This is a no-fail soft sugar cookie recipe with perfect buttercream frosting that anyone can make! The cookies are perfectly soft and sweet. With crisp edges, thick centers, and room for lots of almond-flavored frosting and sprinkles, I know you’ll love them. There’s something spectacular about a simple yet perfect soft sugar cookie.

Why you’ll love this recipe

There are one million sugar cookie dough recipes, but this one has been a tried-and-true favorite for over 60 years! This recipe comes from my husband’s mother and is known as the “softest sugar cookies” you’ll ever taste. Sugar cookies are a classic for Christmas, Halloween, and Easter. They can be decorated to match the festive themes, like Christmas trees, pumpkins, or Easter eggs.

Simple Ingredients

You will be surprised at how easily these soft sugar cookies come together. They require only a few pantry staples and one secret ingredient to make the flavor a little “extra.”

• Butter: The backbone of soft sugar cookies, butter adds rich flavor and tenderness to the dough. When creamed with sugar, it creates a light, airy texture, which helps the cookies stay soft and fluffy.
• Sugar: Provides the sweetness that makes sugar cookies a classic treat. When mixed with butter, it also contributes to the cookies’ soft texture by creating air pockets that help the dough rise slightly during baking.
• Flour: The structure-building ingredient flour gives the cookies their shape and texture. It balances the fat from the butter, creating a dough that’s easy to roll out and cut into shapes.
• Baking Powder: A leavening agent that helps the cookies rise slightly, creating a tender, soft crumb. It ensures the cookies aren’t too dense or heavy.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cookies by balancing the sweetness and highlighting the butter and almond extract. A small amount goes a long way in making all the flavors pop.
• Milk: Adds moisture to the dough, ensuring the cookies remain soft and tender. It also helps blend the ingredients together for a smooth, cohesive dough.
• Almond Extract (the secret weapon!): The flavor enhancer that takes these cookies to the next level. Almond extract adds a subtle, nutty aroma and taste that complements the sweetness of the cookies, making them irresistibly delicious. It’s the secret ingredient that gives these sugar cookies their unique and memorable flavor profile.

How to Make Sugar Cookies

COOKIES

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2.  In a stand mixer (or with hand mixer), beat the softened butter, eggs, sugar, and almond extract. Beat until fluffy.
3.  In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Alternately add flour and milk to combine with the other wet ingredients. Add about one cup of the dry ingredients and a splash of milk at a time until well combined and unified cookie dough forms.
4.  Chill sugar cookie dough for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
5. Roll out dough onto a floured surface and cut into desired cut-out shapes. Place on cookie sheet about 1 inch apart and bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are slightly golden. Let rest on cookie sheet for 5 minutes and put on a cookie cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING

1. Cream room-temperature butter with a hand mixer, the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, or a wooden spoon until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until fully incorporated (start with 1 cup of sugar and add more until desired sweetness is acquired for your taste). Beat in almond extract. Pour in milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

Assembly: Once cookies are cooled, frost them and decorate them as desired!

FAQs

Make Ahead Instructions and Storage

Make Ahead:

• Cookie Dough: You can prepare the sugar cookie dough up to 3 days in advance. After mixing the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let the dough soften slightly at room temperature before rolling it out.
• Freezing Cookie Dough: For longer storage, you can freeze the dough. Shape it into a disk or log, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. The dough can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and baking.
• Baked Cookies: You can bake the cookies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies.

Storage:

• Unfrosted Cookies: Store unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them soft, add a slice of bread to the container, which will help maintain moisture.
• Frosted Cookies: Once frosted, allow the icing to set completely before stacking. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking, and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: Baked cookies, both frosted and unfrosted, can be frozen for up to 3 months. If freezing frosted cookies, let the frosting set completely before placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Thaw the cookies at room temperature before serving.

Expert Tips

Best Tips for Making Soft Sugar Cookies

• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before mixing. This helps create a smooth, consistent dough, leading to soft, tender cookies.
• Don’t overmix the dough: Once you add the flour, mix until it is combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten too much, making the cookies tougher.
• Chill the Dough: After mixing, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. This prevents the cookies from spreading too much and helps them keep their shape.

Best Tips for Frosting Soft Sugar Cookies

• Avoid Overbeating: When making buttercream or cream cheese frosting, beat until smooth and fluffy, but avoid overbeating, which can incorporate too much air and affect the texture.
• Flavor the Frosting: Add vanilla, almond extract, or citrus zest to the frosting for an extra flavor that complements the cookies.
• Apply to Cooled Cookies: Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before frosting to prevent the icing from melting or becoming too runny.
• Let Frosting Set: If you’re stacking or storing the cookies, allow the frosting to set slightly before handling to avoid smudging.

More Cookie Recipes

• Italian Rainbow Cookies
• Lemon Ricotta Cookies
• Ginger Snap Cookies

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