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The Best Soft and Chewy Cutout Sugar Cookies

A close-up stack of four golden brown, slightly crinkled sugar cookies dusted with sparkling sugar.
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Make bakery-style sugar cookies that are soft, chewy, and hold their shape perfectly for decorating. This easy recipe uses basic ingredients for a classic holiday treat.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 3/4 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 light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the 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.
  5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees 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 cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
  8. Place the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheets. Reroll scraps as needed.
  9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. For softer cookies, bake closer to 8 minutes.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Notes

  • For the best shape retention when cutting out cookies, chill the rolled-out dough on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking.
  • If you plan on using royal icing for detailed decorating, consider slightly reducing the vanilla extract to 3/4 teaspoon to keep the cookie flavor subtle.
  • This dough is excellent for meal planning; you can prepare it ahead of time and keep it chilled for up to three days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delicerecipe.com/best-soft-chewy-cutout-sugar-cookies/