Making sugar cookies from scratch is a delightful and straightforward process. Here's a basic recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional:
- Food coloring
- Sprinkles or colored sugar for decorating
Instructions:
Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. If you want to add food coloring to the dough, you can do so at this stage.
Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or stirring with a spatula until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
Chill the dough: Divide the dough into two or three equal portions and form each into a disc shape. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, or until the dough is firm.
Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) thickness.
Cut the cookies: Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes from the rolled dough. Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each cookie.
Decorate (optional): If desired, you can sprinkle colored sugar or add other decorations on top of the cookies.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. The baking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of your cookies, so keep a close eye on them to prevent overbaking.
Cool and store: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container.
Now you have delicious homemade sugar cookies ready to be enjoyed! You can get creative with different shapes, colors, and decorations to suit any occasion or holiday. Happy baking!