Go Back

Best Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing – Perfect for Fall Baking Ideas

This foolproof Sugar Cookies recipe delivers soft, chewy, bakery-quality cookies every time. Perfect for cut-outs, decorating, or classic treats, these easy homemade sugar cookies are ideal for holidays or everyday baking.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 24 –36 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Sweet Cream Salted Butter softened
  • 2 cups Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract
  • 4 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 6 cups All-Purpose Flour
Substitutions:
  • Use unsalted butter + 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Replace half the sugar with coconut sugar for a caramel flavor.
  • Use flax eggs for vegan cookies 1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg.
  • Substitute gluten-free 1:1 flour blend for gluten-free cookies.

Method
 

  1. In a mixer, cream together butter and sugar for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
  2. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat for 3 minutes until fully combined.
  3. Mix in baking powder until evenly distributed.
  4. Add flour in 2-cup increments, mixing just until combined. If dough is dry, add a teaspoon of vanilla or milk.
  5. Chill dough for 30–60 minutes to prevent spreading.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough to 3/8-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters.
  7. Bake 6–10 minutes until edges are just set. Cool on sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to rack.

Notes

Chilling dough is key for perfect shapes. Avoid overmixing to maintain softness. For decorating, let cookies cool completely before adding icing or sprinkles.