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    Home / Desserts / Cookies

    Easy Cut Out Sugar Cookies

    Last update: Dec 18, 2024 Published: Dec 4, 2023 by Fadela This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 8 reviews

    Learn how to make perfect cut-out sugar cookies that are both crunchy and chewy, and hold their shape perfectly after baking. They are super easy to make at home and are great when decorated with royal icing or other frosting, perfect for occasions from Christmas to birthdays.

    cut out sugar cookies baked on a table
    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients you need for this recipe
    • How To Make The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe With Powdered Sugar
    • How to decorate cookies
    • Tips for perfect cut-out cookies
    • Storage and freezing
    • Variations & Substitutions
    • FAQS - Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Sugar Cookie Recipes
    • Cut Out Sugar Cookies

    Cut-out sugar cookies are delightful treats that you can easily shape into various fun designs using cookie cutters. These rolled sugar cookies are known for their soft and chewy texture, making them a favorite for both baking and decorating. 

    You can decorate these cookies with royal icing or frostings, making them perfect for all sorts of occasions like Christmas cookies or birthdays. Plus, you can flavor them with a wide variety of tastes to suit any preference.

    These chewy sugar cookies are super easy to make, maintain their shapes beautifully, and stay flat after baking, making them perfect for both beginners and experienced bakers alike.

    Why you'll love this recipe


    • Easy Recipe: Ideal for both beginners and experienced bakers, my easy sugar cookie recipe classic is straightforward and foolproof.
    • Soft Texture: Achieve the perfect balance of not too dry and not too hard, with a delicious buttery flavor.
    • Versatile Flavoring: Easily adaptable to a variety of flavors, catering to all taste preferences.
    • Fun to Shape: The dough is perfect for cutting into any shape with cookie cutters, from traditional to whimsical designs.
    • Hold His Shape: With my tips, these cookies retain sharp, flat shapes even after baking.
    • Perfect for Any Occasion: Ideal to make Christmas sugar cookies, for birthdays, weddings, or baby showers, these cookies are a versatile treat for any celebration.
    cut out cookies on a table

    Ingredients you need for this recipe

    You need these ingredients to make these easy cut out cookies:

    • Butter - unsalted butter, with a higher fat content with at least 80% fat content and well softened.
    • Powdered Sugar - Essential for a smooth texture, you can also use white granulated sugar or brown sugar, but the texture won't be as smooth.
    • Egg - At room temperature.
    • Vanilla - Pure liquid vanilla extract to flavor the cookies, you can also add other extracts, such as almond extract.
    • Flour - White wheat all-purpose flour is best for shortbread cookies.
    • Salt - Fine, to enhance the flavor.
    • Baking Powder - Optionally, a bit of baking powder for a softer texture.
    cut out heart shaped sugar cookies

    How To Make The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe With Powdered Sugar

    Here are some quick visual instructions. Don't forget that full recipe instructions with exact ingredients can be found in the recipe card below!

    Cream butter and sugar

    • In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, place the softened butter with the powdered sugar and mix at medium speed with an electric hand mixer for 1-2 minutes until you get a smooth and creamy batter.
    • Then add the egg and vanilla and mix again to incorporate them.
    mixing bowl with powdered sugar and butter
    mixing bowl with batter

    Add dry ingredients

    • Add the flour mixture, flour, salt, and baking powder (optional), and mix again with the mixer at low speed just enough to get a crumbly texture.
    • Scrape down the sides of the bowl and gather up the cookie dough by hand to form a smooth ball.
    • Cover the dough with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes to 1 hour to rest.
    mixing bowl with dry ingredients
    mixing bowl with sugar cookie dough

    Cut shapes

    • Take the sugar cookie dough out of the fridge and roll it out on a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of parchment paper using a rolling pin to a thickness of about 3 mm.
    • Place the rolled-out dough sheet in the freezer for about 5 to 10 minutes to firm its texture.
    • Use cookie cutters by pressing down on the rolled and chilled cookie dough to make clean, sharp cuts.
    spread out sugar cookie dough

    Bake cookies

    • Place cut-out sugar cookie pieces of dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or on silicone mats spacing them about 5 cm apart.
    • Put the prepared baking sheet with the cut-out sugar cookies back in the freezer for about 15 to 30 minutes.
    • Preheat oven at 170°C (about 340°F) and bake cookies for approximately 8 to 10 minutes until they are lightly golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center.
    • Let them cool slightly on the sheet pan before moving them to a wire rack or a flat plate to let them cool completely.
    • Decorate your baked cookies with royal icing or my other decoration ideas listed below.
    cut out sugar cookie dough

    How to decorate cookies

    Here are some ideas for frosting and other decorations to decorate sugar cookies :

    • Royal Icing: Use my easy powdered sugar icing made just from icing sugar (confectioners sugar) and water (no meringue powder) to create detailed and colorful patterns with a piping bag. You can tint it with gel food coloring for more variety like in these iced Christmas cookies.
    • Sugar Paste: Decorate with a layer of sugar paste or marzipan for specific themes like holidays or birthdays.
    • Sprinkles and Pearls: Add sprinkles, sugared pearls, or edible glitter for a festive and shiny touch.
    • Melted Chocolate: Dip the cookies in melted chocolate or use it to draw patterns.
    • Powdered Sugar: A simple dusting of powdered sugar can give an elegant and straightforward touch.
    • Sugar Decorations: Use theme-specific sugar decorations, like little trees for Christmas or hearts for Valentine's Day.
    • Lemon Glaze: A lemon glaze can add a delicious tangy touch and a shiny appearance.
    • Buttercream frosting: Use a simple whipped buttercream recipe to decorate the tops of your cookies.
    • Cream cheese frosting: My buttercream cream cheese frosting recipe is perfect for decorating cookies.
    baked heart shaped cookies

    Tips for perfect cut-out cookies

    • Room Temperature Ingredients: Use room temperature eggs and good quality butter at room temperature for the perfect sugar cookie dough texture.
    • Handle the dough Carefully: Don't overwork the cookie dough, especially after adding dry ingredients, to prevent it from becoming elastic which could result in misshapen cookies.
    • Chill: Refrigerate the cookie dough before rolling and cutting it out, which helps to maintain the shape of the cookies during baking.
    • Uniform Thickness: Ensure the cookie dough is rolled out evenly for consistent baking.
    • Use Sharp Cookie Cutters: Sharp cookie cutters ensure clean, crisp edges.
    • Freeze the Cut-Outs: Place the cut-out sugar cookie dough in the freezer for at least 20 minutes before baking and get the best results.
    • Baking tip: The cookies are done when they start to turn golden around the edges but remain fragile and soft in the center. They will firm up as they cool.

    Storage and freezing

    At Room Temperature: Store sugar cookies completely cooled for up to a week at room temperature in an airtight container, stacked on top of each other.

    In the Freezer: Freeze sugar cookies when they are completely cooled for up to 3 months in a storage box or plastic bags. 

    How to freeze raw cookies? To freeze raw cookie dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. For shaped raw cut-out cookies, arrange them on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, and then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.

    Variations & Substitutions

    • Spiced sugar cookies: Add cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and cloves for a warm, spicy flavor, perfect for festive occasions like Gingerbread Christmas cookies.
    • Lemon or Orange sugar cookies: Incorporate lemon or orange zest into the dough for a tangy touch.
    • Window cookies: Make a hole in the center of each cookie and bake with hard candies, just like my stained glass cookies recipe.
    • Chocolate cut-out sugar cookies: Add unsweetened cocoa powder to the dough like these chocolate cut out cookies or mini chocolate chips like in these chocolate chip sugar cookies.
    • Nut sugar cookies: Mix in finely chopped nuts like hazelnuts, almonds, or pecans for extra crunch.
    • Lavender sugar cookies: For a delicate floral flavor, add a few finely ground dried lavender flowers.
    • Matcha Green Tea cookies: Incorporate matcha green tea powder for a unique color and flavor.
    • Coffee sugar cookies: Add a packet of instant coffee to give a coffee flavor.
    • Filled sugar cookies: After baking, sandwich two biscuits together with jam, salted butter caramel, or melted chocolate or these chocolate thumbprint cookies.
    • Swirled Christmas cookies: with the shape of candy cane candies like these Candy cane cookies.

    FAQS - Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is my cut-out cookie dough crumbly?

    Your cut-out cookie dough might be crumbly because it lacks enough moisture, possibly due to too much flour or not enough butter.

    What does powdered sugar do in baking cookies?

    In baking cookies, powdered sugar creates a tender texture and a fine crumb, and it dissolves more easily than granulated sugar, ensuring a smoother dough.

    How to prevent sugar cookies from spreading and hold their shapes?

    To prevent sugar cookies from spreading, use an electronic scale for precise ingredient measurements, avoid overworking the dough to prevent shrinkage, and freeze the cookie dough pieces before baking.

    More Sugar Cookie Recipes

    • Chocolate Nutella Linzer Cookies
    • Christmas Sugar Cookies
    • Jam Filled Shortbread Linzer Cookies
    • White Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
    baked sugar cookies on a table

    I hope you love these sugar cookies. If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Happy Baking!

    Print
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    Cut Out Sugar Cookies


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 8 reviews

    • Author: Fadela
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 25 cookies
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    Perfect Homemade Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Recipe with Vanilla Flavor (yields about twenty cookies)


    Ingredients

    • 100 g (½ cup) Butter - unsalted and softened
    • 80 g (⅔ cup) Powdered Sugar 
    • 1 Egg - room temperature
    • ½ tsp of Vanilla Extract
    • 200 g (1 ½ cups) Flour - all-purpose
    • 1 pinch  Salt
    • ½ tsp of Baking Powder - optional

    Instructions

    Cookie dough Preparation

    1. Place the softened butter with the powdered sugar in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until the texture is creamy and smooth.
    2. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat again to incorporate them into a smooth dough.
    3. Add the dry ingredients, flour, salt, and baking powder (optional), and beat again just until they are incorporated; stop mixing as soon as the mixture seems uniform.
    4. Gather the cookie dough with your hands to form a ball.
    5. Cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

     

    Baking

    1. Roll out the sugar cookie dough on a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of about 3 mm.
    2. Place the dough sheet in the freezer for about 10 minutes before cutting out shapes with a cookie cutter.
    3. Place your cut-out dough pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 5 cm apart.
    4. Put the tray with the cookie cutouts in the freezer for 15 minutes to 30 minutes until well frozen.
    5. Preheat the oven to 170°C (about 340°F) and bake the frozen cookies for 8 - 10 minutes until they are lightly golden around the edges and still soft and fragile in the center.
    6. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
    7. Once completely cooled, decorate them with royal icing, sugar paste, melted chocolate or marzipan.

    Equipment

    Airtight container

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    Classic cookies cutter

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    Hand mixer

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    Image of Linzer cookie cutter

    Linzer cookie cutter

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    Perforated baking sheet

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    Stand mixer

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    Notes

    Storage: Up to 1 week in an airtight container at room temperature and up to 3 months in the freezer after or before cooking.

    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: cookies, biscuits, shortbread
    • Cuisine: French

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 74
    • Sugar: 3.2 g
    • Sodium: 96.7 mg
    • Fat: 3.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 9.4 g
    • Protein: 1.1 g
    • Cholesterol: 16 mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sharon

      April 14, 2024 at 10:26 am

      Turned out perfectly. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    2. Nadine

      August 14, 2024 at 10:15 am

      These hold their shape really well if you follow the instructions! I cut mine extra thick to make sure they are nice and soft and they come out perfect every time!

      Reply
    3. Marisa

      September 02, 2024 at 11:26 am

      They really hold their shape well. Such an easy recipe to follow. Thank you for sharing!!

      Reply
    4. Beth

      October 03, 2024 at 9:18 am

      Came out great! They held their shape well , but we're still softer than traditional cut sugar cookies. Very tasty.

      Reply
    5. Karmen

      October 17, 2024 at 12:44 pm

      What is the reason for freezing before cooking

      Reply
      • Fadela

        October 18, 2024 at 8:59 am

        Freezing the cookies before baking helps them keep their shape. It stops the dough from spreading too much, so your cookies come out looking just like the cut-outs you made—no puffing or spreading. It’s a great trick to get those perfectly shaped cookies every time!

        Reply
    6. G

      October 26, 2024 at 1:17 pm

      I used half margarine so they didn’t hold shape as well but goodness, these were easy and delicious! Perfect for frosting and quite easy to roll out, too.

      Reply
    7. Sarah

      November 22, 2024 at 1:20 pm

      These turned out great!

      Reply
    8. Eva

      November 22, 2024 at 1:24 pm

      Very good! Kind of like shortbread and crispy!!

      Reply
    9. Ann

      December 30, 2024 at 1:11 am

      Thank you so much for the detailed recipe and tips. A beginner like me, need all the help I can get. I also used a thin stainless steel spatula to assist with removing the shape, since I used a complicated Hello Kitty shape cookie cutter. I'll have to try another batch, since I was afraid to undercook them and it didn't really brown at 15 minutes of cook time at 340 degrees. I failed to pack the sugar, but the frosting will bring it to the next level. Thank you!!!

      Reply
    10. Kimberly

      January 01, 2025 at 9:02 pm

      How long can they stay in the fridge packed in the plastic wrap before baking? I prepped it on Dec 31st 2024.

      Reply

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