Do you love to make sugar cookies for every occasion? Then you've got to try out this easy sugar cookie recipe! It's so simple to put together, they turn out super soft, AND you can roll them out to cut into shapes! It's the best of both worlds!

soft cut out sugar cookies on a platter, from Shelf Cooking

Do you like to make soft sugar cookies or cut-out sugar cookies? What if we told you that you could make one easy sugar cookie recipe and it's the softest sugar cookie you've ever eaten. Oh, and you can still have fun rolling it out and cutting them into shapes!

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Intrigued?! Whether you're making Christmas cookies for Santa, heart-shaped cookies for Valentine's Day, fun-shaped cookies for a birthday party, or making them just because, this is the perfect recipe for you! So let's get to it!


TIPS TO MAKE THESE EASY SUGAR COOKIES

Mother and daughter cutting out sugar cookies, from Shelf Cooking

The number one tip we can give you is to make sure you chill the dough before rolling it out. It's an absolute MUST. Chill it for at least three hours, but you can also chill it overnight if you're okay with waiting that long! This helps to control the spread of the cookies when they're baking, so they'll keep their shape and will stay nice and thick. Chilling the dough also helps to make rolling and cutting much easier.

Our second tip to make this soft sugar cookie recipe lies in how you roll them out. Whatever you do, keep them thick! If you roll them out too thin, they'll get hard and crispy.

The last tip is all about how long you bake them. DO NOT OVERBAKE THEM! If they get too done, all of that wonderful fluffiness will go out the window. As soon as you take them out of the oven, take them off of the lined cookie sheet and move them to a cooling rack so they don't keep cooking on the sheet.


HOW TO STORE SUGAR COOKIES

If you find yourself with leftover sugar cookies, then it's your lucky day! Store them in an airtight container on the counter for up to five days. Wanna know the best part? They freeze so amazingly well, too!

We like to make the cookies ahead of time and freeze them until we need them. This takes a little bit of pressure off if you're making them for a holiday or event. Just allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container in the freezer until you're ready for them! Sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to thaw when you need them, then get to icing!


OUR FAVORITE EASY SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE

heart-shaped cookies on a cooling rack, from Shelf Cooking

Grab your rolling pin and cookie cutters and get ready to make this ridiculously easy recipe. The hardest part will be waiting for them to chill long enough before you can get to rolling!

soft cut out sugar cookies on a platter, from Shelf Cooking

The BEST Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe

Love soft sugar cookies along with the type that you can cut out? This recipe is the best of both worlds!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Chill Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 38 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups sugar
  • 2 cups butter
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 4 tsp vanilla
  • 4 eggs
  • 7 cups flour
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Cream together sugar, butter, sour cream, and vanilla.
  • Add eggs and mix well.
  • Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined.
  • Cover the dough and refrigerate at least 3 hours, or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Roll dough out on a floured surface and cut into shapes using cookie cutters (or a ring from canning jar lids for circles).
  • Bake on a lined cookie sheet for 7-8 minutes.
  • When done baking, immediately move to a cooling rack.

Notes

These freeze really well! Allow to cool completely, then store in an airtight freezer bag. Thaw on the counter for about 30 minutes and you're good to go!
Keyword cream of tartar, flour, sour cream

Sounds easy enough, right? Let them cool and then get to icing! Make your own or grab some from the store – we won't judge!


What's your favorite way to cut out sugar cookies? Let us know in the comments below!

sugar cookies on a platter, from Shelf Cooking

Want some more great shelf cooking ideas?

Go bake some cookies!