Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe
This classic soft sugar cookie recipe is easy to make and yields tender, delicious cookies that are perfect for decorating or enjoying plain. The use of sour cream or Greek yogurt ensures a wonderfully soft texture.
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- Electric mixer
- Large bowl
- Baking sheets
- Wire rack
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 ½ cups Granulated sugar
- 1 Large egg
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- ½ cup Sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
Instructions
Preparation
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then set aside.
- Using an electric mixer in a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy for 2-3 minutes to incorporate air.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
- Mix in the sour cream or Greek yogurt on low speed until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten each half, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Roll out one disk of chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut shapes with cookie cutters.
- Transfer cut cookies to prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between them, and bake for 7-9 minutes until edges are lightly golden and centers are set.
- Cool cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For best results, do not overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies. Chilling the dough is crucial for easy handling and preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking. Overbaking will result in hard cookies instead of soft ones, so watch them carefully!