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The Ultimate Soft Sugar Cookies That Hold Their Shape

A stack of four golden brown, perfectly round soft sugar cookies resting on a white plate.
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Follow this foolproof recipe for the best soft sugar cookies that stay wonderfully tender and chewy while holding their shape perfectly for cutting and decorating. You get bakery-style flavor with simple steps.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes about 3 minutes with an electric mixer.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
  5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. Chilling is crucial for no spread sugar cookies.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut shapes.
  8. Place the cut-out sugar cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them.
  9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should look set but the centers should still look slightly pale for a soft baked cookie texture.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Frost or decorate once fully cooled. These homemade sugar cookies stay soft for days when stored properly.

Notes

  • For the softest, melt in your mouth cookies, slightly underbake them by 1 minute.
  • If your kitchen is warm, chill the cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before placing them in the oven. This prevents spread.
  • Use room temperature ingredients for better creaming action, which leads to a tender sugar cookie recipe.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/soft-sugar-cookies-recipe-hold-shape/