This is the best sugar cookie recipe and the only one I use. Whenever you make these cookies for someone, be sure to bring along several copies of the recipe — you will be asked for it, I promise! Note: I make icing with confectioners' sugar and milk. I make it fairly thin, as I "paint" the icing on the cookies with a pastry brush. Thin enough to spread easily but not so thin that it just makes your cookies wet and runs off.
Ingredients
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1.5 cups butter , softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
-
1
Gather all ingredients.
-
2
Beat sugar and softened butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
-
3
Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
-
4
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Roll out dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness.
-
5
Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
-
6
Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Carefully transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating.
-
7
Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
Want to cook this?
Open in the PantryLink app to scale servings, check your pantry stock, and generate a shopping list.
Sign In to Save Recipe Create Free AccountPrefer a printed copy? Use our print-friendly view with adjustable servings and font size.
Open Print ViewMore Unknown Recipes
Yeast Dumplings
For everyone who likes a thick, heavier dumpling, not the fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth kind from a can, this recipe is for YOU!! These are very easy to make, and taste the way you remember your Grandma's dumplings! They're also great in a chicken and dumplings recipe.
Bacon Dill Pickle Pizzas
These bacon dill pickle pizzas are quick to make, and you'll feel like you're at the pub! Salty bacon, Cheddar cheese, dill pickles, and ranch—your taste buds will thank you.
Easy Italian Chicken
One of the easiest Italian chicken recipes: Boneless breasts marinated in Italian-style salad dressing, then baked. It's the simplest and most delicious meal ever, and my husband thinks I cook all day to make it!