Description
This Soft Sugar Cookies recipe yields tender, chewy cookies with a delicate lemon zest flavor and a light vanilla sweetness. Perfect for decorating with frosting and sprinkles, these cookies bake up soft and slightly crackled on top, making them ideal for celebrations or everyday treats.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour (270 grams)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (6 grams)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder (2 grams)
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup salted butter, room temperature (170 grams / 1½ sticks)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided (150 grams)
- ½ cup brown sugar (107 grams)
- 1 large egg, room temperature (50 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (4 grams)
Optional for Decoration
- Pre-prepared frosting
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and set aside.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder until evenly incorporated.
- Cream butter and sugars: Using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream the room temperature salted butter with ½ cup of the granulated sugar and all the brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Add egg and flavorings: Beat in the egg, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients while continuing to mix until a thick dough forms. The dough should be firm but not sticky to the touch.
- Prepare sugar coating: Pour the remaining ¼ cup of granulated sugar into a shallow bowl for rolling the cookie dough balls.
- Shape cookie dough: Scoop the dough and roll it into 2-inch diameter balls to create evenly sized cookies.
- Coat and arrange: Lightly roll each dough ball in the granulated sugar until coated, then place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden brown and the tops show soft cracks.
- Cool cookies: Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate (optional): Once fully cooled, frost the cookies with your preferred frosting and add sprinkles if desired to enhance appearance and flavor.
Notes
- Room temperature butter and egg help achieve a creamy dough and even mixing.
- Do not overbake to maintain the soft, chewy center characteristic of these cookies.
- Rolling the dough balls in sugar before baking adds a subtle crunch and sparkle to the finished cookie.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute salted butter with a plant-based alternative.
