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My Favorite Sugar Cookies

My Favorite Sugar CookiesEach year about this time, I start getting emails about holiday cookies. Many of them want my favorite sugar recipe and others are about things like how to keep cookies from spreading in the oven and keeping their shape.

When it comes to getting the perfect sugar cookie I’ve got a few tips. You’ll notice that my sugar cookie recipe has no baking powder in it and there are basically two reasons for that. First, the baking powder causes the cookie to puff and spread when they’re baking. If you have an intricately shaped cookie, you’ll lose some definition. Sure, your cookie will be a little more dense, but I bet you won’t notice much. Also, I’ve found that the cookies without baking powder are easier to decorate because they don’t break as easily. The other thing that I can recommend about creating the perfect sugar cookie is keeping the dough COLD. I make my dough and then wrap it in wax paper and refrigerate it for at least an hour (but preferably longer). Then I break the dough into quarters and only use a small amount at a time, keeping the other dough in the fridge. Keeping the dough cold will make them easier to cut out and transfer to a baking sheet. If you’re dough gets too warm and starts stretching and tearing easily, just ball it up and put it back in the fridge. Also, be sure to allow your cookie sheets to cool before you use them again. Otherwise, the cookies will start to spread before they make it into the oven.

When decorating, I prefer to use royal icing because of the taste and because it sets up hard so you can stack the cookies. I simply mix it up, divide into bowls, color it with gel based food colorings, and then decorate the cookies with a piping bag and assorted colored sugars.

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My Favorite Sugar Cookies

Prep Time1 hr 25 mins
Cook Time8 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until smooth. Add eggs, extracts, and salt, mix well. Add the flour gradually, stirring well. Cover or wrap dough and chill for at least an hour, but preferably overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Divide dough into quarters and work with one quarter at a time, keeping the other refrigerated. Roll out on floured surface to about a 1/4 thickness. Cut into shapes with your favorite cookie cutters. Transfer cut-outs to a cool cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • Bake 6 to 8 minutes, or until set but not browned. Cool and decorate with royal icing.
Making This Recipe?Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernBite using the hashtag #SouthernBite, so I can see how it turned out!
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Royal Icing

Prep Time10 mins

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces pasteurized egg whites (I used All Whites brand)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, beat together whites and vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well. Once all the sugar is incorporated, beat for two minutes on high or until smooth and glossy. Color using gel based food colorings.
Making This Recipe?Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernBite using the hashtag #SouthernBite, so I can see how it turned out!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  13. My favorite cookie is my mom’s Gingersnaps. Oh my and she is going to be with me this Christmas, so just maybe she will treat me to some homemade goodness!

    Love Pampered Chef! and Thank you for the tips on making Sugar Cookies!

  14. I love fresh coconut cake. But I never really met any sweet I didn’t like. And does Dec. have 32 days this year? Just messing with you. 🙂 Can I just substitute meringue powder for the egg whites in the icing? Thanks for the giveaway. Love Pampered Chef.

  22. Fave cookie especially at holidays is iced sugar of course. My son loves loves loves anything peanut butter though – during this three deployments I have sent him Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies and bars, peanut butter balls and peanut butter cookies

  25. My favorite Christmas recipe this year has been a Peppermint Cake. Yummy!!

    And I liked Pampered Chef on Facebook.

  45. I liked Pampered Chef on Facebook.

    I like Choc cake with cream cheese icing and broken candy canes to decorate with.

  47. We enjoy anything “sweet” . . . chocolate chip cokies, chocolate cake w/cream cheese frosting, 7 layer cookie bars, wonderful oatmeal cake . . . the list goes on & on! Merry Christmas to everyone!

  49. I love decorated gingerbread cookies. I’ve been baking some and handing them out to my grand daughters friends. They love them! Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

  61. This year just doing Gingerbread cookies. Pampered Chef has some awesome stuff! Just saw too much that I want and it’s too late to let Santa know!

  68. Biscotti. I love biscotti. Oh, and snickerdoodles, too. And sugar cookies. OK, I love just about any type of cookie lol.

  72. Nothing beats a good Gingerbread cookie, but I truly love a gingerbread house. And they are NOT just for decoration. Eat the beast!

  75. I liked The Pampered Chef and can’t wait to try this Sugar Cookie recipe sounds wonderful!!!

  80. My Mother’s spritz cookies with icing & sprinkles. She’s 82 & still makes them for everyone.

  87. Ive been making Sugar Cookies for two days now, My family is eating them faster then I can make them!

  91. I like my grandma’s butter tarts, fudge, gingersnaps — things I typically only have during Christmas!

  101. I love Red Velvet cake, and The Martha Washington balls were the first homemade Christmas treat my 16 month old grandson Bladen was allowed to have..I posted pics of him eating them on my fb page, wish it had been a video so everyone could hear him going MMMmmmmmmmm….!!!The pampered chef pack looks awesome!

  108. My Mom’s Anise Seed cookies are my first go-to christmas cooky recipe every year. merry christmas to all :o)

  109. My favorite Christmas goody is my MIL’s nut roll. It’s similar to your pecan log but uses a variety of chopped nuts and also dried cherries and mini marshmallows.

    Merry Christmas and thank you for your wonderful blog!

  110. I “liked” Pampered Chef on Facebook. Funny thing is, many of my friends had already done this. 🙂

  114. Our Favorite Christmas cookies are “Spritz” made into wreath shapes with a cookie press. It’s not Christmas without them!

  115. I “liked” Pampered Chef. Thanks for the sugar cookie recipe! I’ve been looking for a good one.

  116. Sugar Cookies – best Christmas treat!
    I love this blog! Your baked spaghetti recipe is a big hit at my house!

  118. My favorite holiday treat is my mom’s recipe Christmas cake. You have to make it in Oct or Nov at the latest so it can cure in Brandy. It is what makes the difference between a door stop and an enjoyable Christmas tradition.

    I also have been a PC fan forever and liked the page.

  120. I love sugar cookies with frosting but my aunt make these cookies called hopscotch they are the best…… i will get the recipe and post for every one i follow pamper chef on facebook and pin it

  126. I liked the Pampered Chef on FB. Your sugar cookies are absolutely beautiful. I’ve got to try this recipe. Thanks!

  127. I love archway cookies. It was a tradition when we were kids to have them when putting up the Christmas tree.

  134. My favorite holiday treat is a mixture of chex, pretzels & Cheerios drizzled with iced white chocolate! Delish!

  135. I love fudge. Ok anything chocolate. I love The Pampered Chef so much I’m a consultant.

  136. I own Sugarmomma’s catering in Saskatchewan and our favorite recipe (and most requested) is the chewy ginger cookie!

  137. I love my Mother’s Divinity candy. She used to make it every year at Christmas time. I’m already a fan of Pampered Chef. I love their products.

  138. Sugar Cookies are definitely my favorite for the holidays. They are all so pretty! I will definitely give your recipe a try.

  142. I really enjoy the “pampered chef” on facebook.
    Sugar Cookies are a favourite for Christmas time.

  145. My husband finally found his mom’s old sugar cookie recipe and he was very busy making delicious decorated Ugarit cookies! He was surprised about omitting the baking powder and will modify the recipe next time. Thanks for he tip!!

  147. I so want to make a beautiful sugar cookie but even yesterday, mine spread to where you could not tell what the shape was….I need this kit to help me in my kitchen…I want to master this sugar cookie!!!

  149. I love my Mom’s cut-out sugar cookie recipe. But my favorite cookie at Christmas is the peanut butter kiss cookies. You know the peanut butter cookie with the hershey’s kiss pressed in the middle! And my favorite cake is Red Velvet cakef I have already liked the pampered a long time ago. I love Pampered Chief products? We just made our cookies last night but we will try yours

  151. My mom and I love the Spice of Life cookies! It is a ginger cookie that has raisins in it! So TASTY!! My daughters love to help decorate sugar cookies. I would love to win the Baking Bundle

  154. Our favorites are old fashioned cut out sugar cookies like these and red velvet cake. Yummy!!

  155. I love the spritz cookies & Yule Log (Pampered Chef Holiday Cookbook)! I also liked the Pampered Chef’s Facebook page!

  157. I love Pampered Chef and your cookies are beautiful. My favorite Christmas treat is homemade cheesecake-yum!

  160. My favorite cake to make at Christmas is a 3 tier Red Velvet Cake. The deep red color is so pretty. I add green colored sugar sprinkles on top. Favorite pie to make is pecan. My favorite cookie to make is a new recipe we made this year: Italian Sugar Cookies. Something I used to love making with my children was our yearly Gingerbread house. The Pampered Chef mold made a cute one!

  161. My favorite Christmas treat is homemade caramels. These are soft and easy to chew. They are easy to make and so delicious. Next to that is Cream Cheese Pound Cake. It’s a heavy pound cake that freezes well. I take the frozen cake out for company, slice as much as I need and return it to the freezer. Yummy!! Pampered Chef makes my baking so easy. I keep buying and buying more!

  162. My favorite cookie is the Swedish Ginger cookie from the Southern Living Cookbook. We decorate them with candied cherries and almond slivers.

  163. So hard to pick just one, but slice ‘o spice was always a favorite growing up. It is a sugar cookie type dough with oatmeal that you wrap in foil, refrigerate, then slice, coat with cinnamon & sugar mixture and bake. Yummy, now I’m going to have to make some!

  165. My favorite treat to make at the holidays are peanut butter cookies with snickers inside! So yummy!!

  169. I love Pampered Chef! This is such a good recipe. One of my favorite cookies is an almond butter cookie with icing. Only make them once a year so that I want have to be lifted out of my house with a crane. Lol

  172. I liked the Pampered chef before. I love their products! I used to sell them too. Thanks for the recipe!

  173. It isn’t Christmas unless we have Crinkle Cookies – both chocolate rolled in powdered sugar and “plain” rolled in sparkley white sugar. I usually make one batch of decorated cut-outs to add some color to the cookie tray but everyone reaches for the old stand-bys.

  177. Wow! Beautiful cookies & great tip on how to keep the cookies from baking! I will definitely try this! Would LOVE, love, love to win this package!! Thanks for sharing! I’ll def. be back to your page! Sharing on FB!

  178. I am making the Favorite Sugar Cookies above. I can’t quite understand the need for 6 cups of flour. After 4 cups the batter was so stiff I knew I couldn’t add any more. Anyone got an answer?

  182. LIKED ON PAMPERED CHEF’S FACEBOOK PAGE…and just wanted to wish you and Pampered Chef folks a Very Merry Christmas! You’ve all brought JOY to me in 2012 and am sure 2013 will be just as fun. Thanks!

  183. Always searching for recipes that top my current favorites. Can’t wait to try this one! LOVE the Pampered Chef products and recipes.

  184. One of my favorites is Ding Bats, made with dates! Also sugar cookies! Your snowflake cookies are beautiful and I’m sure delicious! Today is snowflake day …a perfect day to try them!

  186. WoW snowflake cookies are soo beautiful and look so yummy, I immediately printed the recipe and going to invite my first and only granddaughter (Zara) over and make them with her, she loves spending quality time with “grandmaman” Thanks for sharing Pampered Chef Recipes Christine, you are the Best and always there to help when I need it in a flash. These new tools would work very well with my grand daughter and I. Would be nice to win!

  187. My Christmas treat is a breakfast family tradition in my family on Christmas morning, Goldenrod Eggs. A recipe handed down by my maternal grandmother, it is a favorite of my grown sons.

  188. Snickerdoodles are my favorite christmas cookie and Russian Tea Cakes.
    And I will “like PC on FB” , One of my absolute favorite kitchen products.

  191. I “liked” the Pampered Chef webpage. 🙂
    Didn’t think about doing that before, thanks! I love their products.

  196. I love Sugar Cookies, and I must bake these. I have always admired Pampered Chef products, but have never been to one of the parties. Would love to own something of their line and use it to impress my family.

  198. My favorite homemade cookie is Jerome Bars. My mom made them as I was growing up. So good.

    I also love Orange Slice cake at Christmas along with the usual Red Velvet, Italian Cream, etc.

    I do love Sugar Cookies though and am very happy to have your recipe and hints.

  199. My favorite Christmas cookies are ‘Sugar Cookies’. I’ve made them every year for as long as I can
    remember. I’ve ALWAYS flavored the cookies and butter frosting with grated orange peel or orange
    extract. Makes them delicious with just a hint of different flavor.

  200. For quick and easy, I make Conversation Cookies (no cooking). Can be used for any type get together. I also enjoy Oatmeal Crispies .and make them often as everyone enjoys a crisp cookie.

  201. I entered, and the Pampered Chef website is awesome!! I have been using Pampered Chef for 20+ years! Love, love, love it!!

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