Cut-Out Sugar Cookies – A Festive Classic

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies are the quintessential holiday treat, perfect for decorating with frosting, sprinkles, or colorful icing.

With their buttery, tender texture and sweet flavor, they’re as delicious as they are fun to make. This no-spread recipe ensures your cookies hold their shape beautifully for any occasion.

Kitchen Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
• Wire cooling rack

Ingredients

For the Cookies:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

For the Icing (Optional):
2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Gel food coloring (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until combined.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
3. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
4. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
5. Roll and Cut: Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
6. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Cool on the baking sheets for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Decorate (Optional): In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to make the icing. Adjust consistency as needed. Add food coloring, if desired, and decorate the cooled cookies.

Prep Time

20 minutes (+1 hour chilling time)

Cook Time

10 minutes

Total Time

1 hour 30 minutes

Nutrition (Per Cookie)

Calories: 110
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrates: 14g
Fat: 5g
Sugar: 8g

Expert Tips

Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough prevents spreading and helps the cookies maintain their shape.

Don’t Overbake: Remove the cookies as soon as the edges start to turn golden for a soft texture.

Perfect Icing Consistency: For outlining, keep the icing thick. For flooding, thin it out with more milk.

FAQs

Can I freeze the dough?
Yes, the dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rolling and cutting.

What’s the best way to store these cookies?
Store undecorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Decorated cookies can be stored the same way, but layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 3 days before rolling and baking.

Storing & Reheating

Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Freezer: Freeze undecorated cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Decorate after thawing.

Substitutions & Variations

Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free 1:1 flour substitute.

Citrus Twist: Add 1 tsp of lemon or orange zest for a fresh flavor.

Spiced Cookies: Mix in 1/2 tsp of cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm twist.

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies are the quintessential holiday treat, perfect for decorating with frosting, sprinkles, or colorful icing. With their buttery, tender texture and sweet flavor, they’re as delicious as they are fun to make.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• - Hand mixer or stand mixer
• - Rolling pin
• - Cookie cutters
• - Baking sheets
• - Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
• - Wire cooling rack

Ingredients

  

• **For the Cookies:**
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract optional
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• **For the Icing Optional:**
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Gel food coloring optional

Instructions

 

• **Prepare the Dough:** In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until combined.
• **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
• **Chill the Dough:** Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• **Preheat the Oven:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• **Roll and Cut:** Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
• **Bake:** Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Cool on the baking sheets for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• **Decorate (Optional):** In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to make the icing. Adjust consistency as needed. Add food coloring, if desired, and decorate the cooled cookies.