Tips on how to make the best cut out sugar cookies. Buttery and lightly sweet, this cookie dough holds its shape when you bake it. Perfect for Christmas cookies and other holiday shapes.
Prep Time25 minutesmins
Cook Time12 minutesmins
Chilling Time1 hourhr
Total Time37 minutesmins
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best sugar cookies, christmas cookies, cut out cookies, rolled cookies
In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt with a wire whisk.
In a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat on medium speed until mixed well.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the flour mixture.
Mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix.
Divide the dough in half, gently flatten the ball into a disk and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 1 hour.**
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 3/8" thick. Use cookie cutters and cut as many shapes as possible, re-rolling the dough scraps and cutting again.
Place the shapes on a non-stick baking sheet.
Refrigerate the cookie dough for another hour.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Bake the cookies for 12-13 minutes, pulling the cookies out just before they start to brown.
Allow the cookies to cool for 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to a flat surface to cool.
Once the cookies are cooled, decorate as desired.
Video
Notes
*The butter should be stick butter, not tub butter...and not margarine! Use 100% real butter sticks. And make sure the butter is at room temperature, not fully softened or melted at all. The butter should just give slightly when you press into the stick of butter.*The amount of cookies you get will greatly depend on how thick you roll the dough and how large your cookie cutter is. I'd say you'll get anywhere from 3-5 dozen cookies with this recipe depending on those factors.**Looking for an easier way to roll the dough? Roll out the dough before you refrigerate it. Stack the rolled out sheets with wax paper or parchment paper between them. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, then cut into shapes.***The calories shown are based on the recipe making 36 cookies, with 1 serving being 1 unfrosted cookie. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.