Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe (with Video) - Bigger Bolder Baking (2024)

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My Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe is a holiday staple that can be baked into any festive shape you like!

By Gemma Stafford | | 557

Last updated on December 8, 2022

Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe (with Video) - Bigger Bolder Baking (1)

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When the holidays roll around, there are certain recipes you need in your back pocket. You know, those recipes you can whip up in a flash and that are fan favorites. My Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe is exactly that. Holiday Cookies are so much fun to bake because they are great for little hands to make and decorate, and you can even give them out as holiday gifts.

Whether you’re decorating cookies for Santa, or just to have with a cup of hot chocolate, these cookies are always my go-to.I break out my holiday cookie cutters and go to town making festive shapes. Then I store them away in an airtight container and I have them to hand when guests drop by.

How To Make My Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe

Holiday baking is the kind of baking that gets the whole family involved. So, it’s time to get the kids in the kitchen too, as it’s just a handful of simple ingredients combined in the food processor. After making the dough from my Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe, what you’re left with is a play-dough-like cookie dough perfect for rolling out and cutting into fun shapes.

I love classic holiday shapes, but you can use any you like! What makes these my Best Ever Sugar Cookies is that they are truly foolproof to make and decorate. The sugar cookie dough consistently comes out perfect every time and is always so easy to use, never too soft or too hard to work with like the store bought stuff can be.

[ If you want to decorate these cookies to the nines, you need my recipe for royal icing! ]

Do You Have To Make Sugar Cookies In The Food Processor?

If you don’t have a food processor, you can absolutely make these by hand in a large bowl. The reason I use a food processor is because it allows me to bring together the dough in minutes flat.

The most important part, whether you’re using a food processor or making the cookies by hand, is making sure that the butter is properly rubbed into the dry ingredients. By doing this and creating the texture of bread crumbs, you ensure the dough has lots of pockets of butter throughout — which makes for a rich and tender cookie.

Can You Substitute the Sugar for Another Sweetener?

If you would like to make my Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe sans the sugar, then you are in luck. The sugar in this recipe can be swapped 1:1 for either Swerve sugar alternative or Lakanto granulated sugar. You can also use a 50/50 sugar and Stevia blend. I really like the results I get with regular granulated sugar, but these alternatives to yield a very similar texture and flavor, which is great for those who are wanting to bake with less sugar.

How To Decorate Sugar Cookies

After cutting the cookies into adorable shapes and baking them, you do not have to decorate them. However, if you want to add to the cookies, I suggest accenting the shape of the cookies with my royal icing. In addition to the royal icing you can add sprinkles and little metallic nonpareils. These cookies are the perfect base to make 3 Easy Christmas Cookies to Bake and Decorate With Kids!

Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe (with Video) - Bigger Bolder Baking (2)

Do You Prefer Chewy Or Soft Over Crunchy?

My Best Ever Sugar Cookies recipe results in cookies with a slight crunch! If you’d rather have more of a chew, I have you covered: try my Perfect Chewy Sugar Cookie Recipe. If you rather your sugar cookies soft, give my Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe a go!

Also, have you seen my Holiday Baking Headquarters page? You’ll find every recipe you could possibly need for the holidays including Christmas Cookies, edible gifts, and my best holiday baking tips!

If you like these sugar cookies you’ll love these recipes!

  • The Easiest Soft Sugar Cookies
  • 3 Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
  • Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • Snowball Cookies
  • Homemade Gingerbread Men

Follow Bigger Bolder Baking on Pinterestfor more recipes and ideas!

Try These Recipes!

Almond Flour Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe
Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
How to Make Almond Crisps

Watch The Recipe Video!

Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe

4.70 from 335 votes

Print Recipe

My Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe is a holiday staple that can be baked into any festive shape you like!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: 30 -40 cookies

  • Dessert
  • Vanilla
  • Holiday Baking Headquarters
  • Baking Pans
  • Oven
  • Food Processor

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Total Time 38 minutes mins

My Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe is a holiday staple that can be baked into any festive shape you like!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: 30 -40 cookies

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cups (6oz/170g) butter, cubes and cold
  • 1 cups (8oz/225g) sugar
  • 2 eggs*
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups (12oz/340g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a food processor add in the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Stir a little with a spatula

  • Add in the cold butter and blitz for seconds JUST until the mix looks like big bread crumbs

  • Whisk together the eggs and vanilla extract. Pour into the food processor and pulse for a few seconds until the dough comes together. Take care not to over mix. If your mix seems dry you can add a tiny bit more egg or milk. (This dough can also be made by hand by rubbing in the butter into the flour)

  • Chill the dough for a minimum of 2-3 hours. Preferably chill overnight. Also it can be frozen at this stage for up to 8 weeks.

  • Once chilled, roll out some of the dough on a well floured surface to about 1/4-1/8 inch thick.

  • Cut out your desired shapes and transfer them to a baking tray lined with parchment. (this is a soft dough so work fast).

  • Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 18-20 minutes or until a light golden brown. Set aside to cool.

  • Decorate withroyal icing if you wish and store in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Recipe Notes

*Eggs: To replace eggs in this recipe the best substitute would be condensed milk. Reference my Egg Substitute Chart for the amounts.

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Angelique

4 years ago

Hi Gemma, can I use cake flour instead of all purpose flour ?

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Heidy Heidy

4 years ago

Hi Gemma,
I made this recipe, this cookies taste really delicious… but it was a bit hard to work with. Its really sticky even after came out of fridge. So i can’t shape it well. Should i skip the eggs ? Thanks

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Rebekah Murphy

4 years ago

Gemma, first off I want to say how much I appreciate you! You have absolutely made my baking abilities go to the next level! I’m so thankful for you! Also, congratulations on your pregnancy! You will be an amazing mother! I do have a question in regards to the dough. I’ve used two different recipes now for these cookies, one being yours, and another being a recipe that called for melted better instead of cold. The melted butter recipe made the dough much harder to work with, but I had better luck with your recipe. However, my dough was stillRead more »

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Eliane

4 years ago

Truly Best ever sugar cookies recipe Gemma, thank you so much for sharing it

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Gemma Rose

3 years ago

Hello! My name is Gemma, also! Which I’ve talked to you before… Anyway, I made this recipe for my family this Christmas and it was delish!! I couldn’t have chosen a better recipe:-)

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Vinutha Rao

5 years ago

Thank you Gemma!!

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AliciaA

3 years ago

This was an easy and delicious recipe!

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Best Ever Sugar Cookie Recipe (with Video) - Bigger Bolder Baking (16)

Anica

3 years ago

It may not be Christmas, but this recipe sure makes great valentines hearts ♥️ I used few to decorate my red velvet cake and most were given away in a decorate yourself box for second graders at school as goodie bags! Best decision ever! At least 4 moms asked for the recipe! I made glace icing too! Thank Gemma!

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Kanai Yee Chea

3 years ago

Hi Gemma!
Happy 2021!! I’m looking forward to trying many of your recipes this year!

I wonder have you announce the winner of December Bold Baker challenge? Or I have just missed the announcement?!?!

I have baked this cookies so many times and shared it with many friends. They all liked it very much! Thanks for the recipes!!

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Roxanne Cortese

3 years ago

At 73 years old I have to say easiest to make and roll out and delicious and holds icing perfect. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas from Puerto Rico

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About Us

Meet Gemma

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About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

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FAQs

Should you refrigerate sugar cookie dough before baking? ›

Chilling the dough is a key step in making sugar cookies, especially when you're making cut-outs. Even if you're tight on time, make sure to get the dough in the fridge, or even the freezer, even if it's only for a little while. Skip this step, and the dough will be sticky, and much harder to work with.

What makes a cookie thicker? ›

A low proportion of sugar relative to flour reduces spread, keeping the cookies thick. A high proportion of mix-ins helps thicken the dough. Blending chocolate chip styles creates a more dynamic flavor. Overnight refrigeration hydrates the flour, again helping the cookies stay thick.

How thick should you make sugar cookies? ›

The best thickness for sugar cookies can depend on personal preference and the desired texture. However, in general, a thickness of around 1/4 inch (6mm) is ideal for sugar cookies. This thickness allows the cookies to be firm enough to hold their shape while baking, but also remain tender and not too thick or doughy.

What makes cookies more fluffy? ›

Baking soda

When added to dough, baking soda releases a carbon dioxide gas which helps leaven the dough, creating a soft, fluffy cookie. Baking soda is generally used in recipes that contain an acidic ingredient such as vinegar, sour cream or citrus.

How long should sugar cookie dough sit out before rolling? ›

After 30 minutes, take the dough out of the fridge and cut your shapes! Let the dough harden for around 30 minutes, then take the dough out. There's no need to let it come to room temperature before working with it. You can go from the fridge to your counter and immediately start cutting out shapes.

What happens if I don't chill my sugar cookie dough? ›

It can depend on the type of cookie dough, but for the most part, chilling the dough makes it keep its form, and if it has butter in it, prevents the butter from melting. If you don't chill the dough, it will be much softer and not keep its shape as well, both before and during baking.

How can I make my cookies fluffier instead of flat? ›

Melted butter incorporates more easily into the dough, creating a more cohesive and pliable dough. Use a mixture of baking powder and baking soda as leavening agents. Baking powder provides lift and helps create a fluffy texture, while baking soda helps to densify the cookie and create a chewier texture.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What is the best flour for cookies? ›

All-purpose flour is the most commonly used flour in cookie recipes due to its moderate protein content (usually around 10-12%). This balanced protein level makes it versatile enough to produce both soft and chewy cookies as well as slightly crisp ones.

How long do you chill sugar cookie dough? ›

It's not required for this sugar cookie recipe. Immediately baking after mixing will result in absolutely delicious cookies; however, if time permits, chilling the dough for 24-72 hours does result in cookies that are thicker, chewier, and more flavorful. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap before refrigerating.

Should sugar cookies be crunchy or soft? ›

Unlike many things in the baking world, sugar cookies are meant to be foolproof. They don't have much butter or leavening, so they'll keep their shape when you roll out the dough and cut them. They're sturdy enough to be handled and decorated, but soft and delicious enough to be a Christmastime dessert staple.

Does brown sugar make cookies thicker? ›

How Sugars Behave in Dough. In recipes that involve baking soda, the primary role of acidic brown sugar is to react with sodium bicarbonate and produce carbon dioxide, making cookies thick, puffy, and soft (cakey at first, then crunchy if they continue to bake).

What happens if you forget to add brown sugar to cookies? ›

What happens when you bake without brown sugar? To be succinct, the resulting baked good could be slightly drier or more crisp. Without the excess moisture from the molasses in the brown sugar, the final cookie won't be as chewy and the final bread might be drier.

What is the best sugar for cookies? ›

Depends on the result you want. For a smoother cookie - icing/powdered sugar - this will give the melt in the mouth consistency. For a normal cookie - caster sugar (granulated sugar but smaller granules) is best as it is easier to incorporate into the butter and then the rest of the ingredients.

Why do bakery cookies taste different? ›

One reason may be that bakeries use emulsions. Emulsions are flavorings designed for high heat applications. So they retain their flavoring much more than extracts do in baking. Emulsions are made without alcohol and also incorporate better with the other recipe ingredients.

How long to refrigerate sugar cookie dough before baking? ›

Transfer the dough, still between the two pieces of parchment paper, to a baking sheet. Chill in the fridge for at least two hours to allow the dough to firm up, and up to three days ahead. Proceed with the recipe as written - such as my easy sugar cookie recipe.

How long should you chill sugar cookie dough before baking? ›

cookies | TikTok. Scooping then chilling your cookie dough for at least. 2 hours before baking. As you can see, this primarily affects spread and height, both of which significantly contribute to texture.

How long to keep sugar cookie dough in fridge before baking? ›

Most cookie dough can be refrigerated, well-wrapped, for 3-5 days before baking. If you want to make it farther in advance, freeze the dough. You can either freeze the entire brick of dough or divide it into portions for quick baking.

Is it better to chill sugar cookie dough overnight? ›

Anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. The longer you chill the dough, the more flavor will develop. The flour will also absorb more of the moisture so the thicker and chewier the final texture will be.

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