Soft Sugar Cookies
Buttery, tender cookies with a delicate crumb and subtle vanilla flavor. Mix, chill, bake, and serve warm or store for up to 5 days.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 24
- Calories
- 92
- Protein
- 1g
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- 1
Set the oven to 350°F and wait until the indicator light or beep tells you it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.
- 2
Pour the softened butter and sugar into a large bowl, then use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat them together until the mixture looks light, fluffy, and pale, about 2 minutes.
- 3
Crack the egg into the bowl and beat on medium speed until fully blended with no yellow streaks visible, about 30 seconds.
- 4
Pour in the vanilla extract and beat on medium speed for 15 seconds until the mixture smells fragrant and uniform.
- 5
Measure the flour and salt into a separate small bowl, then stir them together with a fork until evenly mixed.
- 6
Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until no dry flour remains and the dough looks uniform, about 1 minute.
- 7
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper by laying the paper flat on the sheet and pressing it down at the edges so it stays in place.
- 8
Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop dough onto the parchment paper, spacing each scoop about 2 inches apart (you should fit about 12 per sheet).
- 9
Gently press the top of each dough ball flat with the bottom of a drinking glass so each cookie is about 1/4 inch thick.
- 10
Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake until the edges turn the color of pale golden toast but the centers still look soft, about 10 minutes.
- 11
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes until firm enough to lift without breaking.
- 12
Use a thin metal spatula to slide under each cookie and transfer it to a wire cooling rack or a clean plate.
Tools you’ll need
- oven
- large mixing bowl
- electric mixer
- small mixing bowl
- fork
- wooden spoon
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
- tablespoon measuring spoon
- drinking glass
- thin metal spatula
- wire cooling rack
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