Decadent Sugar Cookies Recipes

SOFT CUT-OUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using) and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be relatively soft. If the dough seems too soft and sticky for rolling, add 1 more Tablespoon of flour.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. 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.
• Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with flour. Place a piece of parchment on top. (This prevents sticking.) Place the 2nd rolled-out dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top dough piece from the refrigerator. If it's sticking to the bottom, run your hand under it to help remove it- see me do this in the video above. Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used. Repeat with 2nd piece of dough. (Note: It doesn't seem like a lot of dough, but you get a lot of cookies from the dough scraps you re-roll.)
• Arrange cookies on baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
• Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing or easy glaze icing. Feel free to tint either icing with gel food coloring. See post above for recommended decorating tools. No need to cover the decorated cookies as you wait for the icing to set. If it's helpful, decorate the cookies directly on a baking sheet so you can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help speed up the icing setting.
• Enjoy cookies right away or wait until the icing sets to serve them. Once the icing has set, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending. Plain or decorated cookies stay soft for about 5 days when covered tightly at room temperature. For longer storage, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
• Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it's ready.
• Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well combined after each addition.
• Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
• Add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is well combined. It will be thick. Do not over mix. Once it's well combined, use a rubber spatula to help it come together to form a more cohesive ball.
• Create 1 1/2 tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough. Gently roll into a ball, then roll each ball in the additional sugar to coat. Set the balls on the baking sheet. Press down on the tops of the balls just a bit (I used the bottom of a glass)
• Bake cookies for 7-8 minutes. Don't overbake. The cookies will be a little puffy when you take them out of the oven but will fall a bit as they cool.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

DECADENT CHOCOLATE CHIP BAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat butter in a large bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Add brown sugar and white sugar; mix until well blended. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
• Toss 2 cups plus 2 tablespoon flour, baking soda, and salt together using a fork in a small bowl. Add to the butter mixture in batches, mixing well after each addition. Fold in 1 3/4 cups chocolate chips. Spread batter into an ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 25 minutes. Spread remaining 3/4 cup chocolate chips on top. Return to the oven until chocolate chips are shiny, about 1 minute more. Remove from oven and spread melted chocolate over the top.

DECADENT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.
• beat in egg and vanilla.
• Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
• Divide dough into four portions; shape each into a 10 inch X 21/2 inch log.
• Place 4 inches apart on greased or foil lined baking sheets.
• Make a 1/2 inch depression down center of each log.
• Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
• Fill depressions with jam.
• Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until lightly browned.
• Cool for 2 minutes.
• Remove to a cutting board; cut into 3/4 inch slices.
• Place on wire racks.
• In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients until smooth; drizzle over warm cookies.
• Cool completely.

CHEWY SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended.
• Wrap dough with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls and roll the balls in remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

DECADENT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. *let the butter actually soften. do not use melted butter, the consistency of the dough is far easier to work with if you let the butter simply soften in a bowl outside of the refrigerator.