Even though spring is officially here, wintery temps are not yet behind us. Cold days, no matter the season, always make me want to stay inside and bake. Do you get that feeling too? There is nothing cozier than cookies baking in the oven on a chilly afternoon. And The Best Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies are the ones to make, with buttery, soft edges and thick chewy centers. They are guaranteed to make your house feel and smell amazing. Let’s get baking!
Making the Sugar Cookies:
I love recipes that use only a few ingredients. It makes it easy to remember and simple to put together. These cookies are made with only 8 ingredients, and they couldn’t be easier.
First, take out your stick of butter to soften on your countertop for about 10-15 minutes while you gather the other ingredients. Don’t let your butter get too soft (I have definitely been guilty of this) or it won’t hold any air when it’s creamed. If you press on your butter and it has the tiniest amount of give, it’s ready.
Then, as in any sugar cookie recipe, cream together the butter and sugar until nice and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Creaming them together dissolves the sugar evenly into the butter and also incorporates more air into the batter. This will yield the thick, puffy cookie we are looking for.
Next, add in the vanilla extract and a cold egg. Using a cold egg keeps the butter temperature down, ensuring air is incorporated.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Then, little by little, add the dry ingredients to your butter/egg bowl, mixing as you go until the dough forms.
Next, pull golfball size pieces of dough and shape into round balls. You will be able to get about 14-15 cookies from this batter.
Once you have all of your cookie balls formed, space them out evenly between 2 parchment lined baking sheets. These cookies spread quite a bit, so make sure you give them ample space.
Bake for about 12 minutes and that’s it! The most scrumptious sugar cookies you’ll ever have!
“Mom” tip:
These cookies are the perfect blank canvas for all of your cookie needs. They can be iced with vanilla or chocolate frosting (or both for a black and white cookie). You can add rainbow sprinkles to the batter for a “unicorn” cookie. You can even add chocolate chips or peanut butter chips for whatever flavor you prefer. Turn them into whatever you like, or enjoy them as is, they are simply the best sugar cookies!
To me, there is something magical that happens when these little balls of cookie dough turn into delightful discs of chewy goodness. I smile every time I pull my baking sheets from the oven!
I hope The Best Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies become a staple in your house like they are in my house! And if you love sugar cookies you might also enjoy my Chocolate Chip Peppermint Sugar Cookies. If you bake them leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram!
The Best Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter, softened don't let your butter get too soft, 10-20 minutes on your countertop should do it
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg cold, from the fridge
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream together the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add egg and vanilla to the butter/sugar and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients until well Incorporated.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing as you go, until the dough has formed.
- Pull golfball size pieces of dough off, rolling into round balls, making about 14-15 balls.
- Divide the cookie balls between 2 parchment lined baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each one.
- Bake for 11-13 minutes, until the cookies puff up.
- Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
