Name: Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed for rolling and work surface; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar; 1 large egg, at room temperature; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but makes the flavor outstanding); Royal Icing, Easy Glaze Icing, or Cookie Buttercream; Assorted sprinkles

Jump to Recipe·5 from 4 reviews

If you’re after the perfect melt-in-your-mouth treat, this Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe is your new best friend. I’ve tested and tweaked countless batches over the years, and trust me — these cookies are irresistibly tender, subtly sweet, and just begging to be decorated with your favorite icing and sprinkles. Whether you’re making shapes for a holiday party or just craving a cozy afternoon treat with a cup of tea, you’re going to love how these soft sugar cookies come together so easily and bake up with such a dreamy texture. Stick with me and I’ll guide you through every step so your cookies come out just right — every time.

🖤

Why This Recipe Works

Perfectly Soft Texture: The careful balance of butter and flour creates soft, tender cookies that don’t dry out.
Simple Ingredients: Using pantry staples with a touch of optional almond extract for a flavor boost keeps it easy but delicious.
Versatility in Decorating: These cookies pair beautifully with royal icing, buttercream, or just a sprinkle of sugar.
Chilling Method: Chilling the dough between rolled layers helps cut crisp, clean shapes while keeping them super soft.

Soft Sugar Cookies, Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe, Tender Sugar Cookies, Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe, Homemade Soft Sugar Cookies - A metal baking tray filled with many heart-shaped and oval cookies arranged in layers. The base layer includes plain light brown cookies with no icing visible. The top layer covers most cookies in smooth white, pink, and blue icing; some have pink sugar sprinkles giving a rough texture while others have a smooth shiny finish. The hearts vary in size, with some large and some small, overlapping each other across the tray. The tray sits on a white marbled surface with a few extra plain cookies and a small container of pink sugar nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a starring role — nothing fancy, just well-chosen basics that result in the softest, most flavorful cookies. Here’s what you’ll need and why each one counts.

Soft Sugar Cookies, Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe, Tender Sugar Cookies, Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe, Homemade Soft Sugar Cookies - Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a white ceramic plate, a small white bowl of granulated sugar, a large whole brown egg with a clean shell, a few tablespoons of softened unsalted butter shaped into a smooth pat, a small white bowl containing clear vanilla extract, a small white bowl with almond extract, a small white bowl of baking powder, a small white bowl of salt, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with assorted colorful sprinkles — all arranged symmetrically and balanced, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The backbone of your cookie, it gives structure but we keep it just enough to ensure softness.
Baking powder: Adds a gentle lift so the cookies aren’t too dense or flat.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor — a must even in sugary cookies!
Unsalted butter: Soft and creamy, thanks to using room temperature butter, it delivers richness and tenderness.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with that classic sugar cookie crisp on the edges.
Egg: Binds everything and adds moisture — use room temperature for best mixing results.
Vanilla extract: Classic warm note that blends everything beautifully.
Optional almond extract: Just a quarter teaspoon brings an extra layer of flavor that I absolutely adore!

📝

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love making these soft sugar cookies my own by switching up the extracts or playing with different decorating styles. You can keep it classic or make it festive — it’s all about what makes you excited to bake and share.

Variation: I sometimes swap almond extract for lemon zest and a touch of lemon extract for a fresh twist that brightens the cookie.
Gluten-Free Option: Try a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend — the texture changes slightly but still delicious.
Decorations: Royal icing is my go-to, but buttercream works beautifully if you want a richer, softer finish.
Flavor Twists: Add a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon in fall for cozy vibes.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Whisk the Dry Ingredients and Prep Your Dough Base

I start by whisking the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl — this little step makes sure everything’s evenly distributed so there are no surprising bites of salt or clumps. Meanwhile, I pull my butter out ahead of time, so it’s nice and soft but not melting. Soft butter is key for that tender texture.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar like a Pro

Here’s where the magic begins: beat your softened butter and sugar at high speed for about 3 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and light in color. This aeration is what gives your cookies their delicate crumb, so don’t rush it. After that, add the egg, vanilla, and optional almond extract, mixing again until fully combined.

Step 3: Bring It All Together Gently

Slowly add your dry ingredients to the wet, mixing on low speed just until combined. Remember, overmixing can make your cookies tough, so stop when the dough looks uniform and soft. If it’s feeling sticky, toss in a tiny bit more flour — about a tablespoon — but be careful not to add too much or you’ll lose that softness we’re after.

Step 4: Roll, Layer, and Chill for Perfect Shapes

Divide your dough in two and roll each portion out on lightly floured parchment paper to about 1/4-inch thick. I love layering one rolled dough on top of the other with a dusting of flour in between — then wrap tightly and chill for at least 2 hours (up to 2 days if you want to prep ahead). This chilling step firms the dough so when you cut your cookie shapes, the edges will be crisp and clean without losing softness.

Step 5: Cut, Bake, and Cool

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Carefully peel off the top dough layer and start cutting shapes with your favorite cookie cutters, rerolling scraps as needed. Space cookies about 3 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets so they bake evenly. Bake for 11-12 minutes — you want the edges just starting to turn golden but not browned. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a rack. Cooling before decorating helps icing set perfectly.

Step 6: Decorate and Enjoy

This is the fun part! I usually go with royal icing because it dries smooth and hard, perfect for stacking or gifting. But easy glaze or buttercream are fantastic for a softer finish. You can color your icing with gel food coloring and add any sprinkles you want. I like to decorate my cookies right on a baking sheet and pop them in the fridge so the icing sets faster without smudging.

💡

Tips from My Kitchen

Don’t Skip the Chill: Chilling prevents spreading and helps your cookies keep their perfect shapes.
Use Room-Temperature Butter: If your butter’s too soft or melted, the dough will be sticky, and your cookies might flatten too much.
Lightly Flour Your Surface: Keep things from sticking but avoid adding too much flour or your cookies’ll turn out dry.
Rotate Your Baking Sheets: Ovens can have hot spots — flipping your sheets halfway ensures even baking and consistent color.

How to Serve Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe

Soft Sugar Cookies, Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe, Tender Sugar Cookies, Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe, Homemade Soft Sugar Cookies - A white polka-dotted plate holds heart-shaped sugar cookies with smooth icing layers; some cookies have thick pink sugar crystals sprinkled on top of a pink or white frosting layer, others have plain white or light blue smooth icing, each cookie showing a soft golden-brown edge around the icing. The cookies vary in size, stacked and overlapping each other on the plate. Around the plate, there are more decorated cookies and a small clear container with pink sugar crystals tipped over, spilling some onto the white marbled surface. The light is soft and natural, highlighting the pastel colors and delicate texture of the cookies. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

My favorite garnishes include colorful sprinkles, edible glitter, or a simple dusting of sanding sugar before baking for a touch of sparkle. When decorating with icing, piping delicate details or marbled patterns takes these cookies from everyday to extra special.

Side Dishes

I love pairing these Soft Sugar Cookies with a hot cup of chai tea or rich hot chocolate for cozy, comforting vibes. Fresh fruit or a scoop of vanilla ice cream complements them wonderfully if you want a little extra indulgence.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like arranging these cookies on tiered cake stands or wrapping stacks tied with twine and fresh herbs like rosemary for a rustic touch. Personalized cookie gift boxes or cellophane bags decorated with custom tags make perfect gifts that people cherish.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days if plain or iced with royal icing. For iced cookies with buttercream, I keep them covered but refrigerated and try to eat within a few days for the best taste and texture.

Freezing

I’m a big fan of freezing both the dough and the baked cookies. After my dough is mixed, I divide it into discs, wrap tightly in plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight and roll out as usual. You can also freeze decorated cookies (with fully set icing) layered between parchment paper in freezer containers for up to 3 months. Just thaw gently at room temperature to avoid condensation.

Reheating

For leftover cookies that have gone a bit firm, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave revives that fresh-baked softness wonderfully. If they’re decorated, just be cautious not to heat too long or you risk melting the icing.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, you can—just reduce the added salt slightly or omit it altogether. Unsalted butter lets you control the exact salt level, but salted butter is a convenient swap if that’s what you have on hand.
How do I keep my soft sugar cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling the dough between layers for at least 2 hours is key. Also, use room-temperature butter—not softened or melted—and avoid over-mixing. These steps help maintain shape and softness.
Can I double this Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! Just double all the ingredients and divide the dough into three or four portions before chilling to make rolling and cutting easier.
What’s the best icing to use on these cookies?

Royal icing is my favorite for crisp, smooth finishes that hold up well, especially if you’re gifting or stacking. But easy glaze icing or cookie buttercream are excellent for softer, creamy textures.
Why is almond extract recommended but optional?

The almond extract adds a lovely, distinctive note that elevates the flavor beyond basic sugar cookies. If you don’t have it, vanilla alone works perfectly fine, so it’s there to give you an extra flavor boost if you want.

Final Thoughts

Soft sugar cookies are one of those timeless treats that never fail to bring comfort and joy, whether you’re baking with family or just rewarding yourself for a busy day. This Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe has become my go-to because it’s easy, dependable, and turns out the softest, most satisfying cookies every time. I’m excited for you to try it and maybe even personalize it with your own twists — it’s baking made simple and joyful. So grab your rolling pin and cookie cutters, and let’s make some memories with these sweet, soft delights!