Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe: Cut Out Cookies for Decorating (2024)

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe: These cut-out cookies are amazing for decorating and are by far my favorite cookie recipe for cut-out sugar cookies that hold their shape!

When learning how to decorate sugar cookies, and sharing it with you, so many of you asked for the recipe so this is the recipe that turns out perfect every time!

The sugar cookies taste amazing, and hold their shape after baking. The best of both worlds, really!

Here are some rave reviews on Pinterest of this recipe!

My favorite sugar cookie recipe so far. No need to chill. Yields about 24 cookies…yum! See review.

Jossie Linares

🎄🌟👢😀 success!!! Happy holiday season everyone! See review.

xymenakp

I use my Kitchenaid mixer to make these bad boys in… even though you don’t have to have one. (Have you seen the super fun Kitchenaid mixer “lift,” that’s installed in my cabinets? BEST decision ever.

✄ How to Make Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the Butter, Sugar, and Egg

In your mixer, cream the butter and sugar, and then add in the extract/emulsion and egg!

Mix In Dry Ingredients…

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder, and then slowly add the flour mixture to wet ingredients, until mixed!

🌟 How to Prevent Sugar Cookie Dough From Sticking

I love using big-white, art paper, to roll my sugar cookies out. It keeps my counter “cleaner,” and I can just roll it up and throw it in the trash when I’m done rolling them out.
Sprinkle a little flour on the paper, that way the cookie dough doesn’t stick!

Or, if you don’t have any paper, I simply sprinkle sugar, powdered sugar or flour (however this can make the cookies have more of a “flour” taste) and roll the dough on top of that so it doesn’t stick. I’ll also sprinkle a bit on the dough so it doesn’t stick to the roller!

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Roll Out Sugar Cookie Dough

There are two different ways you can do this.

Place the dough out on a rolling surface and LIGHTLY sprinkle with flour or powdered sugar, IF necessary, to reduce sticking (too much flour can make the dough crumbly).

2. OR… roll the dough between wax or parchment paper. Place between two pieces of wax or parchment and then there’s no need to dust thedoughwith flour.

Knead the dough, and roll out (with a rolling pin) to a 1/4 thickness.

Once rolled out, cut cookies in to desired shapes!

❄️ No Chill? No Refrigeration?

So many sugar cookie recipes require the dough to be chilled before cutting out and baking.

I’ve found that this recipe does NOT need chilled, however… some have stated that they need to and do just to be safe. So it’s completely up to you. If you have time, feel free to chill!

Bake in your 350 degree oven for 6-8 minutes!

Then, after decorating, they can look like this below! Aren’t those adorable little ice cream cookie cutters?Look at the final result of the ice cream sugar cookies for the ice cream party I styled!

I just love how easy these are to cut out, and especially love how they hold their shape while baking!

Or if you’re looking for a fun way to use your sugar cookies, you’ll love these sugar cookie sandwiches!

💡 Common Sugar Cookie Questions:

New Baking Mat Must-Have!

Friends, since writing this post a couple of years ago, a dear friend has introduced me to a new baking mat that makes a HUGE difference in my baking. No non-stick spray needed, and the bottoms of the cookies turn out BEAUTIFUL!

This is where you can buy the baking mat!

If you have an air fryer, I thought it was so fun to see this sugar cookie recipe in the air fryer too!

Ingredients in US measurements.

🎄 Christmas Cookie Baking Resources

Love making and creating fun things for Christmas? You’ll also love these DIY gingerbread ornaments that are a holiday staple for gift-giving and making memories.

Then, if you’d like to dabble in royal icing decorating, then don’t be intimidated. If I can do it, you can do it:

See the whole post on decorating sugar cookies with royal icing!

🍪 More Cookie Recipes

📖 Recipe