The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Everyone Loves
Baking the best sugar cookie recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction is always a joy for any dedicated baker or recipe reader. This highly-rated, classic recipe produces soft, tender, and flavorful cookies that hold their shape perfectly for decorating. Using all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and an optional addition of almond extract can really enhance flavor. The recipe is quick, easy, and uses simple ingredients, making it delicious whether eaten plain, with candies mixed in, or topped with chocolate mints that taste great. Just like a chicken salad recipe or a lasagna recipe, this treat can be a family favorite at any meal.
This sugar cookie recipe is part of a quest to identify the perennial American favorite, alongside other baked treats like sandwich bread, brownies, sourdough waffles, apple pie, golden cake, and chocolate frosting. Baking is subjective, and time, effort, and money all affect results, whether cakey, light, dense, chewy, thin, thick, or fluffy like pancakes with crisp edges. Testing the nine basic sugar cookie recipes on the website, sampling variations, and analyzing texture, size, and shape helps any baker achieve success while avoiding failure, just as experimenting with a chicken salad recipe or a lasagna recipe can perfect your favorite meal.
Ingredients (serves 2–3)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional addition)
- Optional candies or chocolate mints for topping
- Tools: baking sheet, mixing bowl, spatula
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Set your oven to 350°F (180°C). This temperature helps cookies bake evenly. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and burning. Let the oven fully preheat before baking. A hot oven gives better cookie texture.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients
Take a clean mixing bowl. Add all-purpose flour to the bowl. Add baking powder and salt. Whisk everything together gently. This spreads the leavening evenly.Set the bowl aside for later use.
Step 3: Cream butter and sugar
Place softened unsalted butter in another bowl. Add granulated sugar to the butter. Beat until light and creamy. This step adds air to the dough. Creaming helps cookies stay soft. Mix until the texture looks smooth.
Step 4: Add wet ingredients
Crack the egg into the butter mixture. Add vanilla extract for flavor. Add almond extract if using. Mix until fully combined. The mixture should look glossy. Do not overmix at this stage.
Step 5: Combine wet and dry mixtures
Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Mix gently to avoid tough cookies. Stop once a soft dough forms. Do not overwork the dough. Scrape the sides if needed. The dough should be smooth and soft.
Step 6: Shape the cookie dough
Scoop or roll dough into small balls. Place them evenly on the baking sheet. Leave space between each cookie. Gently flatten each dough ball. Add candies or chocolate mints if desired. This prepares cookies for baking.
Step 7: Bake the cookies
Place the tray in the preheated oven. Bake for 8–10 minutes only. Edges should look set and light.
Centers should remain soft. Avoid overbaking for best texture. Remove tray carefully from oven.
Step 8: Cool and decorate
Let cookies rest on the tray briefly. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely.
Cooling helps cookies set properly. Decorate once fully cooled if desired. Cookies are now ready to enjoy.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 180–200 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 26–28 g
- Protein: 2–3 g
- Fat: 8–9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4–5 g
- Sugar: 14–16 g
- Cholesterol: 30–35 mg
- Sodium: 90–110 mg
- Fiber: 0.5–1 g
- Calcium: 2% DV
- Iron: 4% DV
conclusion:
This sugar cookie recipe is a reliable choice for anyone who loves baking at home. The cookies turn out soft, tender, and full of flavor, making them perfect for everyday treats or special occasions. With simple ingredients, an easy process, and room for creativity with toppings or decorations, this recipe delivers consistent results. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just yourself, these cookies are sure to become a favorite you’ll return to again and again.
