If there’s one treat that never fails to bring a smile to faces young and old, it’s a perfectly baked, beautifully decorated sugar cookie. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday bash, decking the halls for the holidays, or simply craving a sweet treat on a cozy night in, rolled sugar cookies are the answer to all your confectionery cravings.
Every year during the holiday season, I make it a mission to find the perfect cutout sugar cookie recipe. However, I’ve never been able to find one that meets all my expectations. Either the flavor is bland or excessively sweet due to the icing on top.
So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I sat down with a pen and paper and decided to create my own recipe, and after some trial and error, I finally succeeded. These cookies have the perfect balance of sweetness and flavor, just like a classic sugar cookie.
The Basics of Rolled Sugar Cookies
Let’s start with the basics. Rolled sugar cookies are a classic favorite for good reason—they’re buttery, sweet, and incredibly versatile. The dough is made with simple ingredients like flour, sugar, honey, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. It’s the perfect blank canvas for all sorts of creative decorations.
Essential Tools and Equipment
Before you dive into your cookie-making, make sure you have the right tools for the job. You’ll need:
♦ A rolling pin: Choose one with smooth, nonstick surfaces to make rolling out the dough a breeze.
♦ Cookie cutters: Get creative with shapes! From classic hearts and stars to quirky animals and holiday symbols, the options are endless.
♦ Baking sheets: Opt for sturdy, rimmed baking sheets to prevent your cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
♦ Cooling racks: Let your cookies cool completely on wire racks to avoid sogginess.
Ingredients
Flour, Sugar, and Butter:Â These are the foundational ingredients of the cookie dough, providing structure, sweetness, and richness, respectively.
Eggs: Eggs act as a binder and provide moisture to the dough, helping to hold everything together and contribute to the cookies’ texture.
Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds flavor to the cookies, giving them a classic and aromatic taste that complements the sweetness of the sugar.
Baking Soda: This helps the cookies to rise and become light and airy during baking. They contribute to the cookies’ texture and ensure they have the right amount of fluffiness.
Sea Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the cookies by balancing out the sweetness and adding depth to the overall taste.
Honey: Honey adds sweetness and moisture to the cookies, as well as a subtle floral flavor.
Mastering the Dough
Ah, the dough—the heart and soul of any sugar cookie recipe. Achieving the perfect dough consistency is key to baking cookies that are both tender and chewy. Here’s how to nail it:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and sea salt. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step is crucial for incorporating air into the dough, resulting in a lighter texture.
- Add the honey, incorporate eggs one at a time and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, so be gentle!
Tip: Don’t forget to chill the dough! I know it’s tempting to skip this step when you’re in a hurry, but trust me, it’s worth the wait. Chilled dough holds its shape better during baking, resulting in cookies with crisp edges and soft centers.
Rolling and Cutting Techniques
Now comes the fun part—rolling out the dough and cutting out your desired shapes. Here are some tips to ensure success:
♦ Flour your work surface and rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking.
♦ Roll the dough out to a uniform thickness—about 1/4 inch is ideal for these sugar cookies.
♦ Lightly flour your cookie cutter and press them firmly into the dough, then carefully transfer the shapes to your prepared baking sheets.
I used to struggle with rolling out dough evenly until I discovered the magic of rolling guides. These handy tools ensure that your dough is the perfect thickness every time, saving you from lopsided cookies and frustration.
Baking and Decorating Tips
Once your cookies are cut and on the baking sheets, it’s time to pop them in the oven and let the magic happen. Here are a few tips for baking success:
- Preheat your oven to the temperature specified in the recipe to ensure even baking.
- Keep an eye on your cookies as they bake—every oven is different, so baking times may vary. I like to rotate my cookies halfway through the bake and have had great success.
- Let your cookies cool completely before decorating to avoid melted icing and decorations.
I learned the hard way that my excitement to get decorating was not a bright idea on warm cookies it was a disaster. My beautifully piped icing melted into a sticky mess, and my meticulously placed sprinkles slid right off. Lesson learned!
Rolled Sugar Cookies for Birthdays
Birthdays are all about celebrating, and what better way to do so than with a batch of festive sugar cookies? Here are some ideas to get the party started:
♦ Use brightly colored icing to pipe birthday messages and designs onto your cookies.
♦ Top your cookies with rainbow sprinkles, edible glitter, or colorful candies for extra pizzazz.
♦ Get creative with cookie cutter shapes—try making cookies shaped like birthday cakes, balloons, or presents.
HolidayThemed Rolled Sugar Cookies
Whether it’s Christmas, Halloween, Easter, or any other holiday, rolled sugar cookies are a festive addition to any celebration. Here are some ideas to suit the season:
♦ For Christmas, decorate your cookies with red and green icing, and add festive touches like snowflakes, candy canes, and holly leaves.
♦ For Halloween, get spooky with black and orange icing, and create fun designs like ghosts, pumpkins, and bats.
♦ For Easter, use pastel-colored icing to decorate your cookies with bunnies, chicks, and Easter eggs.
After creating this recipe, I brought some cookies to Thanksgiving, and my niece adored them! She wanted to take them all home with her and even mentioned that they reminded her of cookies she used to get from a little store when she was a child.
Of course, you don’t need a specific reason to enjoy rolled sugar cookies. They’re perfect for any occasion, big or small!Â
Well, cookie lovers, there you have it—everything you need to know to become a rolled sugar cookie pro! Whether you’re baking for birthdays, holidays, or just because, these versatile treats are sure to delight. So grab your apron, roll up your sleeves, and let the baking begin! If you enjoyed this recipe please share your experience in the comments! Happy baking!
Related Searches
Rolled Sugar Cookies for Birthdays, Holidays, and More
Cutout Sugar Cookies
Cutout Sugar Cookie
Royal Icing
Instructions
Cutout Sugar Cookie
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and sea salt. Set aside.
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In a stand mixer or large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
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Add the honey, eggs one at a time until incorporate and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture until combined.
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Gradually add the dry ingredients mixing until combined, but do not over mix.
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Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm. Dough can be refrigerated overnight.Â
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Preheat oven to 325° F(165°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
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On a lightly floured surface, roll out the disk of dough ao about 1/4" thickness. Cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters.
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Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden. If you choose a to go with a thicker cookie you will need to cook the cookie longer.
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Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheets for a couple minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled. Decorate with your favorite Royal Icing or Frosting.
Royal Icing
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In a medium bowl sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps and ensure a smooth icing.
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In a clean, grease-free bowl, beat the room temperature egg whites using an electric mixer on low speed until they become frothy.
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Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar to the egg whites, beating continuously on low speed. Adding the sugar gradually helps prevent lumps.
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Once all the sugar is added, increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue beating until the icing forms stiff, glossy peaks. This can take about 5-7 minutes.
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To check the consistency, lift the beaters and watch how the icing falls back into the bowl. It should create a ribbon that holds its shape for a few seconds.
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If you want to add flavor, add the vanilla extract and mix until well incorporated.
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Adjust Consistency: - If the icing is too thick, add a small amount of water (a teaspoon at a time) and continue mixing until you reach the desired consistency. If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar. g in small amounts until you achieve the desired hues. 9. Cover the Icing: - If you're not using the icing immediately, cover it with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the icing to prevent drying. 10. Decorate: - Use the royal icing to decorate your cookies or cakes. You can pipe the icing using piping bags and tips for intricate designs. Remember that royal icing hardens as it dries, making it ideal for creating decorations that will hold their shape. If you're not using the icing right away, store it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
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Color the Icing (Optional): Divide the icing into separate bowls if you want to use different colors. Add gel food coloring in small amounts until you achieve the desired hues.
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Cover the Icing: - If you're not using the icing immediately, cover it with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the icing to prevent drying.
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Use the royal icing to decorate your cookies. You can pipe the icing using piping bags and tips for intricate designs. Remember that royal icing hardens as it dries, making it ideal for creating decorations that will hold their shape. If you're not using the icing right away, store it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
