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The Best Soft and Chewy Cutout Sugar Cookies

Close-up of three soft sugar cookies stacked on a white plate, showing the crumb texture of the broken top cookies.
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Make classic, buttery vanilla sugar cookies that stay soft and chewy while holding their shape perfectly for cutting and decorating. This easy recipe uses basic ingredients for crowd-pleasing holiday treats.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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
  • 1/4 cup milk (for texture adjustment)

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, mixing well after each addition. Stir 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. If the dough seems too dry to come together, add the milk one tablespoon at a time.
  5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. Chilling is key for no spread sugar cookies.
  6. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°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. Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters.
  8. Place the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  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 results when decorating, chill the cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before placing them in the oven. This helps prevent spreading.
  • If you prefer a slightly crispier edge while keeping the center soft, bake for 9 minutes.
  • Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Nutrition

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