Soft Cutout Sugar Cookies
These soft cutout sugar cookies are perfect for any occasion. The recipe yields a tender cookie that holds its shape beautifully, making them ideal for decorating.
Equipment
- medium bowl
- large bowl
- electric mixer
- plastic wrap
- baking sheets
- parchment paper
- silicone baking mats
- rolling pin
- cookie cutters
- wire rack
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
Preparation
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch, then set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
- Beat in the large egg, then egg yolk, followed by vanilla and almond extracts, mixing until just combined and scraping the bowl as needed.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing until just combined without overmixing.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten each into a disk, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or up to 2 days.
Baking
- Once chilled, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disk to ¼-inch thickness and cut shapes with cookie cutters.
- Carefully transfer the cutouts to prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between them, and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Notes
Chilling the dough is essential for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking and helps them maintain their shape. Do not overmix the dough, as this can result in tough cookies. For best results, use good quality vanilla and almond extracts. These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or frozen for longer storage.