Many years ago I bit into the lightest, delicate, sugar cookie with the best flavor. I failed to ask my friend’s mom for the recipe and I’ve been in search of a recipe that replicates that heavenly experience. You know, the kind of cookie that melts in your mouth. After tweaking various recipes, I finally concocted one that doesn’t disappoint! Since Valentine’s Day is next month, I decided to make heart-shaped Valentine’s sugar cookies. You can make any shape you want at anytime of the year. This recipe is simple and easy and I think you’ll find it quite tasty.
A lot of sugar cookie recipes call for refrigerating the dough for 2 hours, but this one only calls for 15-30 minutes. That way you don’t get caught up in another project before having to go back to the kitchen to complete the cookie-baking task.
You can decorate your cookies with frosting or colored sprinkles – or even just plain sugar, if desired. Get fancy, or go simple. The choice is yours.
Tie up short stacks of cookies with red and white baker’s twine to give as gifts. You could even place them in a heart-shaped box.
The sugar cookies only take 6 minutes to bake. If your oven runs hot, you might want to check them at 4 minutes. I take them out of the oven when I first see the edges start to turn dark. If you leave them in too long, the cookies aren’t as delicate.
Best Ever Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
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Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
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Beat in eggs and vanilla.
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Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.
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Cover and refrigerate 15-30 minutes or until the dough is easy to handle. Preheat oven to 350°.
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Roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a floured surface. Brush rolling pin with flour if dough sticks to it. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
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Place cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired.
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Bake 6-7 minutes or until edges are just starting to turn very light brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire racks.
Trying these!!! They look delicious! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I love it…fast and simple! Do you use the sprinkles after you bake them? Do you find that they roll off?
Thanks, Jennifer!
Jane x
Good question, Jane! I knew I was forgetting something. Sprinkle the sugar on before you bake the cookies. I updated the recipe with this information. Thanks for catching that!! 🙂
I’ll have to try this recipe, I love the way that you wrapped the twine on them cute. Great post. Jo
The instructions mention salt but it’s not in the list of ingredients. How much do you use? These look so pretty, I can’t wait to try them.
Sorry about that Deborah! It’s 1/4 teaspoon salt. I added it to the recipe. Thanks!
I will be trying these. They look great and ‘simple’ is the magic word for me! 😉
How many eggs; not in the list of ingredients. Thanks, these look perfect!
Hi Dee! It’s 3 eggs. I can’t believe I left that out. The recipe is updated now.
Your recipe doesn’t say how many eggs to use. Please let me know. Thank you’
So sorry Linda! It’s 3 eggs. Hope you enjoy them!
2 eggs?
Sorry about that, Ila. It’s 3 eggs.