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–+ servings
Stack of the best sugar cookies with icing and colorful sprinkles on top
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Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe

This is the BEST soft sugar cookie recipe! These drop sugar cookies are chewy and soft and perfect with or without frosting.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword cookie
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 17 cookies (depending on size)
Calories 222kcal
Author Dorothy Kern

Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 170g
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar 149g
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 ml
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour 248g

For the frosting

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 47g
  • 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar 151g
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5ml
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon milk 15 ml
  • Food coloring if desired
  • Sprinkles optional

Instructions

Make the Cookies:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheet with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
  • Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl with a hand mixer). Cream until the mixture is fluffy, about one minute.
  • Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix until smooth, then mix in baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add flour and mix until cookie dough forms.
  • Scoop 2 tablespoon sized balls 2-inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 11-15 minutes, or until the bottoms are just starting get golden and the top is no longer glossy. Cool at least 10 minutes on cookie sheet before removing. Cool completely before frosting.

Make the Frosting:

  • Mix butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer until smooth, then slowly mix in the powdered sugar a bit at a time. The mixture will be very crumbly. Add the vanilla and mix, then mix in the salt and milk. Beat until smooth and creamy.
  • Tint with food coloring, if desired.
  • Frost cooled cookies. Store loosely covered.

Alternate preparation:

  • Scoop balls of cookie dough and roll them in sugar or cinnamon sugar before baking. Skip frosting. OR
  • Add 1 cup of sprinkles to the dough before scooping. Skip frosting.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 130mg | Sugar: 17g