Delicious All-Butter Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Frosting: Your Ultimate Guide

Indulge in the irresistible charm of these **All-Butter Sugar Cookies**, a classic treat renowned for their soft, sweet centers and a luscious, buttery vanilla frosting. This incredibly easy sugar cookie recipe uses simple pantry ingredients to yield approximately a dozen perfectly baked cookies, making it ideal for both seasoned bakers and beginners alike. Get ready to create delightful, richly flavored cookies that are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat.

These **butter sugar cookies** are more than just a dessert; they’re a celebration in every bite. Their rich flavor and wonderfully soft, chewy texture make them an absolute must-have for every occasion, from festive holidays to casual get-togethers. Each cookie is generously adorned with a simple yet exquisite vanilla icing, often finished with a sprinkle of colorful decorations, ensuring every piece is as sweet and inviting as it appears. You’ll find yourself reaching for another before you even realize it!

You’ll be constantly looking for reasons to bake these **soft butter sugar cookies**, and we completely understand why! This straightforward recipe allows you to whip up one or two batches with minimal effort, making it a fantastic choice for impromptu baking sessions or when you need a quick sweet fix. Depending on the size of your cookie cutters, each batch typically produces around one dozen cookies. We particularly love that it’s a relatively small batch, perfect for fresh enjoyment without an overwhelming amount of leftovers.

The Ultimate Butter Sugar Cookie Experience

What sets these cut-out butter sugar cookies apart is their exceptional dough that consistently holds its shape during baking. This characteristic makes them ideal for showcasing your favorite festive cookie cutters, allowing you to easily adapt this recipe for any holiday, special event, or party. Imagine perfectly shaped stars for Christmas, hearts for Valentine’s Day, or themed shapes for birthdays! The secret to preventing spreading and ensuring those crisp edges lies in one crucial step: chilling the dough. A well-chilled dough is not just a happy dough, it’s the key to beautifully structured, tender, and incredibly flavorful cookies. The chilling process allows the butter to solidify, preventing excessive spreading, and also gives the flavors more time to meld and deepen, resulting in a superior cookie experience.

Essential Ingredients for Iced Butter Sugar Cookies

Crafting these delectable butter sugar cookies requires a handful of common pantry staples. The quality of your ingredients plays a significant role in the final taste and texture, so choosing fresh, good-quality items will elevate your baking. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

For the Cookies, you will need:

• All-Purpose Flour: The fundamental base of our cookie dough recipe, providing structure and body. You’ll need 1 ½ cups. Ensure it’s measured correctly (spooned and leveled) to avoid dense cookies.
• Baking Powder: Our leavening agent, crucial for giving the cookies a slight puffiness and a soft, tender crumb as they bake. 1 ½ teaspoons will do the trick.
• Salt: A quarter teaspoon of salt is vital for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the wonderful flavors within the cookie dough. Don’t skip it!

• Unsalted Butter: Using ½ cup (one stick) of softened butter is paramount for achieving a rich-tasting cookie with a wonderfully delicate flavor and tender texture. Softened butter creams beautifully with sugar, incorporating air for a lighter cookie. While some prefer salted butter for baking, unsalted butter gives you more control over the salt content in the recipe.
• Granulated Sugar: Our sugar cookies wouldn’t be complete without ½ cup of granulated sugar, ensuring they are perfectly sweet. Beyond sweetness, sugar also contributes significantly to the chewy texture we adore in these cookies.
• Milk: Just 3 tablespoons of milk are needed to help thin the dough ever so slightly, making it more pliable and easier to work with without making it overly sticky.
• Egg Yolk: This recipe specifically calls for just a single egg yolk, not a whole egg. The yolk provides richness and helps bind the ingredients without adding excess moisture or the toughening protein found in egg whites, ensuring a tender cookie.
• Vanilla Extract: A teaspoon of good quality vanilla extract is essential to enhance and round out the flavors in these cookies. Using a stronger, high-quality vanilla will yield superior tasting results, but feel free to use what you have on hand.

For the Icing, you will need:

• Unsalted Butter: ½ cup of softened butter forms the rich, flavorful base of our creamy icing. Ensure it’s at room temperature for optimal creaming.
• Powdered Sugar: You will need 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar). This finely milled sugar is crucial for making the icing incredibly smooth, thick, and perfectly creamy, without any grainy texture.
• Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract is key for flavoring our frosting, complementing the buttery cookie base beautifully.
• Milk: You will use 1-2 tablespoons of milk, adding it gradually to achieve your desired icing consistency. Start with less and add more as needed, whether you prefer a thicker icing for piping or a slightly thinner one for spreading.

How to Make Perfect Butter Sugar Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making these delightful cookies is a rewarding process. Follow these detailed steps to ensure perfectly baked, beautifully iced treats every time.

Cookies Preparation

1. Prepare Your Baking Environment: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly spray it with nonstick cooking spray. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures easy removal of your baked cookies. Set the prepared sheet aside.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Ensure these dry ingredients are well combined to guarantee even distribution throughout the dough.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate, larger bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter until it is light and fluffy. Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue beating until the mixture is visibly light in color and airy in texture. This process incorporates air, contributing to the cookies’ tender crumb.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the single egg yolk and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until everything is thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are well integrated.
5. Combine Wet and Dry: With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the dry ingredients mixture and the milk to the butter-egg mixture. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined; be careful not to overmix, as this can develop too much gluten and result in tough cookies.
6. Chill the Dough: Your dough should be wonderfully soft but not sticky. Crucially, place the dough into the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. This chilling period is vital: it allows the butter to re-solidify, preventing the cookies from spreading excessively during baking. It also allows the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll, and deepens the overall flavor profile of the cookies.
7. Roll and Cut: Once chilled, remove the dough from the fridge. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out evenly to about 1/4 inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutters to create various shapes. Collect any dough scraps, gently re-roll them, and cut out more shapes until all the dough is used.
8. Bake to Perfection: Carefully transfer the cut-out shapes onto your prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly browned. Avoid overbaking if you want to maintain that signature soft, chewy texture.
9. Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling. It is essential that the cookies are fully cooled before applying the icing to prevent it from melting and sliding off.

Icing Preparation

9. Beat the Butter: In a clean bowl, use an electric mixer to beat your softened butter until it is light and creamy.
10. Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar to the beaten butter, mixing on low speed until it is incorporated, then increase speed and beat until the icing is smooth and creamy.
11. Incorporate Vanilla: Mix in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
12. Adjust Consistency: Add the milk, one tablespoon at a time, until your desired consistency for the icing has been reached. For a thicker icing suitable for piping intricate designs, use less milk. For a thinner, spreadable glaze, add a bit more.
13. Decorate Your Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, spread the icing evenly over them with an offset spatula or knife. Alternatively, if your icing is thick enough, transfer it to a piping bag fitted with your favorite tip and pipe decorative designs onto the cookies.

Feel free to top your beautifully iced cookies with a generous scattering of sprinkles for an extra festive touch! Enjoy these homemade masterpieces!

Selecting the Best Vanilla Extract for Your Cookies

Vanilla extract is more than just a flavor additive; it’s a crucial component that can significantly impact the overall taste profile of your cookies. A few years ago, after testing numerous vanilla extracts, I discovered some new favorites that truly elevate any baked good. For everyday use, I highly recommend TOTONAC’s Mexican Vanilla. It’s a pure vanilla extract and, importantly for my taste preferences, contains no alcohol. Many extracts use alcohol as a base, which can impart a slight alcoholic aftertaste that I personally prefer to avoid. Each time I try another brand, I quickly find myself returning to Totonac’s; the flavor is simply unparalleled. Another absolute favorite is Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste. This paste, with its visible vanilla bean specks, offers the richest, most authentic vanilla flavor by far, adding a gourmet touch to your cookies. While these might be a slight investment, the difference in flavor is truly remarkable and well worth it for special occasions or when you want to impress.

Can I Freeze Frosted Sugar Cookies?

Absolutely, these delicious butter sugar cookies are excellent candidates for freezing, making them perfect for meal prep or enjoying a sweet treat whenever a craving strikes. When stored properly, they can last in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze them effectively, first place your freshly frosted cookies onto a baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching each other. Freeze them for about 2 hours, or until the frosting is completely solid. This flash-freezing step prevents the frosting from sticking together once they are stacked. After they are solid, carefully transfer them to an airtight container. For added protection and to prevent any potential sticking, place a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between each layer of cookies. For ultimate convenience, you can also individually wrap each cookie in plastic wrap or place them in individual ziplocked bags after the initial freezing process. This allows for quick access to a single sweet treat without having to thaw an entire batch. To enjoy, simply remove them from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes.

Butter Sugar Cookies

All Butter Sugar Cookies are soft & sweet cookies topped with a buttery vanilla frosting. Easy sugar cookie recipe made with simple pantry ingredients.

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Course: Cookies

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Butter Sugar Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 2 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 cookies

Calories: 294kcal

Author: Jessica & Nellie

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Ingredients 

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ tsp. Baking powder
• ¼ tsp. Salt
• ½ cup Butter softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 3 TBSP Milk
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp. Vanilla

Butter Icing

• ½ cup butter
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1-2 TBSP Milk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350° F (175 degrees C). Place parchment paper on or grease a baking sheet and set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
• With an electric mixer, cream butter. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
• Add dry mixture and milk alternately, starting and ending with dry.
• You should have a dough that is soft but not sticky. Place in fridge for 30-60 minutes.
• Remove dough from fridge and roll out to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Use chosen cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
• Place shapes on baking pan and bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned on edges.
• Allow to cool completely before icing.
• ICING: Beat butter with an electric mixer. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla. Add milk, a tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
• Spread on cookies, or pipe icing on with a piping bag. Feel free to decorate with sprinkles!

Video

Notes

The actual amount of cookies made will vary on the size of your cookie cutters, but with average sized cutters this recipe makes about 12 cut out cookies.

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 502IU | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @familycookierecipes or tag #familycookierecipes!

The Importance of Chilling Cookie Dough: A Baker’s Secret

When a cookie recipe instructs you to chill the dough, it’s not a suggestion but a critical step, and for several excellent reasons. Firstly, chilling allows the flavors in the dough more time to develop and meld, resulting in a deeper, more incredible taste profile in the finished cookies. Think of it like marinating; time enhances everything. But the most significant reason, especially for cut-out cookies, involves the fat content in the dough, primarily butter. By chilling the dough, the butter solidifies. This solidification is crucial because it means your cookies will hold their shape far better and spread out much less during baking. Without chilling, especially with softened butter, the butter melts too quickly in the hot oven, causing the cookies to spread into thin, undefined shapes. A properly chilled dough ensures your cookies retain their beautiful cut-out forms and achieve that desired perfectly tender yet slightly chewy texture. This step is particularly vital on warmer days or if your butter was initially on the warmer side of “softened.” It’s an easy step that makes a monumental difference in the quality and appearance of your homemade sugar cookies.

Decoding the Difference: Butter Cookies vs. Sugar Cookies

While often grouped together, butter cookies and sugar cookies possess distinct characteristics. The primary difference between the two lies in their fat-to-flour ratio. Butter cookies traditionally boast a higher proportion of butter relative to flour, which gives them a richer, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a more pronounced buttery flavor. They tend to be denser and less sweet than their sugar cookie counterparts. Sugar cookies, on the other hand, typically have a higher sugar content and a slightly lower butter-to-flour ratio. This often results in a cookie that is sweeter, slightly chewier, and holds its shape better for decorative purposes after baking. Both types of cookies can be made similarly and shaped as desired, but the added fats in butter cookies lend them a uniquely rich and sometimes more crumbly texture, making them a luxurious treat. Our All-Butter Sugar Cookies recipe strives to capture the best of both worlds: the rich butter flavor with the classic shape-holding quality and sweetness of a sugar cookie, thanks to the careful balance of ingredients and the crucial chilling step.

Choosing the Best Butter for Your Sugar Cookies

The type of butter you choose can significantly influence the taste and texture of your sugar cookies. When it comes to butter, you have the option of using either salted or unsalted. While some bakers swear by unsalted butter for better control over the salt content in a recipe, I personally find that the nuanced flavor of salted butter adds a wonderful depth to these cookies. Ultimately, the choice between salted and unsalted butter comes down to personal preference. For an exceptional result, I highly recommend using a high-quality butter brand such as Plugra or Kerrygold. These European-style butters contain a higher butterfat content compared to conventional American butters. This elevated fat ratio results in a creamier, more luxurious butter, which in turn contributes to richer, more tender, and incredibly flavorful cookies. The difference is palpable, yielding a superior product that truly tastes gourmet.

Craving More Sugar Cookie Inspirations? We’ve Got You Covered!

If you’ve fallen in love with these butter sugar cookies and are eager to explore more delightful variations of this classic treat, you’re in the right place! Our collection of sugar cookie recipes offers a wide array of flavors and styles to satisfy every palate and occasion. Whether you’re looking for different frosting ideas, seasonal twists, or simply want to experiment with new textures, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here. Dive into our other fantastic recipes and discover your next favorite sugar cookie creation:

• SUGAR COOKIE BARS: For those times you want all the flavor of a sugar cookie with less individual shaping.
• FROSTED LEMON SUGAR COOKIES: A zesty and refreshing take on the classic, perfect for spring and summer.
• JELLO SUGAR COOKIES: Add a burst of fruity color and flavor to your cookies.
• FROSTED ROSE SUGAR COOKIES: Elegant and delicately flavored, ideal for special celebrations.
• BROWN SUGAR SHORTBREAD COOKIES: A rich, buttery, and slightly caramel-flavored alternative.
• CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE: Festive and fun, designed for holiday baking traditions.
• BEST SUGAR COOKIE RECIPES: A curated list of our top-rated sugar cookie creations.
• CREAM CHEESE SUGAR COOKIES: For an extra soft and tangy twist on the traditional.
• WATERMELON SUGAR COOKIES: A playful and visually appealing treat, great for themed parties.
• LIME SUGAR COOKIES: Another citrus-infused option for a bright and tangy flavor.
• BUTTERMILK SUGAR COOKIES: These offer an incredibly tender crumb and a subtle tang.
• CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES: For the chocolate lovers, a rich cocoa twist on the classic.
• LEMON SUGAR COOKIE BARS: All the bright lemon flavor in an easy-to-make bar format.
• SOUR CREAM SUGAR COOKIES: Known for their exceptional softness and moist texture.
• SOFT SUGAR COOKIES: A recipe specifically focused on achieving the ultimate soft texture.

You’re truly going to adore these **soft butter sugar cookies**. Each bite delivers a rich, wonderful flavor and a tender texture, perfectly showcasing whatever fun shapes your cookie cutters create. With this simple and reliable recipe in your culinary arsenal, you’ll always be prepared to whip up a batch of delicious cookies for the next party, holiday, or simply to brighten a normal day. Happy baking!

Beyond the kitchen, our family enjoys various activities, and flag football has become a particular favorite for two of our boys. They participate in two 8-week seasons each year, and we recently wrapped up the Spring season with an exciting finish! My youngest son’s team performed exceptionally well, earning a fantastic 3rd place overall. To celebrate their hard work and success, we decided to make their last game unforgettable. We arranged for them to make a grand entrance onto the field, complete with a makeshift tunnel, dramatic smoke machines, a festive banner, and motivating music!

Watching our son run out in the lead, his face alight with a huge smile, made all the effort worthwhile. That infectious joy is truly priceless! Go Steelers!

In summary, these **All-Butter Sugar Cookies** are a delightful treat: wonderfully soft and sweet, elegantly topped with a rich, buttery vanilla frosting. This easy-to-follow sugar cookie recipe utilizes basic pantry ingredients and consistently delivers about a dozen perfectly baked cookies, ready to be enjoyed.