recipe ever! The dough is very easy to roll and the cookies come out crisp and delicious!
Can I use a regular hand mixer?
These are fantastic! We ended up immediately making a double batch as directed and then attempted a GF/DF batch, which was softer, but still rolled and baked nicely. This will be our new holiday go-to cookie.
Hi! I have made these several times in the past, but never too far in advance. Would it work to freeze the dough to use later? Or even freeze baked cookies?
I have to admit this is the easiest recipe I’ve used. Not having to refrigerate it then roll it out was a big plus. I’ve made them twice now. Best of the best !!!
This was by far the best cookie recipe I have ever made! It was perfect for my young kids and extremely forgiving for how many times it was smooshed and rolled back out. Tastes delicious, baked up wonderfully, and so so easy! I also love that it was no chill because the kids were ready to roll and cut out immediately. Awesome!
I never ever leave reviews on recipes I’ve tried because i always forget or don’t have time, BUT I had to make time and remember to write one for this! These are the most delicious and easiest cookies to make! I am so impressed, this is getting saved to my recieve bookmark! Highly highly HIGHLY recommend!!
Seriously, easiest sugar cookies I have ever cut out/made. My husband and daughter thought they tasted great too!Thanks for the recipe!!
I doubled the recipe and it seemed like as the kids were rolling out the dough it kept cracking what do you think went wrong? Flavor though is amazing!
Hi! I see that you don’t have to chill these, but can I make the dough, chill and bake with my kids on another evening? Or will it change the consistency/stability of the dough? thx
I’ve been using this recipe for several years. It’s super easy. The dough will crumble and you’ll have to knead with your hands to remoisten, roll again and use cookie cutter. Quick and delicious. I have pictures but no option to add here.
Thank you ~ Helen
I’ve been using this recipe for the last 10 years and it’s the best!!!
These cookies were perfect. Directions were precise. Cooking time was right on. Loved it. ❤️ First recipe in a long time that that I didn’t have to modify.
I have tried so many sugar cookie recipes and my search is over! This one is consistently perfect. I love not having to chill the dough, it’s a huge timesaver. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!
Hi, how long can I store the cookie dough in fridge before I bake them?
I’ve been making these cookies for a few years and have never been disappointed. In trying to get a jump on my holiday baking, can these cookies be frozen?
I’m not sure I did this right. I did all the measurements the same but no way will this make 36 cookies. what size do you usually make? not thickness, though I’m not sure 36 would be accurate with your stated thickness either. Should I do a double batch?
I didn’t like this recipe. Sorry, but I have had much better sugar cookies! Just my opinion!
No problem!
Can you make these without frosting them?
Like others, I hardly EVER comment on anything but I had to on this recipe! I’ve used it for the last 3 years and they come out amazing every time. Everyone raves about the taste and quality. Thank you for sharing with the world!
very good recipe!! cookies are perfect and taste amazing.
I make these every year for Xmas for the kids to decorate. I have always made them the day before but Can I freeze these? And for how long?
Hi Katrina,
I love this recipe! In all my years making sugar cookies, this is hands down the best! I just used this several days in a row for my YouTube Christmas baking series. Thank you for sharing! Joann Salas
This is a great recipe! My cookies did not spread. Were delicious, and so easy to work with. Making another bach tomorrow.
I had no problem making these; big surprise for me. They turned out absolutely delicious. They are so good they don’t even need icing. I’m so happy to find this recipe. Thank you for sharing!!!
I hate making sugar cookies/cut out for Christmas because it is so time consuming. But I must say this Hass to be the easiest doll I have ever made and they came out great. I just want to say thank you for making my life so much happier.
This is the only sugar cookie recipe I use now. It’s delicious and so soft.
This really is the best, most consistent sugar cookie recipe. Better than my aunt’s super secret “family recipe”, and she was a pastry chef in her younger days.
I’ve used it for years. It’s so easy to work with that even the little ones successfully help.
The PERFECT sugar cookie recipe! My kids and I made this recipe today and it was so quick and easy and the cookies came out delicious. Will definitely be the only recipe I stick with!
How long will it last in the refrigerator till it is bad? Made this and baked some but want to save the rest for later it’s so good and super easy to make lol thank you!
Can you bake these cookies without a mixer and just a spoon
I’m not sure what I did wrong, but this recipe didn’t turn out great for me. The dough was crumbly and cracked easily when rolling, and very fragile – several broke transferring to the cookie sheet and then to the cooling rack. The edges were also very ragged, and not clean at all. Lastly, I don’t really like the flavour. I tripled the vanilla, but they still just taste like raw flour, even though I added 2 extra min to the bake time. It’s also not clear what I’m looking for when baking – a range of time is given, but how do I know whether to take them out or leave them longer?