Easy Sugar Cookies – ah, this recipe brings me back! When I first started NoobRecipes, baking was honestly kind of a struggle for me. I remember trying to make holiday cookies and ending up with flat, hard discs that could break a tooth. It was so frustrating! I wanted to share delicious homemade treats with everyone, but felt like I was failing before I even started. Then, I stumbled upon this gem of a sugar cookie recipe. It uses just basic ingredients you probably already have, and the best part? No chilling required! Seriously, you can mix them up and bake them almost immediately. This recipe completely changed my perspective and showed me that amazing, soft, chewy cookies are totally achievable, even for absolute beginners. That’s exactly why I’m so excited to share it with you here on NoobRecipes – my goal is always to make baking easy and fun for everyone!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Sugar Cookies Recipe
Honestly, this sugar cookie recipe is just fantastic. It takes all the guesswork out of baking, which is exactly what we’re all about here at NoobRecipes. You’ll love how:
- It’s absolutely perfect for beginners – no fancy techniques needed!
- You get those wonderfully soft and chewy textures every single time. Trust me.
- It uses those basic ingredients you probably already have hanging around your kitchen.
- The no chill dough is a total game-changer, making the whole process super quick and efficient.
- They’re ideal for any occasion, whether it’s a quiet afternoon treat or a big batch of holiday cookies.
Ingredients for Your Easy Sugar Cookies
Alright, let’s get to what you’ll need for these amazing easy sugar cookies. The best part is, you probably have most of this stuff in your pantry already! We’re sticking to the basics here, like always. Make sure your butter is at a cool room temperature – not melted, but soft enough to leave an indent when you poke it. Same goes for your egg and egg yolk; letting them sit out for a bit helps everything mix together beautifully. Trust me, using room temperature ingredients makes a world of difference in getting that perfect soft and chewy texture instead of sad, flat cookies. Here’s the rundown:
| All-purpose flour | 2 3/4 cups | Spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off – don’t scoop directly from the bag! |
| Baking soda | 1 teaspoon | |
| Salt | 3/4 teaspoon | |
| Baking powder | 1/2 teaspoon | |
| Unsalted butter | 1 cup | Make sure it’s at a cool room temperature. |
| Granulated sugar | 1 3/4 cups | This is for the cookie dough itself. |
| Large egg | 1 | At room temperature. |
| Large egg yolk | 1 | Just the yolk, also at room temperature. This is a little secret for extra chewiness! |
| Pure vanilla extract | 1 tablespoon | Use the good stuff! |
| Granulated sugar | 1/2 cup | This extra sugar is for rolling the cookie dough balls in before baking. Yum! |
Making Your Easy Sugar Cookies: Step-by-Step
Alright, let’s get these easy sugar cookies into the oven! It’s really not complicated at all, and you’ll be so happy you made them from scratch. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have perfect cookies every time.
Preparing Your Dry Ingredients
First things first, grab a medium bowl. We’re going to whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Whisking them together really well ensures that all those leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour. This means your cookies will rise and bake evenly, which is super important!
Creaming Butter and Sugar for the Perfect Texture
Now, grab your stand mixer – or a hand mixer works just fine too! Put your cool room temperature butter in the bowl and beat it on medium speed for about a minute until it’s nice and smooth. Then, gradually add in the 1 ¾ cups of granulated sugar. You want to beat this mixture until it’s really light and fluffy, almost like pale yellow whipped cream. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes. Don’t forget to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula every now and then so everything gets mixed in properly!
Incorporating Wet Ingredients for Your Easy Sugar Cookies
Once your butter and sugar are perfectly creamed, it’s time to add the wet ingredients. Add in your egg, the extra egg yolk (this is key for chewiness!), and that tablespoon of pure vanilla extract. Mix everything on low speed until it’s just combined. We don’t want to overmix here, just get it incorporated nicely.
Bringing the Dough Together
Now we’ll add those dry ingredients we whisked up earlier. Add them to the wet ingredients in the mixer and mix on low speed. It might look a little crumbly at first, and that’s totally okay! Just keep mixing, and you’ll see it all start to come together into a nice, cohesive dough. It should be soft but not sticky.
Shaping and Rolling Your Classic Sugar Cookies
Get a small bowl and put that remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar in it. This is for rolling! Now, take about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it between your hands to form a nice, smooth ball. Once you have your ball, roll it all over in the sugar until it’s nicely coated. Place the sugared balls onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each one so they have room to spread out.

Baking Your Soft Sugar Cookies to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and make sure your baking sheet is lined with parchment paper or a Silpat mat. Pop those beautiful sugar cookie dough balls into the oven. They’ll need about 10 to 14 minutes. You’re looking for the bottoms to be a light golden brown and for the cookies to start cracking a bit on top. Every oven is different, so check them early! The most important thing is not to overbake them, or they won’t be soft and chewy. For more baking tips, check out this guide to ingredient substitution.
Cooling Your Chewy Sugar Cookies
Once they look perfect, take the baking sheet out of the oven. Let the cookies cool right there on the sheet for about 5 minutes. This is important because they’re still a bit delicate when hot. After those 5 minutes, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This second cooling step helps them set up perfectly and get that lovely chewy texture.
Tips for Baking Perfect Easy Sugar Cookies
Okay, so you’ve made the dough, rolled them in sugar, and they’re ready for the oven! To make sure these easy sugar cookies turn out absolutely perfect every single time, here are a few little tricks I’ve learned:
- Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Seriously, don’t skip this! Make sure your butter, egg, and egg yolk are at room temperature. It helps everything blend together so much better, creating that smooth dough we want for our classic sugar cookies.
- Don’t Overmix! This is a big one. Once you add the dry ingredients, mix until they’re *just* combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten too much, which leads to tough cookies, and we definitely want soft and chewy here.
- Measure Your Flour Right: Scooping flour directly from the bag can pack it in, making your cookies dry. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. It makes a difference!
- Give Them Space: When you place your dough balls on the baking sheet, make sure they have a good 2 inches between them. They spread out as they bake, and you don’t want them all stuck together.
- Know Your Oven: Ovens can be quirky! If you know yours runs a little hot or cool, adjust the baking time accordingly. Checking them a minute or two early is always a good idea to avoid baking them too long, which is the enemy of soft cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions about Easy Sugar Cookies
Got questions about these delightful little cookies? I’ve got answers! Making these easy sugar cookies is pretty straightforward, but sometimes little things pop up. Here are some of the most common questions I get:
Can I make these sugar cookies ahead of time?
Oh, absolutely! You can totally make the dough ahead of time. Just wrap it up good in plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit out for about 15-20 minutes to soften up a bit before rolling and baking. Baked cookies? Those are great for freezing too! Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. They reheat surprisingly well, though honestly, they’re pretty darn good at room temp!
What makes these sugar cookies soft and chewy?
It’s a few things working together! That extra egg yolk in the dough is a little secret weapon for extra chewiness. Also, using cool room temperature butter and not overmixing the dough helps keep them tender. The biggest tip, though? Don’t overbake them! Pull them out when the edges are just lightly golden and the centers still look a tiny bit soft. They’ll continue to set up as they cool, giving you that perfect soft and chewy texture.
Can I add decorations to these cookies?
You sure can! These classic sugar cookies are a fantastic base for decorating. The best time to add sprinkles or frosting is after the cookies have cooled completely. If you try to decorate them while they’re warm, your frosting will melt right off! They’re also great for rolling in colored sugar before baking for a festive look, especially for holiday cookies. For more decorating ideas, check out this guide to cookie decorating.
What if my dough seems too crumbly for my Easy Sugar Cookies?
Don’t panic! It’s totally normal for the dough to look a little crumbly right after you add the dry ingredients. Just keep mixing on low speed, and you’ll see it all magically come together. If, after a minute or two of mixing, it still seems excessively dry and won’t form a ball, you can add just a tiny splash, like half a teaspoon, of milk or water. Mix again until it just comes together. You want a soft dough, not a sticky one!
Storing and Reheating Your Easy Sugar Cookies
Got leftovers? Lucky you! These easy sugar cookies are pretty amazing at room temperature, but if you want to keep them fresh for a few days, here’s how:
| Storage Method | Duration | Notes |
| Airtight Container | Up to 3 days | Just pop them in a container at room temperature. They stay nice and soft! |
| Freezer Bag/Container | Up to 3 months | Make sure they’re totally cool first, then pack them away. Perfect for a cookie craving emergency! |
| Reheating | N/A | Honestly, I don’t usually reheat these. They’re best enjoyed fresh or at room temp. If you really want to, a few seconds in the microwave might work, but they can get a little chewy. |
Nutritional Information (Estimate)
Just a heads-up, these numbers are estimates and can change a bit depending on the exact ingredients and brands you use. We’re aiming for a ballpark figure here, but rest assured, these easy sugar cookies are worth every little bit!
| Nutrient | Amount (per cookie) |
| Calories | 150 kcal |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 18 g |
| Sugar | 15 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Sodium | 70 mg |
| Cholesterol | 30 mg |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Trans Fat | 0 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 3 g |
Share Your Easy Sugar Cookies Creations!
I absolutely LOVE seeing your bakes! When you make these easy sugar cookies, please, please, please leave a comment below and let me know what you thought. Did they turn out soft and chewy? Were they a hit with your family? And if you snap any pictures of your amazing cookies, tag me on social media! Seeing your creations makes my day and helps other beginner bakers feel confident trying out new recipes. Happy baking!
Print
Amazing 1 Bowl Easy Sugar Cookies
- Total Time: 25-29 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how to make soft and chewy sugar cookies with this easy recipe. Perfect for beginners, these cookies require no chilling and use basic ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, for rolling cookies in
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar (1 ¾ cups) and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stop once and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and continue mixing.
- Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. The dough might look a little crumbly at first, but it will come together and be just fine.
- Put the remaining sugar in a small bowl. Form the dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons per cookie. Roll each ball in the sugar until well coated. Place on the prepared baking sheet, about 2-inches apart.
- Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until the bottoms are light golden brown and the cookies start to crack. Check early, every oven is different. Don’t over bake or the cookies won’t be soft and chewy.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and cool completely.
- Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Optionally, freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or container.
Notes
- These cookies are best stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American