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–+ servings
An overhead photo of a Christmas tree shaped sugar cookie surrounded by other frosted sugar cookies.
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5 from 5 votes

Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies are perfectly soft, thick, and chewy, and frosted with the best vanilla frosting. You will want to make them all the time, for all occasions, and not just for the holidays.
Prep Time2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time8 minutes
Course: Cookies
Servings: 25 cookies
Calories: 216kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 2/3 cup butter (softened)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 TBS milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

For the Vanilla Frosting:

  • 1 TBS vanilla
  • 4 TBS butter (softened)
  • 2-4 TBS milk (more or less as needed)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 6 drops food coloring (optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the Cookies:

  • Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl, until fully mixed.
  • Add in the eggs, milk and vanilla and stir until completely mixed.
  • In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients; flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Slowly pour the dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients, while stirring.
  • Use your hands to shape the dough into a ball, and cover with plastic wrap, or put it in a ziplock bag. Place the dough in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
  • After the dough has been chilled, lightly grease a cookie sheet, or two, or line them with a nonstick liner.
  • Lightly flour your counter tops and roll out part of the dough (keep the rest in the fridge to keep it cold). Roll the dough out to be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
  • Cut your dough into desired shapes (if you don't have cookie cutters, use the top of a glass for round cookies.
  • Place the cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
  • Fill the baking pan with as many cookies as possible, and place the pan in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes. (If you want the cookies to have the best shape, it's best to chill, if you're okay with a little spread you can skip this)
  • Re roll the trimmings and the remaining dough and continue to cut as many as needed.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Bake the cookies for about 7 to 8 minutes until they turn a very light golden color, and the tops are just set.
  • Allow the cookies to cool slightly on the pan for about 5 to 10 minutes, as they'll keep cooking on a pan.
  • Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack, and allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting:

  • Cream your butter in a large bowl. (A stand mixer with a whisk, or hand mixer is best)
  • Add in the vanilla extract, milk, and powdered sugar. Start with 2 TBS of milk, and add more as needed.
  • Add more powdered sugar to make the frosting thicker, or add more milk to make the frosting thinner. Whip the frosting at high speed to make it nice and fluffy.
  • Add about 6 drops of desired food coloring, or separate frosting into bowls and make multiple colors.
  • Spread the frosting evenly over the top of your cooled cookies. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 218IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg