Super soft sugar cookies with a delicate vanilla flavor and texture. They’re so good that you’ll want to eat them all as soon as they’re out of the oven. You’ve been warned!
If you’re looking for sugar cookies that keep their shape then check out my other recipe for cut out sugar cookies.
I’m going to admit something to you. I never understood the hype around sugar cookies. I thought they were too sweet, and not too flavorful. But then I tried these cookies, and I realized I was wrong. so wrong.
These cookies were born by accident. I made my original recipe and ran out of sugar, so I swapped the rest with powdered sugar. When I tried them I couldn’t believe the difference it made. They tasted better and the texture was superb. This is now my favorite recipe for sugar cookies. They’re chewy, soft, and beautiful, and they have a delicious vanilla flavor.
Why are these cookies so soft?
First, I use powdered sugar in the recipe, and experience has taught me that using powdered sugar in recipes make them incredibly soft, same as in my a-m-a-z-i-n-g melt-in-your-mouth vanilla pudding chocolate chip cookies. The reason for that is that powdered sugar has cornstarch in it, which helps give a soft texture to cookies and other baked goods. Make sure not to omit it from the recipe!
Second, I underbake the cookies to keep them soft in the center, as I do with almost all my cookies. I’m on team soft, chewy cookies, not flat, crunchy cookies. If you’re anything like me, make sure not to overbake your cookies. Don’t wait until they’re golden brown on top, but rather just slightly brown around the edges.
How to make these soft sugar cookies
I love making cookies because it’s so easy. You’ll need to use room temperature butter, and mix it with the sugars for about 4 minutes until it’s fluffy. You can do this with a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Next, add the egg and vanilla, then the dry ingredients. Shape dough into balls and roll in granulated sugar. This adds another delicious layer to the cookies. Bake and indulge.
How long can you keep sugar cookies?
Unfortunately mine never last too long to tell, but 3 days at room temperature is ideal. I always recommend that if you make a large batch, place some in an airtight container, and freeze. Freezing is the best way to keep cookies fresh. If I’m craving a cookie, I’ll take one or two cookies out of the freezer and either warm it in the oven, or let it thaw to room temperature.
More Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies:
- Melt-In-Your-Mouth Butter Cookies
- Soft, Chewy, Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies (the best in the world!)
- Lemon White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Dulce De Leche Sandwich Cookies
- Nutty Mexican Wedding Cookies
My funfetti cookies recipe is similar to this sugar cookies recipe, watch how to make it:
- 2 and 1/8 cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks/227 g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2/3 cup (130 g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (85 g) powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, for rolling
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar on medium-low speed for 4 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla extract just until combined. Add flour mixture and beat just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Place ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into balls, the size of 1.5 tablespoons each (I use this ice cream scoop for that), then roll them in the sugar and place on the cookie sheets, spacing them 2-inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes until cookies just begin to brown at the edges, but the center is still soft (you don't want to overbake them). Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then gently transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Cookies can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
77 Comments
Rosalie
January 21, 2018 at 10:26 amThese were amazing…thank you
Mary S
December 20, 2019 at 12:42 pmYou are a sugar cookie genius!
I have a friend who loves sugar cookies, the soft sugar cookies! I’ve made them many years for him and they’re never just quite right. Guess what these are perfect according to his high standard. Thank you so much! All my other recipes are in the trash!
Liisa
April 23, 2020 at 7:15 amFive star cookies. Perfect soft cookie melts in the mouth. Kids loved them too. I used brown sugar instead of granulated sugar just because I like brown sugar flavour. I will make these again.
Miri
February 4, 2018 at 9:06 amI tried it and it so yummy and soft, I LOVE IT, thank you very much!!
Alena
April 2, 2018 at 9:45 pmThese are so great! Couldn’t stop eating them! Thank you for the recipe!
Georgia
August 26, 2018 at 3:42 pmThese aren’t gonna stay in my cookie jar for long, thank you for the recipe – they’re delicious!
Lolo
September 2, 2018 at 12:32 amThis cookie recipe came out delicious. Thank you
Riley
October 14, 2018 at 10:25 amOMG They were so good I can’t believe it I am not even a teen and I made these
ANgela Conty
November 2, 2018 at 5:14 pmTHese are so good. I added cinnamon and sugar mixture. Wow stays soft for 4 days. That’s how long it lasted with my husband.
Riley Jones
November 3, 2018 at 12:03 pmHi Shiran I am not even a teen and I made these for my church and everyone LOVED them I will totally make these again
Alaura
November 10, 2018 at 11:41 pmLooking forward to trying these this Christmas! Can these be rolled out and cut as well?
Shiran
November 11, 2018 at 8:36 amIf you’re looking for sugar cookies that keep their shape during baking then check out this recipe for cut out sugar cookies.
Steven
November 15, 2018 at 4:37 amThank you so much for sharing your recipe! I tend to bake a lot more in the colder weather and I like to experiment with different recipes online. I love this one in particular because I swapped out the vanilla extract for pumpkin pie spice extract and the texture makes it so much more like pie! Thanks again!
Vanessa
April 11, 2020 at 11:08 pmWhen I was mixing mine it seemed to watery, maybe I mixed to much?
Julia
November 16, 2018 at 2:38 pmBest. Sugar. Cookies. Ever. Thank you! Bookmarking this one for sure ❤️
Kathy
November 21, 2018 at 10:38 pmOmg, my family and I loved these!
I’m definitely going to make these again! My family said these and your Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip cookies that I also made tonight are the best cookies I ever made! And I bake cookies about 4 or 5 times a year!
stacey a geiermann
December 6, 2018 at 8:21 amhello, what would you think about adding some fresh cranberries? would it work?
Shiran
December 9, 2018 at 11:09 amI usually add dried fruit to these kind of cookies. I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure how it will affect the cookies.
Lismar
April 13, 2020 at 5:19 pmHey i was wondering if i can add cocoa powder to make it chocolate?
Raquel
December 8, 2018 at 6:16 pmSoooo good! Thank you for this recipe! And thank you to you guys who commented and rated it and convinced me to give it a try.
Lori
December 14, 2018 at 11:18 amCan you omit rolling and sugar? I wanted to frost them
Shiran
December 15, 2018 at 5:44 amYes you can!
Trelene
December 15, 2018 at 3:32 pmI don’t have a mixing bowl with paddle attachment what can i do instead?
Shiran
December 16, 2018 at 7:52 amHi Trelene. I always use a mixer. You can search google on how to make cookies without using a mixer.
Nancy Warren
October 19, 2019 at 9:02 pmI just made them today using a hand mixer. Worked fine.
Sandra
December 16, 2018 at 12:12 pmI just made these. I used half granulated sugar and half Tang in the mix and they came out delicious! I also added some Tang in with the sugar to roll in. Nice subtle orange flavor and a pleasant tang. They won’t last long!
Denise Brown
December 16, 2018 at 6:48 pmLove these! So soft and yummy. However, my dough seemed too moist, I wasn’t able to roll into balls and I had to bake for 14 mins instead of recommended 12.; any idea what I may have done for these things to have happened? They are awesome and I will make them again!!!
Shiran
December 18, 2018 at 8:19 amHi Denise. This can happen if you measure the ingredients by volume and not by weight, and it also depends on the type of flour you use. You can add a bit more flour to the dough if it happens again.
Jolean gernandt
December 17, 2018 at 12:30 pmWe absolutely loved loved loved them.thank you so much.
We’re happy baking!!
Sarah
December 20, 2018 at 4:18 pmCan you add m&m’s or chocolate chips to this recipe?
Shiran
December 21, 2018 at 2:50 pmYes you can! These are delicate cookies so if possible, use mini chocolate chips.
Loretta
December 20, 2018 at 5:19 pmI made these with my son and they were absolutely delicious. Thanks so much for sharing.
Courtney
December 23, 2018 at 7:02 pmWOW!!! I just found this recipe last night as I was looking for a tastier soft sugar cookie. These cookies are amazing!! I have literally made 4 batches of these for my family and for a Christmas party. Best sugar cookie and maybe my favorite ever! 🙂
Sarah W.
December 24, 2018 at 2:34 pmI tried this recipe and it tastes great but when I cooked it it was too runny and it all ran together I double checked the recipe but I didn’t do anything wrong ate there any tips you can give me for next time?
Audrey
December 18, 2019 at 11:39 amWas your butter room temp? Also, I had to stop my kitchen aid a couple of times to scoop it all back together. I also added 1/4 cup cream cheese and that made my dough really firm and easy to shape. Good luck next time!
Sarah W.
December 24, 2018 at 2:37 pmI tried this recipe but when I cooked them they were too runny and they all ran together. I double checked the recipe but I didn’t do anything wrong so I was wondering if u could give me any tips for next time?
Shiran
December 25, 2018 at 6:48 amHi Sarah, maybe the flour wasn’t measured accurately. If the dough is too soft or sticky, try to add more flour next time. It will also help if you chill the dough for several hours before baking.
Mamadee
December 29, 2018 at 8:39 pmBest recipe hands down. We have made these twice in one week. We never have to worry about storage lol, because they are demolished in a matter of minutes.
Danielle Fasse
December 30, 2018 at 7:11 pmWow! These are the most delicious sugar cookies I have ever tasted! I will definitely be saving this recipe!
Marin
January 3, 2019 at 1:11 pmThe cookies were very delicious! I will say, one thing I did to half of the batch is add sprinkles, and then put them on pan, then add sprinkles to top. After that I took a spoon and pressed down, that I think helped make them a bit more flat. Overall these cookies were perfect! My siblings said they were great, and asked for more!
Madeleine
January 11, 2019 at 5:44 pmIt tasted great. However, I think that the cooking time was under-estimated. It took almost 20 minuets for the cookies to be done baking. Anyone else had this?
Charlie
December 21, 2019 at 1:43 pmIs that 2 butter sticks at 227g each, or 227g total?
Shiran
December 22, 2019 at 4:15 amHi Charlie. 2 stick, 113g each, so it’s 227g total.
Marisol
January 21, 2019 at 7:19 pmThis was my first time baking. I found your recipe and was so happy that I did. The cookies were deliciously wonderful. They turned out Perfect! My family really enjoyed them. I added chocolate chips to a second batch and they were soooo good! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Wendy
January 22, 2019 at 10:15 pmI made these cookies today. They are soooo good! I modified it a little with 2 teaspoons of vanilla, 1 teaspoon of almond extract and 1 teaspoon of lemon extract. I felt like the came from the bakery. This recipe is a keeper!
Leah
February 10, 2019 at 11:23 pmCan I use this recipe for cut outs? I see you have a separate recipe but I loved these cookies at Christmas and I was hoping to make heart shaped sugar cookies this Valentine’s Day. Should I stick with your cut out cookie method?
Shiran
February 21, 2019 at 5:40 amHi Leah. You should stick to the other recipe. These cookies are more soft and moist.
Jeanette
March 3, 2019 at 1:53 pmMade these with my toddler. Loved how simple the recipe was and the cookies had great texture. Not too sweet.
Roberta
March 12, 2019 at 10:43 amI need a sugar cookie recipe that does well in high altitude. What do I need to adjust in this recipe? When I tried these with the regular recipe, they ran all over the pan, so What suggestions do you have?
Claudia
March 29, 2019 at 11:32 pmAmazing!!!!
Claudia
March 29, 2019 at 11:34 pmAmazing
I’m trymg to give it 5 stars but it won’t let me
Sarahjane
April 7, 2019 at 12:29 pmMade these on a whim last night and they are beautiful. I’m having trouble not eating them all. . . I want to try these as a base for a snickerdoodle or maybe add a touch of nutmeg next time. Thank you for the quick, easy, and delightful recipe.
Joanna
April 8, 2019 at 2:08 amCould I make these into snickerdoodle cookies by adding cinnamon to the mix and using cinnamon sugar for rolling?
Shiran
April 11, 2019 at 4:18 amYes you can 🙂
Kelsey
April 19, 2019 at 3:33 pmSoft, chewy, buttery! These are amazing cookies!
Ram
July 1, 2019 at 9:39 amAWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mackenzie
May 31, 2019 at 10:14 amAbsolutely delicious. I made these for a family who just moved into the neighborhood . The mother of the family (who actually has her own cooking and baking blog) HAD to have the recipe. She said they were so good she didn’t want to share with anyone else! I completely agree with her ! I had to get rid of the extra (because I made 2 batches) or else I would have gained 15 lbs!
These sugar cookies are extremely soft and have the most amazing texture. They truly are perfection! The only adjustment I ended up making was adding 2 & 1/2 tsp of almond extract, which really just adds to the flavor of these delicious cookies! I highly recommend making them with almond extract! You WILL NOT be disappointed! For bigger cookies, I made some with 2 Tbs of cookie batter and increased the bake time by a couple of minutes. TRULY a hit with the whole neighborhood!
Thanks for sharing! I will definitely be making these over and over again!
Julie
June 26, 2019 at 9:26 pmMy new favorite cookie recipe! Very soft when following the recommended timing.
Tiffany
August 27, 2019 at 4:19 pmToday my 3yo was put on a soft food diet after an injury. Seeking recipe ideas I found this one and tried it, but ran put of sugar. My daughter had fun however, rolling the cookie balls in powdered sugar. My oldest son said they are delicious and especially loves them with the powdered sugar.
Dayon
September 7, 2019 at 8:09 amHi, I was wondering what temperature to bake them at! Would it be around 180º C?
Tracye Waldroup
November 10, 2019 at 11:26 amI’ve made my sugar cookies with powdered sugar for years. The best cookies ever!
Abby
November 16, 2019 at 7:49 pmThey are beautiful and tast so good but it took a lot more time then I thought
Sharon
November 23, 2019 at 2:48 pmTHE BEST SUGAR COOKIES EVER!
Ella
November 30, 2019 at 10:13 pmJust made these cookies! They are awesome!! This will be my new sugar cookie recipe ! Thank you
Erika Kim
December 14, 2019 at 9:26 amI used almond extract instead of vanilla (I love using almond and other unique flavors like rose, lavender, orange, …)
I don’t have a hand mixer or a stand mixer, so I cream the butter and sugars using a fork. The butter has to be a bit softer, but it definitely still works!
CJanie
December 15, 2019 at 7:06 pmThank you so much for your awesome recipes, I make your soft chocolate chip cookies and these all the time. I like to add almond extract and instead of rolling in sugar, I roll mine in freshly toasted almond slivers.
Shiran
December 22, 2019 at 4:24 amIt sounds delicious!
Heather Williams
December 15, 2019 at 11:32 pmI just made a batch of these and they turned out great! Super soft and a nice flavor. I rolled them in red and green sugar to some festive color, and it worked really well. Also, I live at 8300 feet, and the recipe works well at high altitude without any adjustments!
Thanks for the awesome cookie recipe!
Mary S
December 20, 2019 at 12:43 pmYou are a sugar cookie genius!
I have a friend who loves sugar cookies, the soft sugar cookies! I’ve made them many years for him and they’re never just quite right. Guess what these are perfect according to his high standard. Thank you so much! All my other recipes are in the trash!
Shiran
December 22, 2019 at 4:17 amThank you so much Mary! I’m so glad you and your friend liked it!
Sandy
December 28, 2019 at 2:35 pmJust made these for Chanukah and they are delicious! Your honey cake has also become a family favourite. Thank you, love your website!
Shiran
January 1, 2020 at 3:39 amThank you so much, Sandy!
Vhipir
January 6, 2020 at 7:58 pmi followed this recipe almost exactly, i just did half and half baking powder and baking soda and added an extra tablespoon of flour so i could add 2 tbsp of lemon juice and some zest. great recipe, i know what breakfast is gonna be!
Jim canfield
April 8, 2020 at 10:14 pmThanks! Chemo and radiation have made my palate and tongue too sensitive for most cookies. Your soft cookies made all the difference. After my first batch I thought I would have some fun so after mixing the dough I separated it into 6 batches and using a little food color with some extracts I made almond, orange, pineapple, strawberry, lemon and maple. Not only easy to eat but colorful as well. Thanks again.
Maria
April 9, 2020 at 9:30 amAwesome cookies. I baked half of them rolled in cinnamon sugar, the others as per recipe. Both were AWESOME!
Melody Taylor
April 18, 2020 at 9:49 pmI JUST made these and decided to top some of them off with my mom’s buttercream recipe and WHOA. These are SO. GOOD. Exactly what I’ve been craving during this insane quarantine! Thank you!!!
Reeah
May 22, 2020 at 4:56 pmI wanted a soft sugar cookie to bake for my grandsons. This recipe is amazing. I measured the flour and sugars by weight. I added the zest of one large orange. I also used a small ice cream scoop to keep the cookies uniform in size and shape. I used Bob’s Mill sparkly decorating sugar and just dipped the tops of the cookie mounds in the sugar. I baked them for the full 12 minutes and let them cool for a full 10 minutes on the cookie sheets before transferring them to cooling racks. The recipe made 27 cookies. I can’t wait for my grandsons to try them.