Do you love sugar cookies, but hate the work that goes into them? Well then, this is the recipe for you! These easy sugar cookies require no rolling, no chilling, no cookie cutters, and you can make them in under 30 minutes!

Cookies in a metal tin with a bowl of sugar sitting next to them.

Only 8 Ingredients In These Easy Sugar Cookies

Besides the fact that these cookies are quick to make, they also have a very condensed list of ingredients, which you’re sure to have on-hand 99% of the time, making this an ideal everyday recipe, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be whipping them up all the time!

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The Ingredients You’ll Need

Butter, unsalted
Sugar
Baking soda
Salt
Egg
Milk
Vanilla extract
Flour, unbleached

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED

Step-by-step photos

How to Make These Sugar Cookies

Unlike most sugar cookies, this easy sugar cookie recipe comes together fast and doesn’t require any prep work or chill time (other than letting the butter come up to room temperature).

Start by creaming the butter, sugar, baking soda and salt together with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract and continue mixing for 1 minute.
Add the flour, half at a time, and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. The dough should appear even in color and texture with only a few streaks of flour.
Using a 1.5 TBS cookie scoop, scoop the dough onto a lined baking sheet.
Generously sprinkle the tops of the cookies with sugar.
Bake for 10 minutes, cool, and enjoy!

Overhead process shots of stopping cookies with a scoop onto a baking sheet.

This Will Become your To-to Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe, and Here’s Why

One bowl. That’s all you need to make this recipe. One bowl and 30 minutes of your time.
It only makes about two dozen cookies, which is enough, but not overkill. You can also scale up the recipe if you need a few more (just hit the 2x or 3x button on the recipe card and I’ll do the math for you)!
The most obvious answer, there is no chilling or rolling required to make these cookies. You don’t even have to use a cookie scoop, but I would definitely recommend it, since inconsistency in the size of the cookies can alter the quantity of cookies and baking time necessary.
Cleanup is a breeze; with only one bowl and baking sheets lined with parchment paper, you’ll be washed up in mere minutes. You can literally make these easy sugar cookies everyday if you wanted to. *No judgment here.*

Cookies in a metal tin with one sitting on an antique spatula.

A Few Things to Remember

Don’t try to shortcut by microwaving the butter; it’ll get too hot and melty (yes, melty 😁) and trust me, that’s not ideal for this recipe. Be patient, and let the butter sit out for an hour or so on the counter; it’ll be perfect.

While the order of ingredients doesn’t matter as much with this recipe, it’s important to do the creaming first and then add the wet ingredients.

I find that mixing the flour in half at a time helps with two main things; the mess of trying to stir all that flour at once, and it’s easier to keep an eye on the dough consistency to make sure it’s not too wet or too dry. As with any recipe you may need to make a small adjustment.

You don’t want to over-bake these cookies. They’ll be very light colored and slightly puffy when the 8 to 10 minute timer is up. That’s what we’re going for. They’ll settle down as they cool. I like to let them sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before I transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

I always recommend rotating the cookie sheet halfway through baking because most ovens (mine included) are very uneven in temperature. The rotation helps to ensure even baking/browning.

A stack of sugar cookies with a bowl of sugar sitting next to them.

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Now get to it and bake up some easy sugar cookies! Need frosting too? This is the best recipe!

Are Sugar Cookies Your Jam? Check These Out Too

Easy Sugar Cookies

Name: Easy Sugar Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature); 1 cup sugar; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp milk; 1½ cup flour (unbleached); 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp sea salt

By: Kristine Underwood

The perfect easy sugar cookies. This recipe requires no rolling, no chilling, and no cookie cutters. You can make the whole recipe in under 30 minutes!

4.94 from 15 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Course Sweets & Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 26 cookies

Calories 79 kcal

ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp milk
1½ cup flour (unbleached)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium size bowl, cream butter, sugar, baking soda, and salt together with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp sea salt
Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla extract and mix for 1 more minute.
1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp milk
Add flour, half at a time mixing with a rubber spatula until just combined.
1½ cup flour
Using a 1.5 TBS cookie scoop, scoop dough onto lined baking sheets and sprinkle the tops of each cookie with sugar.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.
Let cookies cool on the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store in airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Make sure to read the cookie baking tips to get answers to common questions about baking cookies.

If you need frosting too, this is the best recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookieCalories: 79kcalCarbohydrates: 10.3gProtein: 0.8gFat: 4.1gSaturated Fat: 2.5gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 121mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 6.3gIron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was

25 Comments

Lisa | Garlic & Zest says:

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I love everything about this recipe. The simplicity. The manageable yield — not overkill. One bowl. Perfect.

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Thank you so much Lisa! Sometimes the most simple recipes are the best, for oh…so many reasons!
  
beth says:

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I love sugar cookies. I’m not sure why I only make them in December! These look perfect! My dough can be a real pain to roll out!! Giving these a try, ASAP!

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Me too, Beth! And the no-roll variety are perfect for enjoying all year long! I find these easier to whip up than chocolate chip even, haha!
  
Marie – Not Enough Cinnamon says:

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This sounds like an easy, perfect cookie recipe! Your photos are gorgeous Kristine 🙂

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Thank you so much Marie! You just made my day, girl! ☺️
  
Shinta Simon says:

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I’m smitten! They look perfect and I’m sold on the idea of them being no roll and one bowl. I must try these soon!

1. Kristine says:
  
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  They are so easy Shinta, you’ll love them! Thank you so much, happy weekend!
  
Nancy says:

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A simple, classic recipe. Love it! And that there’s such little clean up. Looks like I’ll be making these tonight!

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Thank you so much, Nancy! They’re so easy; I hope you love them!
  
Natalie says:

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I love sugar cookies! These look so buttery, melt-in-your-mouth and so delicious! Can’t wait to try this recipe!

Brian Jones says:

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They look superb and sound so simple to make, you can’t beat a simple honest to goodness cookie without all the nonsense 🙂

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Thank you so much Brian! I agree, no nonsense cookies are my jam!
  
Danielle says:

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These look like the perfect cookies. I might try making these with my daughter at the weekend.

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Thank you Danielle, I hope you enjoy them!
  
Amy | The Cook Report says:

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This is such a simple recipe but sounds so easy and delicious, I love it!

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Thanks Amy, super delicious and super easy, WINNER! ☺️
  
Laura says:

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Perfect for school runs, planning to make those for the lunch box.They are so simple

1. Kristine says:
  
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  They would be the perfect sweet treat to send to school, Laura! I hope you enjoy them!
  
Jan Manley says:

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Made these today. My husband loves sugar cookies. So EASY AND QUICK! Crisp and yummy!!!!! 5 Star! A keeper!

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Hey Jan! WOOOHOOO!! I’m so glad to hear it. The crispy edges are hands down my favorite part too! Thanks so much for stopping by to comment. XOXO ?
  
Colleen says:

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Sugar cookies are universally loved, and a simple recipe makes them super fun to make! Thanks for sharing this yummy looking recipe. I’m all about less work and fewer dishes 😉

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Thank you so much Colleen! I couldn’t agree with you more, less dishes is always a win! So glad you stopped by!
  
Romy says:

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Hi, Kristine! Those cookies look so pretty and yummy. Do you happen to know if I can make them with cake flour? Thank you. Have a lovely day 🙂

1. Kristine says:
  
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  Hi Romy! Thank you so much! I’ve never tried using cake flour in cookies, or in this recipe, but I’ve read that you can try substituting cake flour for all-purpose at 1 cup + 2 tsp per 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Keep in mind that cake flour is less dense, has lower protein, and has less gluten so the cookies will almost definitely be very delicate and may fall apart. If you try it, let me know how it goes and how that come out. 🙂

Easy Sugar Cookies (No-Roll)

Only 8 Ingredients In These Easy Sugar Cookies