Description
At its core, a cut-out butter sugar cookies recipe is a enriched rolled dough built primarily from butter, white sugar, eggs, and all-purpose flour. Unlike drop cookies, which naturally spread and flatten out on a warm baking sheet, cut-out cookies rely on specific ratios of structure to fat so that they hold precise edges throughout the baking process.
Ingredients
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2¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
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1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
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¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
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1 large egg, room temperature
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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½ teaspoon baking powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
1. Cream butter and sugar. Beat the softened butter and sugar together for 2–3 minutes until creamy and smooth.
2. Add egg and vanilla. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
3. Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Make the dough. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix just until a soft dough forms; avoid overmixing.
5. Chill. Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. Preheat the oven. Set the oven to 175°C (350°F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Roll and cut. Roll the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 6 mm (¼ inch) thick. Cut into desired shapes and place on the prepared baking sheets.
8. Bake. Bake for 8–12 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. The edges should be just barely golden, while the centers remain pale.
9. Cool. Leave the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For best results, chill the dough before rolling and cutting to help the cookies hold their shape. Do not overbake; the edges should be lightly golden while the centers remain pale. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating or storing in an airtight container. Enjoy your buttery, delicious homemade cookies!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140 kcal
Keywords: rolled butter sugar cookies, classic cut out sugar cookies, homemade butter cutout cookies, decorated butter sugar cookies