Sugar cookie
Sugar cookies are a type of cookie traditionally made from flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla. The ingredients are mixed together and then rolled out and cut into shapes. They are commonly baked during the Christmas and holiday season, but can be made year-round.
The origin of sugar cookies is unknown, but they have been around for centuries. One theory is that they originated in Germany, where they were known as "pfeffernuesse" or "peppernuts." Another theory is that they originated in the Netherlands, where they were known as " speculaas ."
The first recipe for sugar cookies in the United States was published in 1796 by Amelia Simmons in her cookbook, "American Cookery." The recipe did not include vanilla, which was not widely available at that time.
Advice
dough
When making sugar cookie dough, it is important to make sure that all of the ingredients are at room temperature before beginning. This will help the dough to mix more easily and evenly. It is also important to make sure that you cream your butter and sugar together thoroughly before adding in the other ingredients. This will help to ensure that your cookies will be light and fluffy. Lastly, always make sure to chill the dough for at least one hour before baking. This will help to keep your cookies from spreading too much and maintain their shape.
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
Soft Sugar Cookies With Raspberry Frosting
- COOKIES
- sprinkle
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- butter
- salt
- baking powder
- egg
- cake flour
- cream cheese
- FROSTING
- butter
- raspberry
- vanilla extract
- salt
- confectioners sugar
Basic Sugar Cookies
- butter
- vanilla extract
- egg
- baking powder
- salt
- all purpose flour
- sugar
Frosted Holiday Sugar Cookies
- ROYAL ICING
- food coloring
- tartar cream
- salt
- egg white
- confectioners sugar
- COOKIES
- butter
- tartar cream
- baking soda
- egg
- confectioners sugar
- salt
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
Ultimate Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- egg
- egg yolk
- butter
- baking powder
- all purpose flour
- salt
Chewy Earl Grey Sugar Cookies
- earl grey tea
- egg
- sugar
- light brown sugar
- baking powder
- baking soda
- orange zest
- butter
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- salt
Easy Slice ‘n’ Bake Vanilla Bean Christmas Sugar Cookies w/Whipped Buttercream.
- vanilla extract
- baking soda
- vanilla bean
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- almond extract
- salt
- caramel sauce
- powdered sugar
- egg
- butter
- heavy cream
- butter
- all purpose flour
- sprinkle
Angel Sugar Cookies
- blue sanding sugar
- purple sanding sugar
- canola
- sugar
- powdered sugar
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- salt
- vanilla extract
- egg
- butter
- all purpose flour
Granny's Sugar Cookies
- colored sprinkle
- various coloring
- vanilla extract
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- salt
- butter
- powdered sugar
- sugar
- egg
- butter
- all purpose flour
Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting
- baking soda
- vanilla extract
- butter
- sugar
- salt
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- confectioners sugar
- egg
- butter
- all purpose flour
- cinnamon sugar
Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe
- salt
- vanilla
- sugar
- almond extract
- egg
- all purpose flour
- butter
- cream cheese
Cutout Sugar Cookies
- icing
- egg
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- salt
- cake flour
- butter
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- butter
- vanilla extract
- salt
- sugar
- vegetable shortening
- egg
- cocoa powder
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
Meringue Sugar Cookies with Jam
- jam
- powdered sugar
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- butter
- all purpose flour
- egg white
- egg yolk
Matcha–White Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- matcha
- butter
- egg
- egg yolk
- honey
- light brown sugar
- salt
- matcha
- all purpose flour
- lemon zest
- white chocolate
- sugar
- baking soda
Classic Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- egg
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- salt
- milk
- cake flour
- butter
Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
- butter
- vanilla extract
- salt
- sugar
- egg
- milk
- baking powder
- all purpose flour
- sugar
Toasted Coconut Sugar Cookies
- butter
- baking soda
- coconut extract
- salt
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- sweetened coconut
- baking powder
- lemon juice
- egg
- all purpose flour
- sugar
Low-Fat Holiday Sugar Cookies
- egg
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- salt
- sugar
- butter
Super Soft Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- salt
- vanilla extract
- butter
- milk
- almond extract
- baking powder
- egg
- vegetable shortening
- all purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- cream cheese
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- egg large yolk
- butter
- dutch process cocoa powder
- sugar
- all purpose flour
- vanilla extract
- baking soda
- salt
Sugar Cookie Recipe
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- salt
- egg
- milk
- baking powder
- shortening
- all purpose flour
Soft and Fluffy Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies.
- meringue powder
- vanilla extract
- egg
- baking soda
- vanilla bean
- salt
- powdered sugar
- all purpose flour
- butter
- sugar
- water
- cream cheese
- beet juice
Easy Drop Sugar Cookies
- butter
- egg
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- salt
- all purpose flour
- colored sugar
Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe
- baking powder
- egg
- baking soda
- light brown sugar
- butter
- all purpose flour
- vanilla extract
- salt
Dairy-Free Sugar Cookies Recipe
- vegan butter
- vanilla extract
- egg
- sugar
- powdered sugar
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- all purpose flour
- decorative sanding sugar
The Best Sugar Cookies Ever!
- egg
- butter
- almond extract
- baking powder
- salt
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- sugar
- powdered sugar
- cream cheese
- food coloring
Anise Cinnamon Sugar Cookies (Bizcochitos)
- butter
- egg
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- aniseed
- salt
- sugar
- brandy
- wheat flour
SOFT SUGAR COOKIES
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- baking powder
- milk
- sour cream
- baking soda
- salt
- butter
- egg
- powdered sugar
- all purpose flour
- food coloring
- sprinkle
Lofthouse-Style Frosted Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Cookie Dough
- food coloring
- heavy cream
- cake flour
- salt
- egg white
- vanilla extract
- baking powder
- sugar
- butter
- Frosting
- vanilla extract
- powdered sugar
- salt
- heavy cream
Animal Sugar Cookies
- food coloring
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- butter
- tube sugar cookie dough
- all purpose flour
- water
Vanilla Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- butter
- egg
- vanilla extract
- baking powder
- salt
- all purpose flour
Coconut and Lime Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies
- lime zest
- egg
- lime juice
- half
- butter
- sweetened coconut
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- salt
- vegetable oil
- butter
- powdered sugar
- sugar
- all purpose flour
- coconut extract
- cream cheese
- frosting
- lime sliver
Eggnog Scented Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Vanilla Icing.
- baking soda
- egg
- vanilla bean
- vanilla bean
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- almond extract
- salt
- eggnog
- nutmeg
- meringue powder
- butter
- powdered sugar
- all purpose flour
- water
- food coloring
Pink Grapefruit Sugar Cookies
- FROSTING AND ASSEMBLY
- red gel coloring
- pink grapefruit zest
- vanilla extract
- butter
- heavy cream
- salt
- powdered sugar
- COOKIES
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- egg
- butter
- salt
- sour cream
- cornstarch
- pink grapefruit zest
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
Sugar Cookies
- butter
- lemon zest
- almond extract
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- vanilla extract
- egg
- salt
- all purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- this cashew frosting
- sugar
- this glaze
- royal icing
- supernatural white sequin
Brown Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- food coloring
- sprinkle
- vanilla extract
- egg
- butter
- meringue powder
- baking powder
- salt
- all purpose flour
- light brown sugar
- confectioners sugar
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
- butter
- baking soda
- cinnamon
- salt
- sugar
- tartar cream
- vanilla
- egg
- all purpose flour
Soft Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- butter
- baking soda
- cocoa powder
- sugar
- baking powder
- all purpose flour
- dark brown sugar
- cocoa powder
- vanilla extract
- egg
- salt
Conversation Heart Sugar Cookies
- butter
- baking powder
- light corn syrup
- salt
- vanilla extract
- tub gel coloring
- water
- sugar
- almond extract
- buttermilk
- egg
- meringue powder
- powdered sugar
- all purpose flour
- royal icing
- sugar cookie
Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
- butter
- sugar
- egg
- salt
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe
- sanding sugar
- vanilla extract
- egg
- sugar
- all purpose flour
- salt
- nutmeg
- baking powder
- butter pliable
Border Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- pecan
- potato chip
- sugar
- all purpose flour
- salt
- semisweet chocolate
- butter
Keto Sugar Cookies
- almond flour
- vanilla extract
- butter
- baking powder
- coconut flour
- orange zest
Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies
- powdered sugar
- salt
- butter
- sugar
- cinnamon
- egg
- brown sugar
- vanilla
- milk
- butter
- all purpose flour
- butter
- almond extract
- cream cheese
Soft Crème Fraiche Vanilla Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- milk
- baking powder
- confectioners sugar
- vanilla bean
- salt
- all purpose flour
- egg
- crème fraîche
- butter
- colorful sprinkle
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- cooking spray
- vanilla extract
- egg
- cocoa powder
- salt
- all purpose flour
- sugar
- baking powder
- confectioners sugar
- meringue powder
- butter
- baking soda
Grandma's Soft Sugar Cookies
- salt
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- vanilla
- egg
- vegetable oil
- sugar
Crispy Sugar Cookie Recipe (Grandma Prudy’s Thin and Crispy Cookies)
- butter
- sugar
- powdered sugar
- vegetable oil
- vanilla extract
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- salt
- sugar
- large egg
- all purpose flour
- red hot
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
- vanilla extract
- salt
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- egg
- green
- butter
- sugar
- powdered sugar
- milk
Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookies
- butter
- red andes peppermint crunch chip
- sugar
- egg
- sugar
- baking powder
- salt
- baking soda
- vanilla
- all purpose flour
- candy cane
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- butter
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- egg
- sugar
- cocoa powder
- cream cheese
- baking soda
- light corn syrup
- sweet chocolate chip
- all purpose flour
- salt
Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
- vanilla
- egg
- pumpkin puree
- butter
- sugar
- vegetable oil
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- pumpkin pie spice
- salt
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- cream cheese
- jimmy
- pumpkin pie spice
- sprinkle
Airplane Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
- food coloring
- sugar
- confectioner' sugar
- vanilla extract
- salt
- butter
- all purpose flour
- meringue powder
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
- danish butter
- sugar
- milk
- vanilla
- egg
- salt
- gluten-free flour
- baking powder
Eloise's Easy Sugar Cookies
- butter
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- egg
- baking powder
- all purpose flour
Sprinkle-Splosion Sugar Cookies
- egg yolk
- egg
- italian buttercream
- confectioners sugar
- butter
- light brown sugar
- sprinkle
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- baking soda
- salt
Gluten-Free M&M's Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe
- chocolate mandm '
- baking powder
- lemon extract
- sugar
- sweet rice flour
- salt
- xanthan gum
- cornstarch
- milk
- white rice flour
- light corn syrup
- vanilla extract
- egg
- solid shortening
Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies
- sugar
- egg
- baking powder
- all purpose flour
- salt
- vanilla extract
- butter
Soft Sugar Cookies
- butter
- sugar
- baking soda
- powdered sugar
- salt
- sugar
- almond extract
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- egg
- all purpose flour
Coconut-Frosted Sugar Cookies with Strawberry Hearts
- vanilla
- coconut extract
- egg
- sugar
- butter
- sugar
- baking soda
- tarter cream
- salt
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- all purpose flour
- butter
- vegetable oil
- salt
- strawberry
No Chill Sugar Cookies Recipe
- sugar
- butter
- vegetable oil
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- salt
- vanilla
- egg
- powdered sugar
- all purpose flour
- milk
- salt
Basic Sugar Cookies
- royal icing
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- egg
- salt
- butter
- cake flour
- sugar
Spiral Christmas Sugar Cookies
- butter
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- egg
- sugar
- cream cheese
- almond extract
- baking soda
- corn syrup
- all purpose flour
- salt
- green coloring
- red coloring
- red
Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies
- egg
- butter
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- salt
- vanilla bean paste
- heavy cream
- vegetable oil
- cinnamon
- salt
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- all purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- salt
Lemon 'Swig' Sugar Cookies with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- butter
- salt
- vanilla extract
- cream cheese
- sugar
- baking soda
- tarter cream
- butter
- water
- lemon juice
- lemon zest
- egg
- powdered sugar
- vegetable oil
- confectioners sugar
- all purpose flour
Swig Sugar Cookies
- salt
- butter
- baking soda
- tartar cream
- sugar
- sour cream
- water
- egg
- milk
- vegetable oil
- powdered sugar
- all purpose flour
- red
Easter Egg Sugar Cookies
- lemon extract
- vanilla extract
- butter
- baking powder
- salt
- all purpose flour
- sour cream
- egg yolk
- sugar
- meringue powder
- powdered sugar
- water
- gel coloring
The Softest Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- salt
- sugar
- egg
- coconut extract
- vanilla
- all purpose flour
- butter
- cocoa
- cream cheese
- #
- black icing
Christmas Sugar Cookies
- confectionersand#x27 sugar
- light corn syrup
- salt
- vanilla extract
- butter
- sugar
- baking powder
- milk
- egg
- all purpose flour
- colored sugar
- food coloring
Chewy Coconut-Lime Sugar Cookies
- lime juice
- milk
- baking powder
- lime zest
- egg
- sweetened coconut
- baking soda
- salt
- vegetable oil
- cream cheese
- all purpose flour
- butter
Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
- glaze
- salt
- heavy cream
- powdered sugar
- egg
- sugar
- vanilla
- sour cream
- baking soda
- salt
- shortening
- butter
- all purpose flour
Roll-and-Cut Sugar Cookies
- royal icing
- salt
- vanilla extract
- egg yolk
- butter
- all purpose flour
- apricot jam
- sugar
Vegan Sugar Cookies
- vanilla extract
- confectioners sugar
- baking soda
- salt
- all purpose flour
- cornstarch
- plant based
- sugar
- vegan
Easter Egg Sugar Cookies
- food coloring
- vanilla extract
- egg
- butter
- sugar
- salt
- baking soda
- all purpose flour
- confectioners sugar
- milk
Fluffy Eggless Sugar Cookies (Breathtaking Delicacies)
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- sugar
- sugar
- salt
- butter
- milk
- vanilla extract
Pencil Sugar Cookies
- chocolate chip
- pink coloring
- white chocolate chip
- coconut oil
- sugar wafer cooky
Shortcut Pie Dough Sugar Cookies
- butter
- roll refrigerator pie dough
- almond extract
- decorative sugar
Basic Sugar Cookie
- royal icing
- sugar
- vegetable shortening
- confectioners sugar
- egg
- minus water
- tartar cream
- salt
- vanilla extract
- water
- egg white
- white corn syrup
- all purpose flour
- meringue powder
Almond Sugar Cookies
- almond
- cup sugar
- salt
- egg
- butter
- all purpose flour
Sugar Cookies
- butter
- lemon zest
- vanilla extract
- salt
- canola
- egg yolk
- all purpose flour
- sugar
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Staple Ingredients
- salt 70%
- butter 69%
- sugar 68%
- all purpose flour 66%
- egg 62%
- vanilla extract 60%
Common Ingredients
- baking powder 44%
- baking soda 34%
- powdered sugar 28%
Usual Ingredients
- milk 16%
- cream cheese 13%
- almond extract 11%
- tartar cream 10%
- vanilla 10%
- confectioners sugar 10%
- vegetable oil 10%
- food coloring 9%
- meringue powder 8%
- egg yolk 7%
- sprinkle 7%
- water 7%
- cake flour 5%
- cinnamon 5%
- heavy cream 5% See More
- light brown sugar 5%
- sour cream 5%