If there’s one cookie recipe every baker should have in their collection, it’s a Classic Rolled Sugar Cookie. Soft, buttery, and deliciously sweet, these cookies hold their shape beautifully when rolled and cut with cookie cutters—making them perfect for holidays, birthdays, parties, and everyday baking fun.
Whether you decorate them with royal icing, buttercream, or simply add a sprinkle of sugar, these cookies bake up tender and flavorful every time. With the right balance of vanilla, butter, and sweetness, this recipe guarantees picture-perfect cookies that taste just as good as they look.
Why You’ll Love These Classic Rolled Sugar Cookies
✓ They hold their shape
No spreading, no puffing—your cookie cutter designs stay clean and crisp.
✓ Soft, buttery texture
Tender on the inside, lightly crisp on the edges.
✓ Perfect for decorating
Pairs beautifully with royal icing, buttercream frosting, sprinkles, or sanding sugar.
✓ Great make-ahead dough
Chill, freeze, or bake ahead with excellent results.
✓ Easy to customize
Add lemon zest, almond extract, spices, or festive colors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1 tsp vanilla + ½ tsp almond extract)
- 2–3 tablespoons milk, as needed
How to Make Classic Rolled Sugar Cookies
1. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
Set aside.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar
Using a mixer, beat softened butter and sugar for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
This step helps create the perfect cookie texture.
3. Add Egg and Vanilla
Mix in:
- Egg
- Vanilla (and almond extract if using)
Beat until fully combined.
4. Add the Dry Ingredients
Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.
Mix on low just until the dough forms and pulls away from the bowl.
If the dough seems crumbly, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until it comes together smoothly.
5. Chill the Dough
Form dough into two flat disks.
Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Chilled dough rolls more easily and helps cookies keep their shape.
6. Roll and Cut
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
On a lightly floured surface:
- Roll dough to about ¼ inch thickness
- Cut with your favorite cookie cutters
- Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet
7. Bake
Bake for 8–10 minutes, depending on size.
Cookies should look set with lightly golden edges—not browned.
8. Cool and Decorate
Cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack.
Decorate with:
- Royal icing
- Buttercream
- Sprinkles
- Melted chocolate
- Colored sugar
Or enjoy plain—they’re delicious either way!
Tips for Perfect Rolled Sugar Cookies
Chill for at least an hour
This prevents spreading and makes the dough easier to work with.
Roll evenly
Uneven dough = uneven baking.
Use rolling pin rings for precision.
Avoid overbaking
Pull them out when edges just begin to turn golden.
Flour lightly
Too much flour can dry the cookies. Use just enough so dough doesn’t stick.
Keep dough cold while working
If dough warms up, refrigerate for 10 minutes before re-rolling.
Flavor Variations
1. Almond Sugar Cookies
Replace ½ of the vanilla with almond extract.
2. Lemon Sugar Cookies
Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest + ½ teaspoon lemon extract.
3. Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon to the flour mixture.
4. Brown-Sugar Sugar Cookies
Replace ½ cup of granulated sugar with brown sugar for a deeper caramel flavor.
5. Colored Dough
Add gel food coloring to match holidays or themes.
Storing & Freezing Instructions
Store
Baked cookies last for:
- 1 week at room temperature in an airtight container
- Up to 2 weeks if decorated with royal icing
Freeze Cookies
Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.
Thaw at room temperature before decorating.
Freeze Dough
Wrap disks tightly and freeze up to 2 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling.
Royal Icing for Decorating (Optional)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Optional: food coloring
Instructions:
Whisk until smooth.
Adjust with more milk (thinner) or powdered sugar (thicker).
Pipe or spread onto cooled cookies.
Printable Recipe: Classic Rolled Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 ¾ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2–3 tbsp milk
Instructions:
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients and mix.
- Add milk as needed.
- Chill 1 hour.
- Roll, cut, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
- Cool and decorate.
Classic Rolled Sugar Cookies: Perfect for Cutting, Decorating, and Celebrating
Ingredients
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (or vegan butter)
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free 1:1 blend)
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
- Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Divide dough in half. Flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and chill at least 1 hour (this prevents spreading).
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a floured surface, roll out one disc to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters.
- Place on trays and bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are just starting to turn golden.
- Let cool on the tray 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Decorate when completely cool!
✨ Decorating ideas:
• Royal icing
• Colored sugar
• Sprinkles
• Drizzled melted chocolate
💡 Make ahead: Dough keeps in the fridge up to 3 days or freezer up to 3 months. Thaw before rolling.
PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 20 mins + 1 hr chill , Cook Time : 9 mins , Total Time : 1 hr 29 mins , Servings : 24 cookies , Calories : 110 per cookie , Net Carbs: 14g , Fats: 6g , Protein: 1g