Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (2024)

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Cut out sugar cookies are one of the best Christmas sugar cookies recipe to make.Requiring just simple ingredients, these soft and chewy cookies are so much fun to make with the whole family!

Christmas sugar cookies are part of our family holiday season traditions. This Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie recipe is often the first thing I pull out of my recipe box to make. In fact, my kids think it’s the best sugar cookie recipe of all. The first time I made it with my boys’ help was when they were 2 and 4 years old!

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (1)

Why you’ll love these Christmas sugar cookies

This cut out out sugar cookie recipe is a great recipe that makes a soft sugar cookies that can be easily frozen if desired.

The tender dough mixes up quickly and doesn’t need to be chilled before rolling.

I usually bake the whole batch, let them cool, and then freeze them between layers of waxed paper in airtight containers.

Once it’s time to serve them, I thaw out the baked rolled sugar cookies and mix up a small batch of icing for the amount I want to serve. It’s easy and so delicious.

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (2)

How to Make Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookies

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Supplies Needed for Soft & Tasty Cut Out Sugar Cookies:

Large Bowl
Medium Bowl
Mixing Spoons
Pastry blender
Pastry cloth & rolling pin cover set (optional)
Rolling Pin
Cookie Cutters (whatever designs you choose) (I like Christmas trees, hearts, & mittens)
Cookie Sheet
Wire Cooling Racks

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Rolled Sugar Cookies Ingredients:

4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Butter
2 large Eggs, beaten
1/3 cup Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

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How to Make this Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe

(A printable recipe card is located at the end of this post for your convenience.)

You’ll mix up this simple recipe in 2 seperate bowls.

1. In the first large bowl, mix together:

4 cups flour,
1 tsp. baking powder, and
1/2 tsp. salt,
Cut in 1 cup butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives.

2. In another bowl, mix together:

2 beaten eggs
1/3 cup milk,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract,
1 1/2 cup sugar, and
1 teaspoon baking soda

4. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir gently.

5. Flip the dough onto a lightly floured pastry mat, and knead it gently ~ just so it sticks together.

6. Divide dough into 2 portions. Start with the first portion and roll dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness.

I use my Grandmother’s antique dough rolling pastry set (pictured above), but I’ve rounded up a whole list of top tools for dough rolling here.

Here is a video on tips for rolling out this sugar cookie dough:

7. Using your favorite cookie cutters, cut out whatever shapes you’d like. We have stars and trees at our house…

8. Place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. (Placing parchement paper on the baking sheets makes for easy clean up.)

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9. Bake cookies at 375 degrees for 5 minutes – or until very lightly golden brown.

Top Tip: The secret to soft and chewy old fashioned sugar cookies is to take them out before they start to brown. If they are too browned, they will turn crunchy!

10. Cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

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Once completely cooled, ice with your favorite homemade frosting.

Here is my quick and easy homemade frosting for sugar cookies. Or, you could try a fun idea using marbled icing.

Yield: About 4 dozen

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How should I store these cut out sugar cookies?

Store these sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. However, I feel better always refrigerating or freezing mine until I’m ready to use them.

To freeze sugar cookies, place them in an airtight container or heavy duty freezer bag, being careful to seperate each layer with wax paper or parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. Store in the freezer for up to six months.

For Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies:

You can use this same sugar cookie recipe for all seasons! Just use whatever shaped cookie cutter matches the holiday. Heart shaped cookie cutters with pink icing make darling Valentine’s Day cookies. Another option is to make marbled heart sugar cookies. They’re so pretty!

Need more help with Christmas cookie making?

I’ve put together a recipe collection of Christmas cookie recipes to help you save time & stress. Click the button below for all the details!

SAVE TIME & STRESS!

CHRISTMAS COOKIES RECIPES COLLECTION

With a mix of traditional & trendy Christmas cookies, this recipe collection with pictures can help bring back the fun (& simple) traditions of Christmas baking.

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For more Merry Christmas Season Recipes, you may want to check out these posts:

Christmas cookie recipes with pictures
Christmas Dipped Chocolates,
Swedish Tea Ring,
Overnight Buns,
Christmas Breakfast Recipes

More Christmas Cookies Recipes:

Never Fail Fudge
Make this condensed milk fudge recipe in the microwave in 5 minutes!
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Cranberry Lemon Bars
Jam Sandwich Cookies (a shortcut recipe!)
75+ Christmas cookie recipes with pictures
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Gluten-free cut out cookies

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe

Yield: 4 dozen

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This old fashioned rolled sugar cookie recipe is the best cut out cookie recipe! The dough is easy to work & the cookies are soft & YUMMY!

Ingredients

4 cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 cup Butter
2 Eggs, beaten
1/3 cup Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Instructions

Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender
In another bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and baking so
Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir gently
Flip the dough onto a lightly floured pastry mat, and knead it gently ~ just so it sticks together
Divide into 2 portions and roll each portion out to about 1/2 inch thick.
Using cookie cutters, cut out whatever shapes you’d like. We have stars and trees at our house…
Place on baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 5 minutes in an oven that has been preheated to 375 degrees.The secret to soft and chewy old fashioned sugar cookies is to take them out before they start to brown. If they are lightly browned, they will turn crunchy!
Cool completely on wire racks before icing.Step 10: Once completely cool, ice with buttercream icing with food coloring.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 48Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 100Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g

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Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best thickness to roll sugar cookies? ›

With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.

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Why are my rolled sugar cookies spreading? ›

Butter. Too much butter in your cookie dough can cause spreading while baking as the dough doesn't have enough binding ingredients and the fats simply will melt and spread.

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When making rolled cookies should they be rolled in a thick or thin sheet? ›

Thin enough to spread easily but not so thin that it just makes your cookies wet and runs off.

How long should sugar cookie dough sit out before rolling? ›

As a general rule of thumb, you should refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. More than that, and you won't see a noticeable difference in the final product. Once the dough has chilled, let it warm up at room temperature until it's just pliable (about 5 to 10 minutes).

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Should sugar cookie dough be chilled before rolling? ›

→ Follow this tip: Chill sugar cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. The dough will be so much easier to work with! It will roll out nicely, and if you're making cut-outs, chilled dough will help you get clean, sharp edges.

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How long should I chill sugar cookie dough? ›

Transfer the dough, still between the two pieces of parchment paper, to a baking sheet. Chill in the fridge for at least two hours to allow the dough to firm up, and up to three days ahead. Proceed with the recipe as written - such as my easy sugar cookie recipe.

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Are sugar cookies supposed to be soft or hard? ›

Even if a recipe promises the softest, chewiest cookies, you can't expect those results if you overbake the cookies. Start by baking the cookies for the shortest time recommended. Cookies should be slightly soft and pliable when they come out of the oven. They will firm up a bit as they cool.

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What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

Can you roll out store-bought sugar cookie dough? ›

Just roll the dough into one inch balls and then coat them in equal parts cinnamon and sugar. Then I press them gently with a glass before baking them according to the directions on the package. That's it!

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What is the best way to flatten a rolled cookie dough? ›

Rock your rolling pin back and forth over the parchment to flatten the dough. Roll out the dough, turning the whole package frequently for even thickness. If the parchment bunches up in the dough—this can happen if the dough is very soft—tug it out and smooth it with the rolling pin.

Can I roll out Pillsbury sugar cookie dough? ›

Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon flour onto work surface; coat all sides of dough with flour. With rolling pin, roll out dough 1/4 inch thick, adding additional flour as needed to prevent sticking.

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How do you roll sugar cookie dough without sticking? ›

Rolling cookie dough between parchment eliminates the need to dust the dough with flour to prevent it from sticking to the work surface.

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Why is my cookie dough too hard to roll out? ›

Check Your Cookie Dough's Consistency

Tough – For rolled cookies, your dough can become “tough” by adding too much flour to your pin or counter before rolling it out. To avoid this, try using as little flour as possible while preparing to roll your dough.

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Why won't my cookie dough roll out? ›

If you think your cookie dough is off, you may not have enough liquid in the recipe. Consider adding a touch more liquid such as melted butter, egg yolks, or a teaspoon of water. Add a teeny bit and see if that helps.

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