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The Ultimate Soft & Chewy Sugar Cookies That Hold Their Shape (Easy Recipe)

A stack of three golden brown soft sugar cookies resting on a small, light-colored plate.
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Follow this straightforward recipe to create the best soft sugar cookies that melt in your mouth. These buttery vanilla cookies stay wonderfully tender for days and hold their shape perfectly for easy decorating.

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This step incorporates air for a tender center.
  2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
  5. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Chilling prevents spreading.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters.
  8. Place the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them.
  9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centers should still look slightly soft. These are your melt in your mouth cookies.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Decorate with your favorite frosting once fully cooled, or enjoy plain for a classic sugar cookie experience.

Notes

  • For the softest results, measure your flour using the spoon-and-level method, or weigh it. Too much flour makes cookies dry.
  • If you plan to decorate, chilling the cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking helps them hold their shape even better.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft for days.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://alchemychef.com/soft-sugar-cookies-recipe-easy-chewy/