There is a special kind of magic in a perfect sugar cookie. Not the hard, crumbly kind, but the wonderfully soft, pillowy kind with chewy edges and a melt-in-your-mouth center bursting with sweet, buttery vanilla flavor. This Easy Sugar Cookies Recipe is exactly that, and it is my go-to for a reason. It is a simple, no-fuss, no-chill recipe that delivers bakery-quality results in under 30 minutes. It perfectly balances the pure comfort of a classic cookie with the wholesome goodness of a homemade treat, all wrapped up in one of the simplest Easy Baking Recipes Desserts you’ll ever find.
Serving Versatility
The beautiful simplicity of a sugar cookie is its versatility! These cookies are absolutely divine on their own, served warm and soft right off the baking sheet. For a bit of fun, roll the dough balls in colorful sprinkles or a cinnamon-sugar mixture before baking. They also serve as the perfect blank canvas for your creativity; let them cool completely and decorate them with a simple buttercream frosting for holidays, birthdays, or just a Tuesday afternoon pick-me-up. They are a truly adaptable Soft Cookie Recipe.
Full Recipe: No-Chill Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 30 cookies
- Calories: Approximately 115 kcal per cookie
Ingredients
- 2 41 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 21 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 21 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
- 41 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. The cornstarch is the secret to an incredibly soft cookie!
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is light, pale, and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the vegetable oil until combined. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until everything is well incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Shape the Cookies: Pour some extra granulated sugar into a small, shallow bowl. Scoop the dough into 1.5-tablespoon sized balls, roll them between your palms until smooth, and then roll each ball generously in the sugar to coat.
- Bake: Place the sugar-coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. The cookies should look puffy and the edges should be set, but the centers will still look slightly underbaked. This is the key to a
Chewy Sugar Cookie Recipe! - Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They will flatten slightly and set as they cool.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Amazingly Soft and Chewy: The combination of cornstarch and oil guarantees the perfect
Cookie Recipes Chewytexture every single time. - No Chilling Required: This dough goes straight from the bowl to the oven, making it a genuinely
Easy Sugar Cookiesrecipe for when you need cookies fast! - Uses Simple Pantry Staples: No fancy ingredients needed! You likely have everything you need to make a batch right now.
- Classic Buttery Vanilla Flavor: It’s a pure, simple, and nostalgic flavor that everyone loves. A truly comforting and delicious
Sweet Dishes Recipesstaple. - Perfect for Decorating: This simple cookie is a wonderful base for frosting, sprinkles, and all your creative decorating ideas.
The Baker’s Secret: Cornstarch for Softness
Have you ever wondered what makes some cookies incredibly soft while others are crisp? One of the secret weapons used in this Soft Cookie Recipe is cornstarch. When you add a small amount of cornstarch to your flour, you are essentially lowering the overall protein content of the dough. Less protein means less gluten development when the dough is mixed. It is this inhibition of gluten that results in a more tender, delicate crumb, giving you that coveted soft-batch, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes these Chewy Sugar Cookies so irresistible.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic Milk and Cookies: There is nothing better than a warm, soft sugar cookie with a tall glass of cold milk for dunking.
- Holiday Cheer: Frost these cookies with red and green icing and add festive sprinkles for a perfect Christmas treat.
- Ice Cream Sandwiches: The soft and chewy texture of these cookies makes them ideal for sandwiching a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
- Coffee Break Companion: A simple, un-frosted sugar cookie is the perfect sweet bite to accompany your afternoon coffee or tea.
Pro Tips for Success
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For the best results, make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature. This allows them to blend together smoothly, creating a uniform dough.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix only until you can no longer see streaks of it. Overmixing will make your cookies tough instead of tender.
- Underbake Slightly: The key to a chewy cookie is to pull it from the oven when the center still looks a bit soft. The cookie will continue to bake from the residual heat of the pan as it cools.
- Press for a Flatter Cookie: If you prefer a more traditional flat sugar cookie, use the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar to gently press down each dough ball before baking.
Storage & Reheating
Store your cooled sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay perfectly soft and chewy for up to a week. For an extra trick to keep them moist, you can add a slice of plain sandwich bread to the container. While they are fantastic at room temperature, you can restore that fresh-from-the-oven warmth by microwaving a cookie for about 8 to 10 seconds.
Your New Favorite Go-To Cookie!
I truly believe this is the best sugar cookies recipe for its simplicity and incredible results. It’s a joy to make, a joy to eat, and a joy to share. So, preheat your oven and get ready to fill your kitchen with the wonderful aroma of Tasty Baking!
If you make this Cookies Recette, please leave a comment and a rating below. I absolutely love hearing from you and seeing how you made the recipe your own!
🎀 Final Thoughts
There is something so pure and happy about a simple sugar cookie. It’s a reminder that you don’t need complicated ingredients to create something truly wonderful. I hope this recipe brings a little bit of that simple joy into your home.