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The Ultimate Soft, Chewy Cutout Sugar Cookies That Hold Their Shape

A stack of five perfectly round, thick sugar cookies resting on a white plate.
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This recipe creates buttery sugar cookies that are soft and chewy inside while holding their shape perfectly for cutting and decorating. They are simple to make and ideal for any holiday.

Ingredients

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  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
  2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. This step incorporates air for a better texture.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
  5. Divide the dough in half. Flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Chilling is key for cookies that hold their shape.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
  8. Carefully transfer the cutouts to the prepared baking sheets, placing them about 1 inch apart.
  9. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. For soft sugar cookies, err on the side of slightly underbaking.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Decorate with your favorite royal icing or buttercream once fully cooled.

Notes

  • For the best cutout results, chill the dough for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.
  • If the dough softens while cutting, return the cutouts to the refrigerator for 10 minutes before baking.
  • To achieve a chewy texture, slightly underbake the cookies; they will firm up as they cool.
  • This recipe makes a buttery sugar cookie base perfect for holiday sugar cookies.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/best-sugar-cookies-that-hold-shape/