Soft sugar cookies made with a simple vanilla dough, rolled in sugar and baked until tender with lightly crisp edges.
This soft sugar cookie recipe is one of my go-to bases when I want something simple, reliable, and easy to get right every time.
The cookies bake up soft and chewy, with a clean vanilla flavor and no complicated steps.
Why you’ll love these soft sugar cookies
- Soft and chewy texture with lightly crisp edges
- Simple ingredients with a classic vanilla flavor
- Perfect for rolling in sugar and baking evenly
Ingredients you need
- Butter: Unsalted butter, softened.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar (white sugar)
- Egg: One large egg, at room temperature.
- Vanilla: Vanilla extract for a classic flavor.
- Flour: All-purpose flour.
- Leavening: Baking soda and baking powder.
- Salt: Fine salt to balance sweetness.
Tips for this recipe
- Use very soft butter, not melted
- Do not overmix once the flour is added
- Roll the dough balls generously in sugar
- Bake at a moderate temperature for a soft center
How to make soft sugar cookies
Cream the softened butter and sugar until smooth.
Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
Combine the dry ingredients with the dough just until incorporated.
Roll the dough into balls, coat them in sugar, and place on a lined baking sheet.
Bake at 175 °C (350 °F), conventional oven, until puffed and lightly cracked.
Cool briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Recipe variations
- Lemon sugar cookies: Add fresh lemon zest to the dough
- Chocolate-dipped: Dip half of each baked cookie in melted chocolate
- Holiday sugar cookies: Roll the dough in colored sugar before baking
For a deeper flavor, I also make these cookies as brown butter sugar cookies, using the same base with browned butter.
Recipe Questions
Do these sugar cookies spread a lot?
No, they bake up soft and slightly puffed, not flat.
Can I chill the dough?
Yes, but it’s not required for this recipe.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes, freeze the dough balls before rolling in sugar.
More Sugar Cookie Recipes
- Gingerbread sugar cookies
- Brown butter snickerdoodles
- Cinnamon sugar cookies
- Frosted gingerbread cookies
I hope you’ll love this recipe! If you try this recipe, feel free to leave a comment. It always helps. Happy baking!
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Soft Sugar Cookies
Description
Soft and chewy vanilla sugar cookies rolled in sugar, with lightly crisp edges and a clean vanilla flavor. A simple, reliable cookie recipe that works every time.
Ingredients
- 120 g unsalted butter, softened (½ cup)
- 120 g granulated sugar (½ cup + 2 tablespoons)
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 220 g all-purpose flour (1¾ cups)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (3 g)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder (3 g)
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt (1.5 g)
- 50 g granulated sugar, for rolling (¼ cup)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175 °C (350 °F), conventional oven, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the dough and mix just until combined.
- Scoop the dough into balls, roll each one in granulated sugar, and place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart.
- Bake until the cookies are puffed, lightly cracked on top, and just set around the edges.
- Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Tips:
- Use very soft butter, not melted
- Do not overmix once the flour is added
- Roll the dough generously in sugar
- Bake just until set to keep the centers soft
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