Description
These Easy Sugar Cookies are a nostalgic, classic treat perfect for any occasion. Soft, buttery, and just sweet enough, these cookies come together quickly with simple ingredients and bake into golden delights topped with a sprinkle of sugar for that extra crunch and sparkle.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Decoration
- 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the cookies.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir these together evenly to distribute the leavening agents throughout the flour.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and white sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, which helps create a light texture for the cookies.
- Add Flavorings: Beat in the egg, followed by the vanilla extract and almond extract, integrating them fully into the creamed mixture for a flavorful base.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, blending until just combined to form the cookie dough without overmixing.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, placing them evenly spaced on ungreased cookie sheets to avoid spreading together during baking.
- Flatten and Sugar the Cookies: Flatten each dough ball gently with the bottom of a glass to create a uniform thickness and sprinkle the tops with additional sugar for a sweet, crunchy finish.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them onto wire racks to cool completely, which helps them firm up and enhances their texture.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to avoid tough cookies.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.
- Sprinkling sugar on top before baking adds a nice crunch and sparkle.
- For variation, add sprinkles or colored sugar instead of plain sugar for decoration.
