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Old-Fashioned Soft Sugar Cookies Made From Scratch

Dec 22, 2023 · Modified: Dec 11, 2024 by Brooke Larsen · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Sugar Cookie

Scrumptiously soft sugar cookies that have been a family favorite for years.

Everyone loves a sweet treat, and it's hard to find a dessert more classic than a freshly-baked, old-fashioned soft sugar cookie. Whether you're a beginner baker or a seasoned pro, this delicious treat is sure to put a smile on everyone's face. Let's dive into the ins and outs of making and baking the best sugar cookies with this classic family recipe.

Holiday sugar cookie recipe and buttercream frosting

Growing up I can remember making old-fashioned sugar cookies with my mom and siblings often. It was one of my favorite things to do and instilled a love of baking. (Thank goodness for that because we all know how much I hate cooking.) Carrying on this baking tradition with my own kids has become a priority, especially as we spend time together over the holidays.

Sugar cookie recipes are perfect for any holiday baking because you can get so creative with the sugar cookie dough. But they are very common around Christmas time, which is when I usually make these yummy homemade sugar cookies.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Makes a big batch
  • Easy to customize for any holiday
  • Great family-friendly activity
  • Deliciousness

Ingredients for Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sugar Cookie Dough

  • ¾ c Shortening
  • ¼ c Butter
  • 1 c Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract (make your own here)
  • 3 c All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking powder 

Buttercream Frosting

  •  6 c Powdered sugar
  • ¾ c Butter, softened
  • ¼ c Shortening
  • 6 to 8 Tbs Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • Food coloring, optional
  • Sprinkles, optional

See recipe card below for exact quantities.

Making Christmas sugar cookies

Tools Needed

  • KitchenAid or another stand mixer
  • Rolling pin
  • Hand mixer for frosting
  • Large bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Favorite cookie cutters
  • Prepared baking sheet
  • Pastry blender
  • Spatula

How to Make Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

1. Mix Ingredients in Stand Mixer

First, combine eggs, sugar, vanilla and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix together. I use a KitchenAid for making these easy sugar cookies. You can see how I changed the exterior color of my KitchenAid here.

2. Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate mixing bowl add the cups of flour, salt and baking soda. Then, cut shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry dough blender until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. If you don't have access to a pastry blender, you can use two forks in a pinch.

3. Combine Mixtures

Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in the KitchenAid and mix together on low speed until combined. Remove bowl from KitchenAid, cover and chill dough in the fridge for approximately 1 hour.

Christmas cookies

4. Roll Out Dough

When your dough has had enough chill time, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out on a flat surface to ¼" thickness. For best results on rolling out the dough, you'll want to have a lightly floured surface. Just sprinkle a few tablespoons onto the counter and on your rolling pin to keep the dough from sticking everywhere. Too much flour will dry out your cookies and make them crack, so go sparingly and add more as needed.

5. Sugar Cookie Shapes

Using your favorite holiday cookie cutters, make your cutout sugar cookies into some fun shapes and line them up on your baking sheet. Continue this process until all of your dough is used up. Bake cookies at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.

Tip: I highly recommend using silicone mats or parchment paper on your baking pans for an easy clean up.

Homemade soft sugar cookies

6. Prepare Frosting

While your old-fashioned Christmas cookies are cooling, you can prepare this easy sugar cookie frosting. Buttercream frosting is delicious and goes on very smooth. This frosting is thin enough to blend well, but thick enough to keep its shape on a cookie.

Combine the powdered sugar, butter, shortening, milk and vanilla extract together in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to mix the ingredients until you get a frosting consistency. You can change the consistency to your liking by adding more or less milk. I have also added more powdered sugar if I want a thicker frosting.

Use food coloring to create the desired colors for your cookie decorating. And don't forget to add a few sprinkles too!

Christmas sugar cookies decorated

Variations for Soft Sugar Cookies

  • Add a teaspoon of almond extract to your cookie batter if you want a hint of almond flavoring to your cookies
  • Take out a portion of dough and mix in sprinkles before rolling it and bake directly into the dough
  • Flavor your frosting with peppermint, almond, or lemon extracts for a delicious zing to your taste buds

If you love all things sugar cookies, be sure to try my cookie sheet cream cheese sugar cookies or this tasty fruit sugar cookie pizza.

What to Do With Leftovers

If you don't plan on giving these perfect cookies away to family and friends, they will last a few days at peak freshness at room temperature as long as they are covered.

Frosting can be stored in an airtight container and put in the fridge for about a week.

Top Tips

  • Keeping the dough cold makes it easier to work with. I usually get a ball of dough out and keep the rest in the fridge until we need it.
  • If you love plain sugar cookies, this is a great recipe for storing a few baked cookies in a freezer bag inside your freezer for snacking on later.

Easy Recipes for Entertaining

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

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    Easy Almond Poppy Seed Muffins Made From Scratch
  • chocolate zucchini bread
    Easy Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe for Baking Addicts
  • Delicious Broccoli Salad with Craisins and Bacon
  • Chicken Taco Soup
    Easy Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup in 25 Minutes

Old-Fashioned Soft Sugar Cookies

Brooke Larsen
Scrumptious old-fashioned sugar cookies with a delicious buttercream frosting.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 7 minutes mins
Chill time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 37 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2 dozen

Equipment

  • KitchenAid or another food mixer
  • Hand mixer - for frosting
  • Rolling Pin
  • Baking sheet
  • Cookie cutter shapes
  • Pastry blender

Ingredients
  

Cookies

  • ¾ cup Shortening
  • ¼ cup Butter
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 3 cups Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder

Buttercream Frosting

  • 6 cups Powdered sugar
  • ¾ cups Butter, softened
  • ¼ cup Shortening
  • 6-8 tablespoon Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • Food coloring, optional
  • Decorating sprinkles, optional

Instructions
 

Cookie Dough

  • First, combine eggs, sugar, vanilla and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix together.
  • In a separate mixing bowl add the cups of flour, salt and baking soda. Then, cut shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry dough blender until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. If you don't have access to a pastry blender, you can use two forks in a pinch.
  • Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix together on low speed until combined. Remove bowl from KitchenAid, cover and chill dough in the fridge for approximately 1 hour.
  • When your dough has had enough chill time, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out on a flat surface to ¼" thickness. For best results, you'll want to have a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle a few tablespoons onto the counter and on your rolling pin to keep the dough from sticking everywhere.
  • Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes and line them up on your baking sheet. Continue this process until all of your dough is used up. Bake cookies at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.

Frosting

  • Combine the powdered sugar, butter, shortening, milk and vanilla extract together in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to mix the ingredients until you get a frosting consistency. Change the consistency by adding more or less milk. I have also added more powdered sugar if I want a thicker frosting.
    Use food coloring and sprinkles to embellish your cookie decorating. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips
  • Keeping the dough cold makes it easier to work with, so it is best to make cookies in batches and keep the rest in the fridge until needed. 
  • Use silicone mats or parchment paper for easy clean up.
Storage
  • These will last a few days at peak freshness at room temperature as long as they are covered and sealed.
  • Store frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for a week.
Keyword sugar cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Old-fashioned soft sugar cookies remain timeless and beloved for a reason. They are a classic that never goes out of style. With a few basic ingredients and easy instructions, anyone can recreate the delicious taste of these beloved treats. So, don't be afraid to bring a little sweetness into your life and your kitchen – and bake a batch of these scrumptious cookies!

Happy Baking!

Brooke

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About Brooke Larsen

Hello Friends! I love anything DIY and home decorator! On my blog I hope you will find home inspo. Whether it is for your next DIY project or home decor. If I can do it, anyone can!

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Hi I am Brooke I am an avid DIY-er and home decorator! I share home inspo and all of my DIY projects with step-by-step directions. I sprinkle in a few recipes to help out all of us busy moms too. If I can do it, so can you!

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