There is something truly special about the smell of freshly baked cookies filling your home. It’s a warm, comforting scent that brings everyone together. If you have been searching for amazing Cookie Recipes that are simple to make, you have come to the right place. This recipe is all about fun and flavor.
We are going to walk through a delightful sugar cookie recipe that is great for beginners. You do not need any fancy equipment. Just a bowl, a whisk, and a little bit of creativity. Get ready to make some delicious treats that you can decorate any way you like. These are wonderful Baking Ideas for a weekend activity.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, this is one of those Easy Dessert Recipes you will return to again and again. The steps are straightforward, and the ingredients are common pantry staples. There is nothing complicated here, which makes it a fantastic starting point for new bakers.
Another reason to love these cookies is their versatility. You can get so creative with the decorations. Think bright, colorful icing and a fun mix of sprinkles. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate a holiday, a birthday, or just a regular Tuesday. Let your imagination run wild with fun Cookie Ideas.
The texture of these cookies is simply wonderful. They have a slightly crisp edge with a soft, chewy center. When you add the sweet vanilla icing on top, it creates a lovely balance of flavors and textures. It is a classic sugar cookie experience that never disappoints.
This recipe is also very practical. You can prepare the dough ahead of time and store it in the freezer. This means you can have freshly baked cookies whenever the craving strikes. It is a great little trick for busy folks who still want to enjoy homemade treats.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookie Dough
- ¾ cup (6 oz/170 g) butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (6 oz/170 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups (11 ¼ oz/319 g) all purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Vanilla Icing
- 2 1/2 cups (10oz/287g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons (1 ½oz/43g) butter, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- food coloring of your choice
- Festive sprinkles
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Let’s get started on our Cookie Recipes journey. Grab a large bowl. Add your room temperature butter and granulated sugar to it. Using an electric mixer or a sturdy whisk, cream them together. You will want to mix for about two minutes. The mixture should look pale in color and feel light and fluffy.
This step is important because it adds air to the dough. That air helps make your cookies light and tender. So give it a good mix.
Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients
Next, it is time for the eggs. Add them one at a time, mixing briefly after each one. This helps them incorporate fully into the butter mixture. Once the eggs are mixed in, pour in the vanilla extract. Mix everything until it is just combined. Be careful not to overmix here.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate, medium sized bowl, add your all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a whisk or a fork to stir them together. This ensures the baking powder and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour. It is a small step that makes a big difference in your final cookies.
Step 4: Form the Dough
Now, gently add the dry ingredient mixture to your wet ingredients. Mix on a low speed or by hand until a soft dough forms. You want to stop mixing as soon as you no longer see streaks of flour. A soft, pliable dough is what you are looking for. This is one of my favorite Baking Ideas because the dough is so easy to handle.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on your counter. Spoon the cookie dough onto it. Use your hands to form the dough into a log that is about 17 inches long. Roll up the log tightly in the plastic wrap, almost like a sausage. Place this dough log in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour. Chilling is key for these Cookie Recipes.
If you want to bake later, you can pop the dough log in the freezer. It will keep well for up to eight weeks. What a great way to plan ahead.
Step 6: Slice and Bake
When you are ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 180 degrees Celsius. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Take your chilled dough log and slice it into cookies about one quarter of an inch thick. Place the cookie slices about two inches apart on the prepared sheets.
Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies are done when they are slightly golden around the edges. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack completely before you even think about icing them.
Step 7: Make the Vanilla Icing
While the cookies cool, let’s make the icing. It is one of the most fun parts of these Easy Dessert Recipes. In a bowl, combine the sifted powdered sugar, room temperature butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until you get a smooth, thick icing. If it is too thick, add a tiny bit more milk. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Now for the fun part. Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring and mix until the color is even. You can even divide the icing into smaller bowls to create multiple colors. Think of all the great Cookie Ideas you can bring to life.
Step 8: Decorate Your Cookies
Once the cookies are completely cool, it is time to decorate. Use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the icing over each cookie. Then, scatter your festive sprinkles on top before the icing sets. Let the cookies sit for about 30 minutes for the icing to harden a bit.
How To Store Leftovers
If you have any cookies left over, which is not always a given, storing them is simple. Once the icing has fully set, place the cookies in an airtight container. You can stack them with a small piece of parchment paper between the layers to prevent them from sticking together.
Keep the container at room temperature. The cookies will stay fresh and delicious for up to two days. They might lose a tiny bit of their crispness over time, but they will still be very enjoyable. These are not cookies that need to be refrigerated.
Tips
For the best Cookie Recipes results, always use room temperature ingredients. Butter and eggs that are at room temperature mix together more smoothly. This creates a more uniform texture in your cookie dough.
Do not skip the chilling step. Chilling the dough is so important. It helps the cookies hold their shape while baking, so they do not spread too much in the oven. It also deepens the flavor.
When measuring your flour, use the spoon and level method. This means you spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. It prevents you from packing in too much flour, which can make your cookies dry.
Make sure your cookies are completely cool before you ice them. If they are still warm, the icing will melt and slide right off. A little patience goes a long way here for beautiful results.
Conclusion
And there you have it. A simple, fun, and delicious journey into the world of homemade cookies. These sugar cookies are a joy to make and even more of a joy to eat. They prove that you do not need to be a professional baker to create wonderful treats at home.
I hope you enjoyed these Baking Ideas and feel inspired to get into the kitchen. Remember to have fun with the decorations and make this recipe your own. Happy baking, and enjoy every single bite of your beautiful creations. These are truly lovely Cookie Recipes.
FAQ
Can I Make the Dough Ahead of Time?
Absolutely. That is one of the best things about this recipe. You can prepare the dough, roll it into a log, and wrap it tightly. It will keep in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer for up to eight weeks. It’s great for getting a head start on holiday baking.
Do I Have to Chill the Dough?
Yes, chilling the dough is a very important step for this recipe. It solidifies the butter in the dough. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much when they bake. Chilled dough results in thicker cookies with a chewier texture. Do not skip it.
What if My Icing Is Too Thin or Too Thick?
This is an easy fix. If your icing seems too thin and runny, simply add a little more sifted powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the right consistency. If it is too thick, add a tiny splash of milk, just a teaspoon at a time, until it is smooth and spreadable.
Can I Use a Different Kind of Extract?
Of course. While vanilla is a classic choice, feel free to experiment with other extracts. Almond extract would be a delicious substitution, but use it sparingly as it is quite strong. Lemon or orange extract could also add a bright, citrusy note to your cookies.
Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Icing
A delightful sugar cookie recipe that’s easy to make, featuring a slightly crisp edge and a soft, chewy center, topped with sweet vanilla icing and festive sprinkles.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Let’s get started on our Cookie Recipes journey. Grab a large bowl. Add your room temperature butter and granulated sugar to it. Using an electric mixer or a sturdy whisk, cream them together. You will want to mix for about two minutes. The mixture should look pale in color and feel light and fluffy. This step is important because it adds air to the dough. That air helps make your cookies light and tender. So give it a good mix.
- Next, it is time for the eggs. Add them one at a time, mixing briefly after each one. This helps them incorporate fully into the butter mixture. Once the eggs are mixed in, pour in the vanilla extract. Mix everything until it is just combined. Be careful not to overmix here.
- In a separate, medium sized bowl, add your all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a whisk or a fork to stir them together. This ensures the baking powder and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour. It is a small step that makes a big difference in your final cookies.
- Now, gently add the dry ingredient mixture to your wet ingredients. Mix on a low speed or by hand until a soft dough forms. You want to stop mixing as soon as you no longer see streaks of flour. A soft, pliable dough is what you are looking for. This is one of my favorite Baking Ideas because the dough is so easy to handle.
- Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on your counter. Spoon the cookie dough onto it. Use your hands to form the dough into a log that is about 17 inches long. Roll up the log tightly in the plastic wrap, almost like a sausage. Place this dough log in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour. Chilling is key for these Cookie Recipes. If you want to bake later, you can pop the dough log in the freezer. It will keep well for up to eight weeks. What a great way to plan ahead.
- When you are ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 180 degrees Celsius. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Take your chilled dough log and slice it into cookies about one quarter of an inch thick. Place the cookie slices about two inches apart on the prepared sheets. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies are done when they are slightly golden around the edges. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack completely before you even think about icing them.
- While the cookies cool, let’s make the icing. It is one of the most fun parts of these Easy Dessert Recipes. In a bowl, combine the sifted powdered sugar, room temperature butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until you get a smooth, thick icing. If it is too thick, add a tiny bit more milk. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. Now for the fun part. Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring and mix until the color is even. You can even divide the icing into smaller bowls to create multiple colors. Think of all the great Cookie Ideas you can bring to life.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, it is time to decorate. Use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the icing over each cookie. Then, scatter your festive sprinkles on top before the icing sets. Let the cookies sit for about 30 minutes for the icing to harden a bit.
Notes
For the best Cookie Recipes results, always use room temperature ingredients. Butter and eggs that are at room temperature mix together more smoothly. This creates a more uniform texture in your cookie dough.
Do not skip the chilling step. Chilling the dough is so important. It helps the cookies hold their shape while baking, so they do not spread too much in the oven. It also deepens the flavor.
When measuring your flour, use the spoon and level method. This means you spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. It prevents you from packing in too much flour, which can make your cookies dry.
Make sure your cookies are completely cool before you ice them. If they are still warm, the icing will melt and slide right off. A little patience goes a long way here for beautiful results.
Nutrition
Calories
Sugar
Fat
Carbs
