The Best Drop Sugar Cookies Recipe for Quick Baking
Who doesn’t love a good sugar cookie? Whether it’s the chewy texture, the buttery flavor, or the nostalgia of decorating them during the holidays, sugar cookies are a classic treat that’s hard to resist. The best part? You can enjoy them year-round, and they’re incredibly easy to make!
In this post, I’ll walk you through my go-to recipe for soft and buttery sugar cookies. They’re perfect for any occasion—whether you’re decorating them for a holiday, packing them in lunchboxes, or just whipping up a quick sweet snack. Ready to bake some deliciousness? Let’s get to it!
Why You’ll Love This Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Soft & Chewy: These sugar cookies are perfectly soft on the inside with just a bit of chew.
- Easy to Make: With just a few simple ingredients, you can have these cookies ready to bake in no time.
- Versatile: They’re great plain, but you can also frost and decorate them to fit any occasion. Plus, they make a fantastic base for holiday cookie decorating!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make the perfect batch of sugar cookies:
- 1 cup butter – Softened butter gives these cookies their rich, buttery flavor and soft texture.
- 1 ¾ cups sugar – Adds sweetness and helps the cookies get that slight crisp around the edges.
- 1 egg – Binds the ingredients together and adds structure.
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract – Gives the cookies a warm, aromatic flavor.
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour – The main dry ingredient that forms the structure of the cookies.
- ½ teaspoon baking soda – Helps the cookies spread and gives them that slight chew.
- ½ teaspoon baking powder – Adds a little lift, so the cookies don’t turn out too dense.
- ¼ teaspoon salt – Balances out the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
How to Make Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will take about 2-3 minutes. The creaming process is essential to ensure that your cookies turn out light and soft, so don’t rush it!
Step 2: Add the Egg and Vanilla
Once the butter and sugar are creamed, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. The vanilla will add that classic sugar cookie flavor, and the egg helps bind everything together.
Step 3: Mix in the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as that can make your cookies tough.
Step 4: Form the Cookies
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on an ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. For perfectly round cookies, you can use a cookie scoop to measure out the dough evenly.
Step 5: Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven at 350°F for 11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers should still be soft—they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, you can frost or decorate them—or just dig in!
Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas
One of the best things about sugar cookies is that they’re a blank canvas for decorating. Here are a few fun ways you can dress them up:
Classic Frosting:
Whip up a simple buttercream or royal icing and spread or pipe it onto the cooled cookies. Use food coloring to create different shades, and sprinkle on some colorful sugar for an extra festive touch.
Sprinkles Galore:
If you’re short on time, sprinkles are the easiest way to add a pop of color. Roll the dough balls in sprinkles before baking, or dip the tops of the baked cookies in frosting and coat them with sprinkles for extra fun.
Holiday Themes:
Sugar cookies are perfect for holiday decorating! Use cookie cutters to make different shapes—like trees, snowflakes, or hearts—and decorate with colored icing and edible glitter.
Chocolate Drizzle:
For a more sophisticated take, drizzle the cookies with melted chocolate and let it harden before serving. You can use white, dark, or milk chocolate depending on your preference.
Pro Tips for Perfect Sugar Cookies
- Soften Your Butter: Softened butter is key for the creaming process. If your butter is too cold, it won’t incorporate with the sugar properly, and if it’s too melted, your cookies will spread too much. Let your butter sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.
- Don’t Overmix: When adding the dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to dense, tough cookies.
- Chill the Dough (Optional): If you have time, chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent the cookies from spreading too much and give you a thicker, chewier cookie.
- Use the Right Baking Time: Baking these cookies for 11 minutes will give you soft, chewy centers with slightly crisp edges. If you prefer a crunchier cookie, you can leave them in for an extra minute or two, but keep an eye on them so they don’t overbake.
How to Store Sugar Cookies
These cookies are so good, they probably won’t last long—but if you do happen to have leftovers, here’s how to store them:
Room Temperature:
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If they start to dry out, you can add a slice of bread to the container—the moisture from the bread will keep the cookies soft.
Freezing:
Sugar cookie dough freezes beautifully! Roll the dough into balls and freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a zip-top bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, you can pop them straight into the oven—just add a minute or two to the baking time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the dough up to 3 days ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just make sure it’s wrapped tightly to prevent it from drying out. If the dough is too firm when you’re ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes until it’s soft enough to roll.
Can I use margarine instead of butter?
For the best flavor and texture, I recommend using butter. Margarine will work in a pinch, but it won’t give you the same rich taste or soft, fluffy texture.
Can I freeze baked sugar cookies?
Absolutely! Once the cookies have cooled completely, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, let them thaw at room temperature or warm them in the oven for a few minutes.
Conclusion
Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or just because, these soft and chewy sugar cookies are sure to become a family favorite. With simple ingredients, an easy method, and endless decorating possibilities, they’re perfect for any time of the year.
So grab your mixing bowl, preheat your oven, and get ready to enjoy the best sugar cookies you’ve ever had!
Drop Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will take about 2-3 minutes.
- beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven at 350°F for 11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.