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The Best Soft Sugar Cookies That Hold Their Shape

Close-up of two soft sugar cookies topped with white icing shaped like a rainbow and colorful sprinkles.
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Follow this easy recipe to make bakery-style soft sugar cookies that stay wonderfully tender and chewy, even after cooling. These cut-out cookies hold their shape perfectly for decorating.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  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. Chilling is crucial for shape retention.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°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. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
  8. Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them.
  9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. For thicker cookies, bake closer to 10 minutes.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Decorate with your favorite frosting once fully cooled.

Notes

  • For the softest texture, do not overbake the cookies; pull them out when the edges look set.
  • If you plan to decorate, chilling the cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking helps prevent spreading.
  • This dough freezes well. Wrap chilled, unbaked cut-outs tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://seventhflavour.com/soft-sugar-cookies-recipe-holds-shape/