The Best Cutout Sugar Cookies Recipe: Soft, Buttery & Perfect for Decorating

Celebrate the season or any occasion with this tried-and-true recipe for The Best Cutout Sugar Cookies. These cookies are exceptionally buttery and soft, and they maintain their delightful shape even after baking. Get your favorite cookie cutters ready, turn up your favorite music, and don’t forget the sugar cookie icing for some festive and fun decorating!

What better way to start the holiday cookie season than with perfectly shaped and delicious cutout sugar cookies? This recipe has become a favorite during the holidays because it consistently produces soft, chewy, and wonderfully flavored sugar cookies. The best part? You can cut the dough into virtually any shape or size, and it will maintain that exact shape, even after baking in a hot oven.

Why You’ll Love ‘Em: The Magic of These Sugar Cookies

These cutout sugar cookies aren’t just good; they’re exceptional. Here’s why they will quickly become your go-to recipe:

• Soft, Thick, and Chewy: Echoing the quality of viral Christmas pinwheel cookies, these homemade sugar cookies boast soft, delightful centers with perfectly crisp edges. The texture is truly irresistible.
• Rich, Buttery, and Vanilla-Infused: Every bite bursts with a rich, buttery flavor complemented by the warm aroma of vanilla. If you prefer chocolate, don’t hesitate to try the chocolate sugar cookies for a decadent twist!
• Shape Retention Guaranteed: One of the most frustrating aspects of baking sugar cookies is when they lose their shape in the oven. Fear not! By following all the tips and tricks detailed in this recipe, you’ll achieve cutout cookies that hold their form beautifully every time.
• Stay Soft for Days: These cookies don’t just taste great on the first day. They stay remarkably soft and enjoyable for days, making them perfect for making ahead of time for parties or gatherings.
• Beyond Christmas: All-Season Delight: Don’t limit these cookies to Christmas! Grab your favorite cookie cutter shapes for any occasion, from hearts to ghosts. Enjoy soft sugar cookies any time of year.
• The Ideal Decorating Canvas: Whether you favor classic cookie icing or a rich chocolate buttercream frosting, these cookies offer the perfect smooth surface to express your creativity. They’re an artist’s dream come true in the baking world.
• A Family Baking Adventure: Transform cookie baking into a cherished family tradition. Get everyone involved in the fun of rolling, cutting, and decorating. It’s a fantastic way to create lasting memories while enjoying delicious treats together. The experience is as rewarding as the cookies themselves!
• Freezer-Friendly for Convenience: The dough can be frozen for future use, and even the baked, undecorated cookies freeze well. This handy trick lets you get a head start on your holiday baking or prepare treats in advance for any occasion. The convenience factor is a game-changer for busy bakers.

Ingredients: Your Shopping List

Let’s break down the ingredients needed to create these amazing sugar cookies. Each ingredient plays a vital role in the final texture and flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour: This provides the structure for your cookies. To ensure your cookies aren’t too dense, check out the simple video tutorial for how to accurately measure flour without using a scale. Also, like in the recipe for candy cane cookies, sifting the dry ingredients together is recommended. This introduces air pockets, leading to a lighter, fluffier cookie.
• Baking Powder: Essential for helping the cookies rise and maintain a light texture. To test its freshness, add ½ teaspoon to a bowl and pour a little white vinegar or water over it. If it fizzes immediately, it’s fresh; if not, replace it with a new batch.
• Salt: Use fine-grain salt and don’t omit it! Even a small amount makes a significant difference, enhancing the other flavors and balancing the sweetness.
• Unsalted Butter: Make sure your butter is softened, but not melted, for the perfect cookie texture. Softened butter creams smoothly with the sugar, creating air pockets that contribute to a tender crumb.
• Sugar: You’ll cream it with the butter for about 3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This crucial step guarantees your cookies will have a perfectly soft and tender texture. The creaming process is key to achieving the right consistency.
• Eggs: Add moisture and structure to the dough. Use fresh, room-temperature eggs for the best baking results. Room-temperature eggs emulsify more easily, resulting in a smoother dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Opt for pure vanilla extract for the best and most authentic flavor. Or, consider using homemade vanilla extract, which also makes a thoughtful holiday gift! Homemade vanilla extract adds a unique depth of flavor that store-bought versions often lack.

For full information on ingredients and exact quantities, please see the recipe card below.

If you’ve ever made butter-based cookies, such as slice-and-bake butter cookies, you know that chilling the dough in the fridge for at least an hour is essential before cutting it into shapes. Here’s a time-saving tip: The dough can be stored in the fridge overnight or in the freezer for up to 3 months. See below for make-ahead tips!

1. Make the Sugar Cookie Dough: In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until smooth. Add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. Turn off the mixer, add the flour mixture, and beat just until everything is combined. Avoid overmixing.

2. Chill the Dough: Remove the dough from the mixer bowl and shape it into a flat disk, about 6 inches wide. Wrap the dough securely in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 1 hour. This chilling time is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking.

3. Roll Out the Dough: Take the dough out of the fridge and cut it in half. Roll half of the dough between two sheets of wax paper until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Rolling between wax paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier. Check out this video tutorial for a helpful trick on how to evenly roll out cookie dough.
4. Cut into Shapes: Use a variety of Christmas-themed cookie cutters or any shapes and sizes you prefer! Dipping the cookie cutters in flour before each cut can help prevent sticking.

5. Refrigerate the Cut-Out Cookie Dough: This step is critical! Without chilling the cut-out cookies, they will not maintain their shape during baking. Place the cut-out cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate them for at least 15 minutes before baking.
6. Bake and Cool Before Decorating: Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, depending on their size. When in doubt, remove the cookies from the oven just before they turn pale golden. Transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before decorating with frosting and sprinkles. Cooling the cookies completely prevents the frosting from melting.

To maintain your sugar cookies’ freshness and flavor, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 7-10 days. Placing parchment paper between layers of cookies is highly recommended to avoid sticking and preserve their beautifully decorated shapes.

If you’re baking sugar cookies in advance for the holidays, freezing the baked cookies before decorating can be a significant time-saver. Store them in airtight, freezer-friendly containers or ziplock bags, separating layers with parchment or wax paper. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw the frozen cookies at room temperature inside the container to prevent condensation from forming, which could make the cookies soggy.

Looking to expand your holiday baking repertoire? Here are a few more delicious Christmas cookie recipes to explore:

• Marshmallow Christmas Wreaths: A fun and festive no-bake treat.
• Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies: A classic holiday flavor combination.
• Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies: Rich and decadent with a sweet filling.
• White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: A refreshing and festive flavor combination.
• Christmas Tree Shortbread Cookies: Buttery and melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
• Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies: A quick and easy recipe with a beautiful color.
• Flourless Christmas Monster Cookies: A gluten-free option packed with festive ingredients.
• Slice-and-Bake Butter Cookies: A classic and versatile cookie that’s perfect for any occasion.

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