Description
Classic sugar cookies deliver pure homemade comfort with delightful chewiness. Light sugary sweetness and buttery richness create memorable treats for family gatherings and holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (224 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup + 2 tbsps (233 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tbsps (28 g) light brown sugar
- 2 ¾ cups (358 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper, creating a non-stick surface for perfect cookie placement.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, ensuring uniform distribution of dry components to guarantee consistent texture.
- Butter Creaming: Utilize an electric mixer to whip butter and sugars until the mixture transforms into a light, fluffy cloud-like consistency, developing a rich, smooth base for the cookies.
- Wet Ingredient Integration: Blend egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, creating a silky, homogeneous foundation that will bind the cookie dough together.
- Dough Formation: Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, gently folding until a soft, slightly tacky dough emerges, being careful to avoid overworking the mixture.
- Cookie Shaping: Roll dough into uniform spheres, generously coating each ball in granulated sugar to create a sparkling, crisp exterior that will caramelize during baking.
- Baking Process: Strategically place sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets, leaving ample space between cookies to allow for natural spreading, and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden and centers remain tender.
- Cooling Protocol: Allow cookies to rest briefly on baking sheet to set their structure, then transfer to a wire rack, permitting complete cooling and ensuring the perfect soft, chewy texture.
Notes
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and enhance flavor development.
- Measure Flour Precisely: Use the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense, tough cookies by preventing excess flour from compacting in the measuring cup.
- Check Oven Temperature: Invest in an oven thermometer to ensure accurate baking temperature, as variations can dramatically impact cookie texture and appearance.
- Handle with Care: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes after removing from the oven to help them set and prevent breaking during transfer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg