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Home By Meal Dessert

Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

★★★★★ 7 Reviews Recipe Print
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By: Erin12/13/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

sugar cookies on tray
sugar cookies on plate

Get into the holiday spirit with the Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe! This dough is perfect for flattening and adding your favorite decorative toppings like icing or sprinkles.

cut out sugar cookies

The most delicious cut out sugar cookie recipe

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us — cookie season! And with cookie season comes the need for a good, classic sugar cookie. Today, I’m showing you how to make some delicious and festive treats with the best cut out sugar cookie recipe.

This recipe uses typical baking ingredients, and the texture of the dough is great for flattening out and using with your cookie cutters. Once baked, they’re the perfect canvas for decorating with icing, sprinkles, and the toppings of your choice!

cut out sugar cookies

Ingredients in the best cut out sugar cookie recipe

The ingredients needed to make these sugar cookies are divided into two parts: those for the cookies and those for the icing. For the cookies, we’ll be using standard baking items like flour, eggs, and sugar to create a delicious dough!

Cookies

  • Butter: First up for the cookies, you will need 3/4 cup of softened butter.
  • Sugar: Add deliciously sweet flavor with 1 cup of white sugar.
  • Eggs: Next, add two eggs to help the dough reach the correct texture.
  • Vanilla: Contribute to the flavor with 1 tsp of vanilla.
  • Flour: 2.5 cups of white flour will thicken up the dough.
  • Baking powder: 1 tsp of baking powder will help the cookies bake properly.
  • Salt: Finally, finish off the dough with 1/2 tsp of salt for extra flavor.

Icing

  • Powdered sugar: The base of the icing is made with 2 cups of powdered sugar.
  • Milk: Create the icing texture by adding 3 tbsp of milk.
  • Food dye: Last but not least, use food dye colors of your choice.
ingredients for sugar cookies

Tools needed to make this sugar cookie recipe

To make this recipe, you will need a list of kitchen tools including various mixing bowls and stirring utensils. Don’t forget the cookie cutters! The following items are listed in the order in which you’ll use them:

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Hand mixer
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Stirring utensil
  • Spatula
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper (optional)
  • Dough roller
  • Cookie cutters
  • Small mixing bowl

For measuring, you will need 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/2 cup, 3/4 cup, and 1 cup sized measuring cups.

How to make the best cut out sugar cookie recipe

Preparing the dough and icing for this recipe is quite simple. The recipe itself comes together quickly, but prepare to let the dough sit for at least 4 hours in order to bake properly.

To begin, use a large bowl and a hand mixer to beat together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until creamy. Set aside.

Then, in a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and combine with the hand mixer. Once all of the flour is mixed into the dough, use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Make sure the dough is completely combined.

Refrigerate the dough for at least 4 hours. Overnight is best.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a baking sheet. You can use parchment paper if preferred.

Flour a large surface and a rolling pin liberally. Roll the dough out into 1/4-1/2 inch thickness. Then cut it into cookie shapes using cookie cut outs. Re-roll scraps of the dough and cut until there is no more excess dough.

Bake for 6-8 minutes, or until just slightly golden.

Let cool completely before icing.

Mix all of the icing ingredients together, adding differnet amounts of food dye color to the mix to get the desired shade.

cut out sugar cookies

Add extra fun with these topping ideas

After adding icing and decorating your cookies, use these ideas if you want to add even more color and flavor!

  • Sprinkles
  • Mini M&Ms
  • Shredded coconut
  • Crushed oreos
  • Crushed candy cans
  • Crushed nuts
  • Mini chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips

Substitution Tip

If you find yourself missing an ingredient or two, here are some easy swaps you can use!

White sugar
White sugar can be replaced with coconut sugar. This swap is a bit healthier and works at a 1:1 ratio! That means to make this swap, you will need 1 cup of coconut sugar.

Eggs
If you’re hoping to substitute the eggs, you have a few options.

First, you can use applesauce. Use 1/4 cup per egg (or a total of 1/2 cup for this recipe).

Second, you can use a banana. 1 medium sized banana should be plenty for substituting 2 eggs. Note: Bananas will add a bit of banana flavor to the cookies!

Lastly, you can make eggs with chia seeds. Simply mix 2 tbsp of chia seeds with 6 tbsp of water. When it reaches an egg white consistency, add to the dough in place of the eggs.

Powdered sugar
Out of powdered sugar? That’s okay! Did you know that you can make powdered sugar by blending up granulated sugar and cornstarch? Add 1 cup of granulated sugar nad 1 tbsp of cornstarch to a blender or food processer and mix until it reaches the fine texture of powdered sugar.

Milk
Any milk will work for the icing, whether skim, 2%, whole, or almond, cashew, oat, etc.

cut out sugar cookies

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Cookie Season is nearly here! To help you get into the spirit, here are some more cookie recipes to try.

  • Pudding Cookies
  • Healthy White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
  • Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Healthy Gingerbread Men (Gluten-Free)

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photography by Moriah Sawtelle

cut out sugar cookies
★★★★★ 5 from 7 reviews

Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Get into the holiday spirit with the Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe! This dough is perfect for flattening and adding your favorite decorative toppings like icing or sprinkles.

Prep: 4 hoursCook: 8 minutesTotal: 4 hours 8 minutes
Yield 50 cookies 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

Cookies

  • 3/4 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2.5 cups white flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Icing:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • Food dye

Notes

  1. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together butter and sugar. Add in eggs and vanilla and beat until creamy. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet, blending with a hand mixer. Once all the flour is mixed into the dough, use a spatula to scrape down sides and make sure dough is completely combined.
  4. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 350F and grease a baking sheet or use parchment paper.
  6. Flour a large surface and rolling pin liberally. Roll dough out to 1/4-1/2 inch thickness. Cut into cookie shapes using cookie cut-outs. Re-roll scraps of dough and cut until there is no more excess dough left.
  7. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until just slightly golden.
  8. Let cool completely before icing.
  9. Mix all icing ingredients together, add different amounts of color to the mix to get desired shade.
Author: ErinCategory: holiday, cookie, christmasMethod: ovenCuisine: American
cut out sugar cookies

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

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There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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chocolate chip cookies
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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Tina says

    Posted on 1/2 at 12:56 pm

    These sugar cookies are perfect! The dough is perfectly sweetened so when you frost/decorate they aren’t then overly sweet, they are the perfect amount of sweetness. The texture of the cookie is nice. And I love the number of cookies it yield!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/5 at 4:26 pm

      Hi Tina, so glad you loved them!!

      Reply
  2. Erin says

    Posted on 12/23 at 1:18 am

    Amazing!!! This one is a family favorite. The cookies are delicious and the perfect consistency. Another erinliveswhole fav!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/23 at 10:42 am

      Hi Erin, so glad you loved them!!

      Reply
  3. Dalton says

    Posted on 12/19 at 10:28 pm

    The dough was super easy to make! Erin, how long is the dough okay to stay in the fridge before baking? I would like to prep the dough a few days in advance.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/23 at 10:45 am

      Hi Dalton, so glad you loved them and yes, totally fine to keep it in the fridge for a few days!

      Reply
  4. Joanna says

    Posted on 12/19 at 11:39 am

    After we made these cookies my husband said “these are the best sugar cookies I ever had!” Guess the name holds up 🙂 I really appreciate that there are not a ton of ingredients with these cookies (compared to other sugar cookies I’ve tried). Delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/19 at 7:46 pm

      Hi Joanna, so happy you both loved them so much! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Nayeli says

    Posted on 12/17 at 8:50 pm

    These are addicting! So delicious I didn’t make the icing because i have a toddler but it tasted good by themselves. I’ll have to make another batch with family

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/19 at 7:41 pm

      Hi Nayeli, so happy you loved them!!

      Reply
  6. Jessica says

    Posted on 12/16 at 4:10 pm

    I made these for a holiday party and had so many extras to bring to my coworkers. Everyone loved them and literally could not stop eating them. They were also very easy to make. They have the perfect snap!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/19 at 7:37 pm

      Hi Jessica, so happy they were such a hit!! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Murray says

    Posted on 12/13 at 7:06 pm

    Can’t wait to try these! Do you think I could freeze half of the dough (plastic wrap and foil) to use in a couple weeks?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/14 at 2:13 pm

      Hi Murray, yes that should be fine! Or you could make them then freeze. Let me know how yours come out!

      Reply

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I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

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