These easy sugar cookies are fast and simple to throw together – and SO amazing! Get the tips and tricks to make rolled sugar cookies with the best frosting options every time, without the effort!
Have you always wanted to make bakery quality rolled sugar cookies but not sure how or feel they’re too much effort? You’ll love these simple sugar cookies.
These rolled sugar cookies are bakery quality in both looks and taste! They’re so easy to make, too. They hold their shape every time and are topped with the best cookie frosting that makes them irresistible.
In just a few minutes hands on time you’ll have dozens of beautiful and delicious sugar cookies that are great for gifting and perfect for parties.
I’ve long loved sugar cookies and have shared an incredible variety with you over the years. Check out these Amish Melt in Your Mouth Sugar Cookies, Pumpkin Sugar Cookies, Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, and Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies just to name a few.
You want one, don’t you? Even the dough is irresistible! I enjoy making sugar cookies for parties and holidays. They also make great little takeaway favors.
What’s the secret to these amazing easy sugar cookies? A slightly elevated oven temperature helps keep them from spreading too much, along with refrigerating the dough. You’ll also find great tips for rolling and cutting your dough into shapes, and the BEST frosting options for these incredible sugar cookies!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Them
These incredibly easy sugar cookies are delightfully thick, pillowy soft and sweet, but not too sweet. You’ll love this cutout sugar cookie recipe and make them again and again!
These cookies are so perfect for the holidays, enjoy as-is or top them with a delicious Buttercream Frosting for Sugar Cookies, or this easy Buttercream Icing that spreads thinner for more of a royal icing look but incredible flavor.
- Easy to make
- FAST! After refrigerating the dough, these cookies bake in just seven minutes.
- So easy to cut out, these tricks will leave you amazed!
- Buttery, rich and delicious.
- Perfect for parties and holidays
Ingredients in Easy Sugar Cookies
You just need a few simple pantry staples to make these tasty cookies.
- Butter, softened – Salted or unsalted, your preference. Learn how to soften butter quickly.
- Sugar – white granulated
- Baking powder – to ensure a rise.
- Flour – bleached or unbleached, all purpose flour.
- Salt – to balance out the sweet. If you’re using salted butter, you can cut your added salt back a touch.
- Eggs – to add moisture and structure and stability.
- Vanilla Extract – It’s easy to make your own vanilla, but if you use store bought, pure vanilla extract is preferable over imitation.
For printable recipe card, head to the bottom of this post.
How to Make Easy Sugar Cookies
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a large bowl or a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar. Then add eggs and vanilla extract.
- Next, you’ll add flour, baking powder and salt, mixing well.
- Refrigerate dough for one hour. Quick tip: refrigerate remaining dough until you’re ready to roll it out.
Tips for Rolling and Cutting Easy Sugar Cookies
Now this is what makes these simple sugar cookies so much easier!
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll your sugar cookie dough out directly on the cookie sheet (you can transfer parchment paper on and off cookie sheets if they’re not wide enough. Roll out dough to 1/4-1/3″ thick.
- Cut into shapes leaving just a touch of space in between.
- Finally, peel away excess dough. Chill the dough in between until you’re ready to roll out for best results.
Serving Suggestions
As you can see, these cookies are no fuss, no mess! Just easy sugar cookies that you’ll find yourself making again and again.
But that’s not all! You can have delicious cookie frosting that looks pretty, too! As I mentioned above, you can frost with my thick, delectable buttercream frosting or this thinner buttercream icing that creates a shiny, stackable surface.
But there are so many other frosting and icing options!
- Basic Glaze Recipe
- Caramel Icing
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cinnamon Frosting
- Lemon Glaze
- Apple Butter Icing
- Marshmallow Icing Recipe
- Salted Caramel Frosting
- Brown Butter Frosting
Easy Sugar Cookie Tips
- Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour before rolling it out.
- Refrigerate remaining dough while you’re rolling out dough to keep it solid and as simple as possible.
- Bake the cookies in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
- Let the cookies cool to room temperature before frosting them.
Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – Cover with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container up to a week at room temperature, frosted or unfrosted.
- Refrigerate – Refrigerate in an airtight container up to seven days.
- Freeze – Freeze in an airtight container and covered in plastic wrap to prevent odors from seeping in, up to three months.
Dietary Considerations
- Nut Free
- Vegetarian
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More Cookie Recipes
- Lemon Shortbread Cookies
- Easy Funfetti Cookies Without a Cake Mix
- Meringue Cookies Recipe
- Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Simple Sugar Cookies (Rolled Sugar Cookies with Cookie Frosting)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups butter softened to room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 5 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl/your mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt, mixing well. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. Quick tip: refrigerate remaining dough until you’re ready to roll it out.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- This is what makes them SO simple! Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll out dough to 1/4-1/3″ thick.
- Press your cookie cutter onto the cookie sheets, leaving a half inch or so between each. Peel away your excess dough. {No flouring needed! Yay!}
- Bake 6-7 minutes and allow to cool. Decorate with your favorite sugar cookie frosting, linked in post.
Notes
- Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour before rolling it out.
- Refrigerate remaining dough while you’re rolling out dough to keep it solid & as simple as possible.
- Bake the cookies in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
- Let the cookies cool to room temperature before frosting them.
Can you cook the cookies right on the parchment paper or does it have to be removed?
Yes, you can use parchment. It’s nice for easy cleanup. Enjoy!
I made these gluten free and added just the slightest of almond extract. They were so delicious! I will definitely be making this recipe again!
Thanks for sharing! So glad you enjoyed them!
hi your recipes are soo delicious
You are so sweet! Thank you for sharing!
These have been my go-to holiday cookies for several years, this year i’m short on time was was wondering if I could do a slice & bake style with this dough? Thanks!
You sure can! Just roll, refrigerate and then slice and bake! Enjoy!
We make these and they are so simple with the kids! Love keeping them in freezer too!
This is really amazing! A classic favorite at my house!
Such an easy yet delicious cookie recipe. Thanks for sharing all those step by step photos. They were so helpful.
These turned out so cute! They are so fluffy and delicious, definitely adding these to the Christmas cookie list this year!
I made these last night for a party and they were incredible. Perfect texture!
My kids love these!! Such a delicious holiday treat!
Need to try your recipe! Sugar cookies are my favorite!
I love how simple and easy these cookies are! Love the sound of the frosting!
I love a good simple cookie recipe so I can make with the kids! They will love helping roll them out and cut them! Just perfect!
Since there is milk in the frosting recipe do the cookies have to be refrigerated afterward? Does buttercream frosting ever have to be refrigerated?
I personally don’t – they keep well. Enjoy!
This is my favorite sugar cookie recipe. All time go to!
Just made a batch of these for my kids and they were so good! They’re going to love these when they get home from school!
thank you for sharing this yummy hearts day treat, pinned. Hugs
why have I never thought to roll the dough right on the pan!! genius! Great recipe.
These are my all time favorite sugar cookies!
These cookies are super easy and very good! loved them!
Would you please repost the recipe for the buttercream icing? Thanks!
There’s a link to it in the post, enjoy!
Quick question! Is it possible to half the dough amount by simply doing only half of the amount of eac ingredient? Or is that not recommended?
Of course! Enjoy!
Do you have to roll these out or can you drop by teaspoon full on cookie sheet and bake
You can roll them into balls and press. If you’re looking for a drop sugar cookie, try my melt in your mouth sugar cookie recipe. Enjoy!
i have never thought about rolling out the dough ON the baking pan so you don’t have to transfer the limp cut dough. brilliant! thanks for that gem.
Just made these cookies and they are a hit with the family, thank you for sharing your recipe! Have a happy new year!
So glad that you enjoy them as well. Happy New Year, Brooke!
This recipe isn’t working for me! I have gone through 2 bags of flour and ruined 3 batches of dough. It’s sticky. What am I doing wrong??
Are you refrigerating? Using flour to roll the dough? Melted butter vs softened? Don’t forget to flour your rolling pin as well.
How many cookies does this make??
It all depends on the size cookie cutter you use and if you reuse the dough from cutouts – up to 4 dozen.
Hi-Was wondering if the leftover dough that is pulled away could be re-rolled and cut out again. And would I need to add more flour, etc? I’m using this for Christmas cookie decorating with a bunch of kids. Thanks for the help!
Absolutely! Enjoy!
Once baked, and before being frosted, can these cookies be frozen?
Absolutely!
how many dozens does this make approx.?
It’s depends on your cookie cutters, but several!
I have made these cookies twice, most recently for my daughter’s first birthday party, and they are every bit as delicious as they look. Super simple and tasty these will definitely be my go to sugar cookie recipe from now on. Thanks Julie!
Thank you Noelani for sharing! You’re so sweet! I wish I could have one right now…
Thank you Andi! I’ll have to check them out!
Very pretty, I am a cookie lover. I just made shortbread heart cookies over the weekend, will be posting them later. Nice post and photos andi thewednesdaybaker