Why are my sugar cookies spreading too much during baking?

The most common causes are butter that is too soft, skipping the chilling step, or rolling the dough too thin. Always use properly room temperature butter, chill the dough for at least 1 hour, and roll to a consistent 1/4 inch thickness.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely. The dough keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. This makes it an excellent choice for holiday baking prep when you want to spread the work across multiple days.

Do I need a stand mixer for this recipe?

A hand mixer works perfectly well. You can also mix entirely by hand with a wooden spoon and some elbow grease, though the creaming step will take a bit more effort.

How do I get perfectly smooth frosting on my sugar cookies?

Spread the frosting using a small offset spatula in a smooth circular motion, or pipe it using a round tip for a neater, more controlled finish. Always frost completely cooled cookies - even slightly warm cookies will cause the frosting to slide, melt, and pool at the edges.

Sugar Cookies Recipe Soft Chewy and Easy to Make

Name: The Best Sugar Cookies Recipe Soft Chewy and Perfectly Sweet
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 32 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature; 1 and 1/4 cups granulated sugar; 1 large egg room temperature; 1 large egg yolk room temperature; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; 2 tablespoons sour cream; 2 cups powdered sugar for frosting; 3 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream for frosting; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for frosting

Description

The best soft and chewy sugar cookies made from scratch with real butter, a hint of almond extract, and sour cream for incredible tenderness. Perfect for decorating or enjoying plain any time of year!

Ingredients

Scale

2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter room temperature

1 and 1/4 cups granulated sugar

1 large egg room temperature

1 large egg yolk room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons sour cream

2 cups powdered sugar for frosting

3 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream for frosting

1 teaspoon vanilla extract for frosting

Instructions

1. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

2. Beat room temperature butter and sugar on medium speed 2 to 3 minutes until light and fluffy.

3. Add egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, almond extract, and sour cream. Beat until smooth.

4. Add dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Do not overmix.

5. Divide dough into two disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

6. Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

7. Roll chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.

8. Cut shapes and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

9. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until edges are just set. Do not overbake.

10. Cool 5 minutes on the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

11. Whisk frosting ingredients, tint if desired, and decorate cooled cookies.

Notes

Never skip chilling the dough for thick cookies that hold their shape.

Underbake slightly and allow cookies to firm up on the pan as they cool.

Sour cream keeps these cookies tender and soft for days.

Use gel food coloring for the most vibrant frosting colors.

Almond extract adds an irresistible bakery-style flavor depth.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 cookies
Calories: 220
Sugar: 16g
Sodium: 95mg
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 40mg

Keywords: sugar cookies, soft sugar cookies, easy sugar cookie recipe, cut-out sugar cookies, homemade sugar cookies with frosting