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Classic Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

These cut-out sugar cookies are perfect for the holidays or any celebration during the year! Dress them up with some classic buttercream, royal icing, or even sprinkles. This recipe is a great way to involve kids too, especially for cutting out and decorating the cookies!
5 from 2 votes
Course Cookies and Bars
Cuisine American
Servings 36 medium cookies

Ingredients
  

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda

Buttercream Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • Approximately 4-5 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-3 Tablespoons milk

Instructions
 

Sugar Cookie Instructions

  • Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixture until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at time, and beat until well combined. Stir in vanilla or vanilla bean paste.
  • In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture. Mix until combined. You may need to finish mixing with wooden spoon by hand since the dough is very thick.
  • For easier handling, cover dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Dough may be prepared up to three days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
  • Once ready to bake, preheat oven to 375° F. Roll out half of the dough to ¼ inch thickness. Use a a mixture of equal parts powdered sugar and flour to roll out the cookie dough. This helps make the dough easy to roll out without making the cookies from becoming floury. The powdered sugar also adds a little sweetness.
  • Cut the cookies using shapes of your choice and sprinkle with colored sanding sugar, if desired. Bake on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper in preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden.  
  • If decorating, let cool completely before frosting. Buttercream recipe is included.   

Buttercream Instructions

  • With an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar. Mix until combined.
  • Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla, 2 Tablespoons milk, and the remaining powdered sugar. Mix on medium-speed until combined. If mixture seems to thick, add additional milk. If the frosting seems to thin, add additional powdered sugar.
  • Mix on medium-high speed until fluffy for another minute or two. If coloring the frosting, divide into small bowls and add food coloring of your choice.
  • Pipe or spread on cooled cookies.

Notes

If using unsalted butter in the cookie dough, add ¼ teaspoon salt to the cookie dough with the other dry ingredients.
For a light almond flavor in the cookies, add ¼ teaspoon almond extract to the cookie dough.
Bake times will vary depending on type of pans used. Watch carefully to prevent overbrowning.