If you’ve been searching high and low for the ultimate Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies, your quest ends here! This recipe turns out bakery-quality cookies that are crisp at the edges, impossibly tender in the center, and blissfully sweet—absolutely perfect for any cookie lover craving a melt-in-your-mouth treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Signature Soft & Chewy Texture: These cookies are pillow-soft on the inside with just the right amount of chewiness, so every bite is heavenly.
- Easy, No-Fuss Method: With simple pantry staples and clear instructions, this sugar cookie recipe is truly foolproof—even for beginners.
- Customizable for Any Occasion: Dress them up with colored sugar or sprinkles, or keep them classic—the options are endless!
- Irresistible Flavor: Real butter and lots of vanilla ensure every cookie tastes like it was made with love.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s talk ingredients! Each item on this list has a vital role to play in creating cookies that are just the right amount of tender, chewy, and sweet. Stick to these familiar kitchen staples for classic Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies everyone will rave about.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies structure—measure carefully to prevent dryness.
- Baking powder & baking soda: Just a touch of each ensures the perfect lift and chewy center.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the buttery vanilla notes.
- Unsalted butter: Use softened, but cool, butter for the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth crumb.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and those crisp, sparkly edges—don’t skip the extra for rolling!
- Egg & egg yolk: The secret to a rich, moist cookie that stays soft for days.
- Vanilla extract: Delivers that irresistible bakery-worthy flavor in every bite.
Variations
Once you’ve mastered the basics, why not shake things up a little? Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies are a blank canvas for your creativity and adapt beautifully to different flavors, dietary swaps, and festive twists—so make them your own!
- Make Them Gluten-Free: Simply substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour—yum!
- Colorful Sprinkle Explosion: Roll dough balls in rainbow sprinkles or colored sanding sugar before baking for a festive look and extra crunch.
- Lemon or Almond Twist: Add ½ teaspoon almond extract or a splash of fresh lemon zest to the dough for a fun flavor upgrade.
- Frosted Sugar Cookies: Let the cookies cool, then finish with a swipe of buttercream icing and more sprinkles for bakery-style sweetness.
How to Make Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Tools and Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. Take your butter out of the fridge so it’s perfectly softened but still cool—this makes a huge difference for those signature Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies. Gather and measure everything for smooth sailing!
Step 2: Whisk the Dry Ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures your leavening agents are evenly distributed, giving you cookies that puff up just right every time.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, use a stand or hand mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together. Start on low, then increase to medium-high, mixing until the mixture is creamy and light—about 2-3 minutes. This step adds air, making your cookies tender and delightful.
Step 4: Add the Egg, Yolk & Vanilla
Add the egg, extra yolk, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix on medium until everything is well incorporated, scraping down the bowl a couple of times so you don’t miss a bit of that rich, vanilla-scented goodness.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and mix on low speed just until combined. Don’t overmix—the dough should be firm but not dry, and this gentle step is key for that soft and chewy texture.
Step 6: Roll & Bake
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then (if you like) give each a quick roll in more granulated sugar for sparkle and crunch. Place them on your prepared sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one pan at a time, for 8-10 minutes—pull them from the oven when the tops look just barely set and the bottoms are light golden. Let them cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a rack.
Pro Tips for Making Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Butter Texture Matters: Make sure your butter is softened but still cool to the touch—too warm, and your cookies will spread too much; too cold, and they won’t blend properly.
- Do Not Over-Bake: Remove the cookies from the oven when they look just set in the center; they’ll continue to cook on the baking sheet, staying ultra-soft in the middle.
- Uniform Size for Even Baking: Scooping your dough into equal-sized balls will ensure every cookie bakes up with that perfect soft-and-chewy consistency.
- Sugar Rolling Adds Magic: Rolling each dough ball in granulated sugar isn’t just for looks—it creates a delicate, sweet crunch on the outside, making these cookies irresistible.
How to Serve Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
Garnishes
For a little something extra, sprinkle your Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies with colored sanding sugar before baking, top them with a drizzle of melted white chocolate, or add a dusting of powdered sugar for a “snowy” finish—they’ll look bakery-worthy and be just as delightful to eat as they are to admire!
Side Dishes
These cookies truly shine with a cold glass of milk, a piping hot latte, or a fruity iced tea. For gatherings, a cookie platter featuring a mix of seasonal fruits alongside your Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies is always a crowd-pleaser.
Creative Ways to Present
Get creative! Stack and tie the cookies with twine for adorable edible gifts, use them as an edible “place card” at a party, or sandwich two together with a slick of buttercream or ice cream for a homemade dessert sandwich everyone will remember.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days—the flavor even deepens after a day or two and they stay tender and delicious!
Freezing
Both the shaped dough and the baked cookies freeze beautifully. Flash freeze dough balls, then bag and stash for baking fresh cookies anytime. Baked cookies can be frozen (with parchment between layers) for up to 2 months—just thaw at room temp when a craving hits.
Reheating
If you love that just-baked warmth, pop a cookie in the microwave for 6–8 seconds or heat in a low oven for a couple minutes—it brings the Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies right back to life like magic!
FAQs
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Why do you use both baking soda and baking powder in this recipe?
Using both baking soda and baking powder results in cookies that have the ideal lift and spread. Baking soda gives them that slight chew, while the baking powder adds a touch of height, ensuring the texture is soft and pillowy, never flat or cakey.
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Can I chill the dough before baking—will that make them chewier?
Absolutely! Chilling the dough for 30 minutes (or up to overnight) helps deepen flavors and produces an even chewier cookie. Just note that chilled dough may need an extra minute or so in the oven.
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What’s the best way to keep my Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies from drying out?
Store them in a well-sealed, airtight container at room temperature—and if storing for more than a few days, add a slice of bread to the container; the cookies will absorb the moisture instead of going stale.
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Can I make these cookies ahead for parties or holidays?
Definitely! You can make and freeze the dough balls, then bake them directly from frozen, adding a minute or two to the oven time. They’re perfect for batch baking or prepping in advance for busy celebrations.
Final Thoughts
There’s something incredibly comforting about the simple joy of Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies—especially when baking them is so easy and the results are so delicious! I hope you’ll give this recipe a try the next time you’re craving a classic. Happy baking, and enjoy every delightfully sweet bite!
Print
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 40 cookies 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies are a classic treat that is perfect for any occasion. With a delicate balance of sweetness and tenderness, these cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Additional 1/4 cup granulated sugar for rolling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla; mix until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a firm dough forms.
- Form Dough Balls: Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Optionally, roll each ball in sugar.
- Bake: Place dough balls on baking sheet, bake for 8-10 minutes until tops are nearly set and bottoms are lightly golden.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the sheet; they will continue to set as they cool.
Notes
- You can customize these cookies by adding sprinkles, chocolate chips, or nuts to the dough.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
