Best 2 Good Sugar Cookie Recipes

In the realm of sweet treats, sugar cookies stand out as timeless classics, evoking memories of childhood and spreading joy with their delectable taste and charming appearance. Whether you're a seasoned baker looking to elevate your skills or a novice seeking a foolproof recipe, this article will serve as your guide to crafting the ultimate sugar cookie. We'll explore the secrets behind achieving that perfect balance of crisp edges, chewy centers, and a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a culinary journey towards creating sugar cookie perfection.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'S CLASSIC SUGAR COOKIE

Good Housekeeping's Classic Sugar Cookie image

from the December 2009 magazine **Freezing the dough helps the cookies stay well defined while baking. Freeze for 10 minutes after rolling and for another 10 minutes after cutting out the shapes before baking.

Provided by 1031473

Categories Dessert

Time 1h42m

Yield 152 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups butter, softened, no substitutions (4 sticks)
3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
frosting (store bought or homemade)

Steps:

In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat butter and sugar until blended. On high speed, beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. On low speed, beat in eggs and vanilla, then flour mixture just until blended, scraping bowl with a rubber spatula.
Divide dough into 8 equal pieces; flatten each into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll 1 piece of dough to scant 1/4-inch thickness; keep remaining dough cold. With floured 3- to 4-inch cookie cutters, cut dough into as many cookies as possible; reserve trimmings. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake until edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes. With wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire racks to cool. Repeat with remaining dough and trimmings.
When cookies are cool, prepare frosting and decorate cookies. Allow frosting to dry. Store cookies in tightly sealed containers with waxed paper between layers, at room temperature up to 2 weeks or in freezer up to 3 months.

BASIC SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH FROM GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Basic Sugar Cookie Dough from Good Housekeeping image

This is an easy, low sugar recipe from Nov 07 Good Housekeeping Magazine. I used it for my rolled cut cookies as well as the base dough for my snowball cookies.

Provided by arizonabayer

Categories Dessert

Time 2h

Yield 50-60 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

On waxed paper, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar 1 minute or until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Add egg and vanilla, beat until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour mixture just until blended, occasionally scraping bowl. **This recipe calls for butter with no substitutions because the butter not only gives the best flavor, but also makes the dough more manageable. Margarines and spreads are too soft to produce a dough that can be rolled easily.
Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.
Heat oven to 400*.
Lightly flour your rolling surface, roll out 1/3 of the dough at a time. Keep remaining dough refrigerated.
Place cut cookies about an inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 5 to 9 minutes or until edges are lightly golden brown. Remove immediately from cookie sheets place onto cooling racks.

Tips:

Use high-quality butter: Real butter will give your cookies a richer flavor and texture than margarine or shortening.
Cream the butter and sugar thoroughly: This will help to create a light and fluffy dough.
Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies to hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
Bake the cookies at a high temperature for a short period of time: This will help to create crispy edges and a chewy center.
Let the cookies cool completely before frosting: This will help to prevent the frosting from melting.

Conclusion:

Sugar cookies are a classic treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are easy to make and can be customized with different flavors, colors, and toppings. Whether you are a beginner baker or an experienced pro, these tips will help you to make the best sugar cookies possible.