Are you an inspiring baker wondering how to make soft sugar cookies? We’re here to help you perfect the art of making sugar cookies so that they’re soft and chewy every single time – just the way they should be.
If you’re not understanding the hype about sugar cookies, allow us to enlighten you. Sugar cookies may be simple, but they’re packed with sweetness and chewy texture. In addition, sugar cookies don’t hide behind fancy frosting or icing designs – which means it’s extra important to get them just right. Whether it’s Christmas time or any other part of the year, it’s easy to see why sugar cookies remain a favorite treat of ours every day of the week.
The best part is that sugar cookies stay soft and chewy for days – so there’s no excuse for you to devour your next batch all at once! They’re the perfect snack to munch on while enjoying a cup of coffee or a classic glass of milk.
So grab your apron, preheat the oven, and let’s get baking! Read on to discover how to make soft sugar cookies from scratch. Happy baking!
Why we love sugar cookies
Before we get into how to make chewy sugar cookies, we want you to understand what you’re getting yourself into. It’s only fair to warn you that sugar cookies are so good, they’re dangerous – don’t blame us if you can’t resist eating them all at once. Needless to say, sugar cookies are classic for a reason. Here are some of the things we love them about these tasty treats:
- They have the perfect texture: soft and chewy, need we say more?
- They’re incredibly yummy: as cookie makers and lovers, we’ve tried a LOT of cookies in our lifetime so it’s with good authority that we say chewy sugar cookies are worthy of being called delicious.
- They’re not too thin and not too thick: when it comes to shape and size, sugar cookies are just right. They’re thick enough without having a cakey-texture and they’re thin enough to get gold around the edges.
- They stay soft and chewy: even though it’s hard not to devour these soft and chewy sugar cookies all at once, if you manage to resist temptation, sugar cookies stay soft and chewy for days .Just make sure you store them properly.
How to make soft chewy sugar cookies
It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. Without further ado, let’s dive into how to make soft sugar cookies. Our method requires roughly 30 minutes of prep time and 7 minutes baking time for a total of 37 minutes. Each batch yields around 30 cookies so gather the family round for some cookie-eating fun. Ready to get baking? Here we go!
First things first, it’s time to gather the ingredients. Here’s what you need if you want to know how to make chewy sugar cookies:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Let’s get baking
Now that you’ve got all your ingredients ready, it’s time to begin putting this delicious mix together.
First, start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit of 180 degrees celsius.
Next, get some parchment paper and line your baking sheets. You can put these aside for now – we’ll come back to these later.
In a bowl, combine the cups of flour, 1 tsp of baking soda, and half a tsp of salt. Side the bowl aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, add the butter with both the brown and granulated sugars. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, mix the ingredients together for about 2-3 minutes or until they are light and fluffy. When you reach this point, add the egg and mix again until everything is combined.
After the egg has been mixed in, add in the vanilla extract. Mix again until well combined.
It’s now time to add the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Once again mix everything so that it’s all well combined. The texture should be thick but not sticky. When you get this texture, start to form the dough into a ball. Be careful not to over mix.
When the ball has been formed, create smaller tablespoon sized balls. Roll each ball into an additional quarter cup of granulated sugar so that it’s fully coated. Evenly space the balls on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
By this point, your oven should be ready to go. The cookies take about 7-8 minutes to bake. While they’re baking, they will spread. Although the centers may still look soft, it’s important not to overbake them or they will lose their chewy texture. The centers should firm up as the cookies cool.
Once you remove them from the oven, let them rest on the baking sheet for roughly 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack until they cool fully.
Simple, soft, and sweet – that’s it, folks! Enjoy your sugar cookies!
How to keep sugar cookies soft
Perfecting the art of sugar cookies begs the question: how to make sugar cookies soft? While the recipe itself is simple and straightforward, it’s important to follow the instructions in order, using the specified amounts of ingredients. For example, having the right amount of flour will ensure the moisture content is just right. When mixing together the butter and sugars, you’re aiming for a light color and fluffy texture. Many people stop mixing before this combination is achieved which means their sugar cookies won’t be as soft and chewy as they could be. At the same time, it’s important to be careful not to overmix. Baking can be a tricky business – but the end results are worth it!
Tips and tricks for how to make soft sugar cookies from scratch
If you’re still getting the hang of baking and aren’t very comfortable or confident with it yet, here are some extra tips and tricks to help make sure your cookies are as soft and chewy as you want them to be:
- Don’t overmix the dough once the flour has been added. This prevents the cookies from spreading out properly.
- If you plan on baking, be sure to take your butter out of the fridge in advance so that it’s at room temperature. If you’re unable to make an imprint in it, it’s too cold. Likewise, if you squish it easily in your hands, it’s too soft.
- When forming the dough balls, make sure that they are roughly the size of 1.5 tablespoons. If they are any bigger or smaller, you’ll likely need to adjust the baking times. This size is also perfect for when they inevitably spread on your baking sheet.
If your cookies don’t come out perfectly the first time, don’t give up! Baking can be tricky but with patience and practice, your cookies will soon come out perfectly.
Storing and freezing your cookies
If you manage to resist eating your delicious chewy cookies all at once, well done! It’s now time to properly store and freeze your cookies so that you can enjoy them at a later date without them losing their soft texture.
If you want to extend the shelf life of your sugar cookies, store them in an airtight container and then into the fridge. They’ll stay fresh for up to a week – yum! If you want to store them up on the counter only, you can store them in the same container and they’ll stay fresh for up to 4 days.
Want to make sure your cookies last even longer? The great news is that these cookies are easy to freeze and save for a rainy date. Once your freshly-baked cookies have cooled to room temperature, simply place them in a ziplock back and put them in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat them, take them out, and thaw them in either the fridge or on the counter.
Extra bits
The beauty of sugar cookies is that they are so simple yet so delicious! However, if you fancy making them a little fancier, go right ahead. It’s easy to make them look special for Christmas, an event, or another holiday using colored sprinkles. Pick your favorite color and roll them in the sprinkles the same way you did with the sugar.
You can also choose to decorate your sugar cookies using frosting. You can make your own frosting using icing or you can decorate them with store-bought icing. The choice is yours.
Get in touch
We hope this blog has answered your question about how to make soft sugar cookies. Let us know how they turn out in the comments! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we’d be happy to help.
Baking not for you? Why not check out our delicious already-made cookies? We’ve got a range of mouth-watering flavors from ultimate chocolate chip to red velvet.
