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Soft Cutout Sugar Cookies

Deliciously soft sugar cookies that are perfect for any occasion, easily customizable with fun shapes and decorations.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 150 kcal

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • ¾ cup salted butter (softened at room temperature)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
  • 3-4 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
  • In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, mixing to combine.
  • Add vanilla extract and almond extract; mix until incorporated.
  • Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture; mix on low until a soft dough forms.
  • Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Place each portion on a piece of lightly-floured parchment paper or a lightly-floured silicone mat.
  • With a lightly-floured rolling pin, roll the dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems sticky.
  • Lightly dust the top of the dough with flour, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours (or overnight).

Baking

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  • Carefully remove one portion of the dough from the refrigerator. Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into desired shapes.
  • Arrange the shapes about 2-3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  • You can re-roll the dough scraps to cut out additional cookies, but you will need to chill the cut-out dough on the baking sheets in the fridge or freezer for at least 10 minutes before baking.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or just until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Icing Preparation (Optional)

  • In a bowl, mix powdered sugar with milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract.
  • Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if too thick.
  • Add gel food coloring as desired for decoration.

Notes

To maintain the shape of cookies, proper chilling of the dough is crucial. Consider adding citrus zest for a unique flavor and experiment with different extracts.
Keyword baking, Cookie Recipes, Cutout Cookies, Decorating Cookies, sugar cookies