The Best Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe
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This soft sugar cookie recipe is a must-bake for the holidays! The cookies are light and fluffy, making them perfect for homemade buttercream frosting!
I don’t know about you, but mom always made thin cut-out sugar cookies with frosting for our holiday cookies. And while I love cut-out cookies as much as the next girl; I have a deep appreciation for a thick and soft sugar cookie too! There’s just something about a cookie you can really sink your teeth into, am I right?
Well friends, this is thaaaaaaat cookie! And guess what? They’re so simple to make, you’ll want to add them to your list of holiday baking this year and for years to come.
To make this soft sugar cookie recipe, you start by creaming the butter and white sugar together until smooth. Then you add the egg and vanilla extract and stir to combine. Then you toss in the sea salt and baking soda and give it a good stir.
Once that’s all blended in, you fold the flour in, half at a time, and mix the dough until it’s all just combined. The dough will be pretty soft, but not uber sticky and should pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Then, using a 3 tablespoon size cookie scoop, you scoop the dough onto prepared baking sheets and bake them for 10 short minutes. When they come out of the oven, it’s soft sugar cookie perfection! You’ll want to let them cool completely before topping with frosting and sprinkles, of course.
And also, if you find yourself searching for the perfect sugar cookie frosting to top this soft sugar cookie recipe, THIS IS IT RIGHT HERE!
Things to remember when baking this soft sugar cookie recipe:
- This recipe only makes about 14 cookies, but you can easily double it to make 28.
- The cookies need to be baked on parchment paper or they will likely run and become REALLY LARGE.
- And along those same lines, please let the cookies sit on the cookie sheets for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.
- Because these cookies are light and soft, they dry out quickly. The cookies should be eaten within 2-3 days or you can pop them in the freezer (with or without frosting is just fine!).
Aside from the fact that these cookies are soft and mouthwateringly delicious; my favorite thing about this soft sugar cookie recipe is that it can literally become your go-to “drop sugar cookie” recipe for any occasion.
Just by changing the color of the frosting or the theme of the sprinkles, you could have a thick, chewy, soft sugar cookie for any event or celebration! #winning
Perfect for holiday baking or even everyday festivities, this soft sugar cookie recipe will win you over! The cookies are soft and lightly sweet, perfect for topping with your favorite homemade buttercream frosting and sprinkles!
Don’t miss these other sugar cookies
- The Best Cut-out Sugar Cookies
- Maple Glazed Sugar Cookies
- Easy No-roll sugar cookies
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
The Best Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe
ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 TBS milk
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar together until smooth and light colored.
- Add egg, milk, and extracts and mix until smooth.
- Stir in sea salt and baking soda.
- Add flour, half and a time, stirring until fully combined.
- Using a 3 TBS cookie scoop, scoop dough onto cookie sheets at least 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating halfway through.
- Let cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 5-10 minutes prior to transferring to a wire rack.
- When cookies are completely cool, frost with buttercream frosting (optional).
- Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days or freeze.
Sugar cookies are a must for holiday baking! These look abolutely gorgeous!
I totally agree with you, Farwin! Thank you so much!
My children are big fans of cookies! They’ll surely crave for these as soon as they see them. Love it Kristine.
Thank you so much Lola, mine are too! I’m getting excite to do some heart shaped ones for Valentines Day! Do you bake all year long or only during the holidays?
Who doesn’t love sugar cookies?! I can you tell you that they’re my husband’s favorite of all-time. The kids lick the frosting off. LOL! I love how much these look like spring, it makes me feel like summer is right around the corner!
Oh my gosh Claudia, here too! My kids have always gone for the frosting first, haha! I love the cookies myself. Thank you so much, I’m counting down the days until Valentine’s Day baking – I’ll be making these heart shaped and pink and red! ❤️?
These really are the best. They came out so soft! Everyone wanted the recipe, LOL. You get all the credit. Thanks!
Thanks Mike – I totally agree with you! I’m thrilled to hear they were such a hit! ☺️
These soft sugar cookies look melt in my mouth delicious! I can see these being on repeat and not just for the holidays!
Heck yes, Taylor – me too! I mean I hardly ever stop baking, but I definitely wouldn’t quit sugar cookies, especially these! All. Year. Long. ☺️
The cookies are amazing! Thank you! My family loved them too!
Hey Jeannette! I love it! Thank you so much. I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them. They’re a favorite over here for sure! ?
Hello! I was wondering where the Milk comes in? Its in the ingredients list but not the instructions. Thanks!
Hey Hannah! Oh my gosh, thanks for catching that! It goes in with the egg and extracts. I’ll amend the recipe card right now! Happy baking! XO