Essential Holiday Recipe: The Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (2024)

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Faith Durand

Faith DurandSVP of Content

Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and former Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. She is the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.

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updated Jun 8, 2019

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Essential Holiday Recipe: The Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (1)

The best cut-out sugar cookies you can make! A delicious dough, with tips for cutting out pretty shapes and easy decorating.

Makes24 to 36 cookies

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Essential Holiday Recipe: The Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (2)

There are a few recipes that we turn to every holiday season, and this buttery dreamboat of a sugar cookie is one of them. The dough is delicious and easy to work with, and it makes the most beautiful cookies; we even had a reader tell us it

saved the day

While many sugar cookie recipes are a little bland, and frustratingly inconsistent in their texture (too sticky to roll out one minute, tough the next) we feel that this one gets it just right. This is a firm dough that can be rolled and cut out more easily than Play-Doh, and yet it yields a meltingly delicious cookie, with notes of almond, vanilla, and lemon.

Of course, I realize that labeling any recipe “best” is a risky proposition; we all have our own opinions about these things. But out of all the recipes I’ve written for The Kitchn, I feel that these are most deserving of the “Best Recipe” label; they have stood the test of time and many, many batches — and at least

one reader agrees

Since I first posted this recipe a few years ago, I’ve made these so many times. The original recipe was calibrated for an enormous batch, and it required your very largest bowl for mixing. This is appropriate enough at Christmas, but I know that you don’t always need to make 12 dozen cookies at a time. So there are proportions and instructions below for both a normal-sized amount (2 to 3 dozen cookies) as well as for a perfectly enormous batch.

Sugar Cookie Tips

  • This dough freezes perfectly. The original recipe makes a very large quantity, so roll out a few sheets of dough and freeze them flat between wax paper and plastic wrap for quick cut-out cookies later.
  • When you take the chilled dough out of the fridge you may need to let it sit for a few moments before it is soft enough to roll out. The high quotient of butter makes this a very firm dough.
  • That firmness makes these perfect cut-out cookies for children; if you roll the dough at least 1/4-inch thick children should have no problem cutting and picking up cookie dough shapes. The dough doesn’t tear easily or get too soft like other more delicate cookie doughs.
  • They are firm yet tender, with a very buttery flavor. If you sandwich them with a soft filling like buttercream or Nutella the cookies soften even more.

Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas

  • Ice with a sugar glaze then sandwich with Nutella between two cookies.
  • Glaze with warmed jelly then sandwich with another cut-out cookie on top.
  • Drizzle with melted chocolate.
  • Ice with royal icing and stick on candy dots for decoration.
Comments

The Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

The best cut-out sugar cookies you can make! A delicious dough, with tips for cutting out pretty shapes and easy decorating.

Makes 24 to 36 cookies

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks

    (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature for 1 hour

  • 2 ounces

    cream cheese, at room temperature

  • 1 cup

    granulated sugar

  • 1

    large egg

  • 1 teaspoon

    vanilla extract

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    almond extract

  • 1 teaspoon

    freshly grated lemon zest

  • 3 cups

    all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons

    baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    salt

Instructions

  1. Place the butter, cream cheese, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the blade attachment. (Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer and large bowl.) Beat on medium speed for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.

  2. Place the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and whisk together. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture and beat until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.

  3. At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then proceed with the recipe.

  4. To bake the cookies, heat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or Silpats. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.

  5. Bake until set, 8 to 12 minutes depending on the thickness of the cookies. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before icing or decorating.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Comments

Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (Large Batch)

Makes 8 to 12 dozen

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 3 cups

    unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour

  • 6 ounces

    cream cheese, at room temperature

  • 3 cups

    granulated sugar

  • 3

    large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon

    vanilla extract

  • 1 teaspoon

    almond extract

  • 2 teaspoons

    lemon zest

  • 9 cups

    flour

  • 4 1/2 teaspoons

    baking powder

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons

    salt

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar. Beat for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.

  2. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl then gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.

  3. At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight then proceed with the recipe.

  4. To bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment or a Silpat. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.

  5. Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack.

  6. Cool completely before icing or decorating, and store in a tightly covered container.

Cookie Cutters

For these photos I used these cookie cutters:

Filed in:

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Essential Holiday Recipe: The Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to cut out cookies? ›

Pull off the top sheet of parchment, then slide the sheet of dough onto a baking sheet, then pop it in the freezer. (You can stack as many sheets of dough onto one baking sheet as you'd like.) Sandwich your dough between two sheets of parchment, roll, then freeze; it makes cut-out cookies a breeze!

What is the trick for cookie cutters? ›

Dip your cookie cutters in flour with each cut. Work from the center of the rolled-out dough to the edges, cutting shapes close to one another to prevent extra scraps and extra rerolling. If the cookie cutters get really sticky, wipe them off with a damp paper towel.

Is butter or margarine better for cut out cookies? ›

But when you're baking, butter triumphs over margarine every time. For cakes, cookies, and pastries, butter (unsalted, that is) provides richer flavor. (It begins as cream, after all, and margarine is made from vegetable oil.) Butter's high fat content is also what gives baked goods their texture.

What is the best thickness for cutout cookies? ›

Most recipes suggest rolling the dough to ¼-inch thick because it's easy to work with (less breakage) and achieves a soft, tender cookie. Roll out a portion of dough at a time and keep the remaining dough in the refrigerator.

Should you refrigerate cut out cookies before baking? ›

Refrigerating the dough allows the flour to fully hydrate and helps to make the cookie dough firmer. Firm dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much, which is why chilling the dough is a crucial step for cut-out and rolled cookies.

How to prevent sugar cookie cutouts from spreading? ›

To prevent this make sure the baking sheets are always at least on room temperature. Ideally you want to cut your cookies and then chill them with the baking sheet. that way the tray is still cool when it goes in the oven and the cookies have no time to spread before they are baked through.

What is a magic cookie cutter? ›

The other Cookie Cutter players can obtain is the Magic Cookie Cutter. It is a light purple and can be used on any of the featured Cookie Gacha banners. They can additionally be saved if players aren't interested in the current featured Cookie Run Kingdom banners.

Why won't my cut-out cookies hold their shape? ›

Too much flour will make your cookies dry and crumbly. Too much sugar and butter can make sugar cookies spread and lose their shape when baked. This one requires a little patience because once you roll out your dough, you are ready to bake. Be patient and bake your cookies when the dough is really cold.

How do you use store bought sugar cookie dough for cutouts? ›

Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on work surface. Cut out desired shapes using floured 2- to 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 11 minutes or until edges are light golden brown.

How long should I chill sugar cookie dough? ›

→ Follow this tip: Chill sugar cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. The dough will be so much easier to work with! It will roll out nicely, and if you're making cut-outs, chilled dough will help you get clean, sharp edges.

What is the trick to cut out cookies? ›

It holds its shape, and one major trick is that after you make your dough, you'll roll it out, cut out your cookie shapes, and then put them on a lined baking sheet and only then PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER for 10 minutes, then straight into the oven after. No cooling and then rolling. You roll, cut, and then cool!

Can I use country crock instead of butter for cookies? ›

Yes! Country Crock® is great for cooking and baking. Certain Country Crock® products can be swapped 1:1 for butter in cooking and baking recipes: Country Crock® Baking Sticks and Country Crock® Plant Butter sticks and tubs.

What kind of butter makes the best cookies? ›

The best butter for your baked goods depends on what type of recipe you're whipping up. Unsalted, American-style butter works well in goods like cookies, pound cakes and pancakes that require the high-fat content of conventional butter and more flexibility with salt and flavor content.

How to keep cut out sugar cookies from spreading? ›

To prevent this make sure the baking sheets are always at least on room temperature. Ideally you want to cut your cookies and then chill them with the baking sheet. that way the tray is still cool when it goes in the oven and the cookies have no time to spread before they are baked through.

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