Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe

Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe
By Jane Maynard of This Week for Dinner

Makes around 3 dozen 2-inch cookies
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk from a large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a stand mixer or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, combine the butter and sugar at
medium speed for 4 minutes. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat for 1-2 more
minutes at medium.
3. Reduce the speed of your mixer to low and add in the dry ingredients. As they combine
with the wet, slowly increase the speed to medium-low. Mix until everything is just
blended, being careful not to overwork the dough. Remove the dough from the mixing
bow and divide in half.
4. For roll-out, cookie cutter cookies: Make two thick discs with each portion of dough,
wrap well in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days. (The dough
can be frozen for up to 2 months at this point.) When you are ready to bake, roll out the
dough on a well-floured surface until it is 1/4-inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters.
5. For slice-and-bake cookie dough: Form each half of the dough into a log that’s about
two inches in diameter, squaring off the ends to make for even slicing. Wrap well in
plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days. (The dough can be
frozen for up to 2 months at this point.) When you are ready to bake, slice the log into
1/4-inch thick discs.
6. When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 350º F. Place cookies on a parchment
paper- or silicone baking mat-lined cookie sheet with about 2 inches between each
cookie. Bake for about 10 minutes; cookies should be set, but just very lightly browned
on the bottom only. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a
wire rack to finish cooling completely. Serve or store in an airtight container up to 1
week at room temperature or up to 2 months in the freezer.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #1: Cut-Out
Sugar Cookies


This is the most classic use of sugar cookie dough. Get out the rolling pin and cookie
cutters and have some fun with the kids! You can eat the cookies plain, top with icing, or
dip in sugar before baking. See step 4 in the recipe for how-to details.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #2: Chocolate-

Dipped Cookies

Melt 1 package of high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave on high, 1
minute at a time, stirring at each minute mark until the chocolate is very smooth. Dip
plain, sliced-and-baked cookies in the chocolate and let cool for a few hours on
parchment paper.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #3: Coconut

Lime Cookies


In step 2, add in the zest of 2 limes along with the eggs and vanilla. After the dough has
chilled in the refrigerator, but prior to baking, let the cookie dough log sit on the counter
for about 10 minutes before rolling it in shredded coconut. Press the coconut into the
dough with your hands, then slice and bake as directed.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #4: Chocolate

Chip Cookies

After all of the dry ingredients are incorporated into the dough in step 3, add 1/2 cup of
mini chocolate chips. Mix until just combined before continuing as directed.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #5: Pecan

Sandies

After all of the dry ingredients are incorporated into the dough in step 3, add 1/2 cup
finely chopped pecans. Mix until just combined before continuing as directed.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #6: Lemon

Poppy Seed Cookies

In step 2, add in the zest of 2 lemons and 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds along with the
eggs and vanilla.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #7: Chocolate

Cookies

Substitute 1/4 cup cocoa powder for 1/4 cup of flour throughout.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #8: Sparkle

Sugar Cookies

Once you cut the dough into slices, but prior to baking, dip them in granulated sugar.
Press the sugar into the dough with your fingers so that it sticks.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #9: Cranberry

Cookies

After all of the dry ingredients are incorporated into the dough in step 3, add 1/2 cup
chopped dried cranberries. Mix until just combined before continuing as directed.
Sugar Cookie Dough Option #10:

Snickerdoodles

Combine a 1/2 cup of sugar with anywhere from 1 teaspoon–1 tablespoon ground
cinnamon (depending on how cinnamon-y you want your cookies to taste). Once you
cut the dough into slices, prior to baking, dip them in the cinnamon sugar. Press the
cinnamon sugar into the dough with your fingers so that it sticks.
Even more sugar cookie dough options!

Here are a few more ideas to get your creative baking juices flowing.
*Add ground cardamom to the dough.
*Substitute peppermint extract for the vanilla extract (reduce the total amount used to
1/2 teaspoon). These will taste great plain or chocolate-dipped (see above).
Alternatively, roll the cookie dough log in crushed peppermint candy in the same way
that I rolled the dough in shredded coconut for the Coconut Lime Cookies.
*Any kind of nut works great in this recipe, from pistachios to almonds to walnuts! Add
chopped nuts to the dough as I did the mini chocolate chips (see above) or roll the
cookie dough log in chopped nuts in the same way that I rolled the dough in shredded
coconut for the Coconut Lime Cookies.
*Add orange zest. This would be great with cardamom, too!
TAGS: BAKING, CHRISTMAS, COOKIES, DESSERT, EASY RECIPES, HOLIDAYS, HOW-TO, PARTY
IDEAS, SNACK RECIPES, TIPS AND TRICKS
Written by
Jane Maynard is known for sharing smart, simple menu planning ideas for families on her website
and podcast, This Week for Dinner. She's also a freelance food writer for pubs like Parade and
Cosmo. While she lives in San Diego, she has a thing for east coast bagels. Also chocolate chip
cookies. Possibly too many of them. (As if that were possible.)
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Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe

By Jane Maynard of This Week for Dinner

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #2: Chocolate-

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #3: Coconut

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #4: Chocolate

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #5: Pecan

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #6: Lemon

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #7: Chocolate

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #8: Sparkle

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #9: Cranberry

Sugar Cookie Dough Option #10:

Even more sugar cookie dough options!

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