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The Ultimate Soft Sugar Cookies That Hold Their Shape for Decorating

Close-up of three stacked soft sugar cookies, one broken open to show the texture.
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You need this recipe for the best soft sugar cookies that stay wonderfully tender and chewy while still holding their shape perfectly for cutouts and decorating. This easy, buttery recipe delivers reliable results every time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (this helps keep them soft)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
  2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Mix in the sour cream until the dough comes together. The dough will be soft.
  6. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. Chilling is crucial for the no-spread result.
  7. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  8. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
  9. Place the cutouts onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them.
  10. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should look set but the centers should still look slightly soft.
  11. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  12. Decorate with your favorite frosting once the cookies are fully cool. These sugar cookies that stay soft are ready to enjoy.

Notes

  • For the softest cookies that stay soft for days, avoid overbaking. They should look slightly underdone when you pull them out.
  • If you are making cutout sugar cookies, chilling the dough is essential for a no-spread sugar cookie result.
  • For an extra buttery sugar cookie flavor, use high-quality butter.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/soft-sugar-cookies-recipe-chewy-cutout/