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    Vanilla Sugar Cookies

    Published: Dec 12, 2013 / 60 Comments

    33.5K shares
    • Facebook605
    Recipe Print

    Vanilla Sugar Cookies - these basic cookies are a must for Christmas or other festive event, such as birthday or anniversary. Make them festive by adding sprinkles! Also, read my note below for how to make sure that these vanilla sugar cookies have a perfect texture and are not dry.

    Vanilla sugar cookies with sprinkles

    So, are you looking for a simple, delicious, and festive Holiday cookie recipe that does not involve a lot of time and effort but still looks like a true Christmas cookie?   Then, try these perfectly shaped vanilla sugar cookies, decorated with colorful sprinkles!  My other favorite simple Christmas cookie recipes are these almond shortbread cookies and pecan shortbread cookies.

    Do you notice this really cute, rounded (not flat) shape of these cookies? It makes them very attractive, and the secret to achieving such rounded cookie top is to roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls (then roll in sprinkles), freeze them for 30 min, then refrigerate for 30 min and only then do you bake the cookies.

    Vanilla sugar cookies with sprinkles

    As a result, your vanilla sugar cookies will have this nice rounded top:

    Vanilla sugar cookies with sprinkles

    Rolling the cookies generously in sprinkles creates a festive look without much effort. This is a perfect vanilla sugar cookie recipe if you don't have time to frost them or otherwise decorate them.

    How to avoid dry cookie dough?

    Is your cookie dough too dry and the cookies crumble after baking? Here is how to make sure it doesn't happen.

    It usually happens because you have used too much flour. So, let's make sure we measure the flour the right way.  The proper way to measure flour using measuring cups is to aerate it first.

    • Aerate the flour by sifting it using a strainer.

    or

    • Aerate the flour by fluffing it up and whisking it well, then spooning it into the measuring cup, then carefully removing any excess flour with a knife. If you just stick that measuring cup in the bag of flour and scoop some out, you will get a lot more flour than what the recipe calls for. Do aerate the flour, or you will end up with dry cookie dough!

    Vanilla sugar cookies with sprinkles

    I am usually very short on time so rolling these Christmas cookies in sprinkles works for me as a perfect way to dress them up!

    I love this recipe and will definitely be making these vanilla sugar cookies again!

    vanilla sugar cookies with sprinkles
    4.94 from 16 votes

    Vanilla Sugar Cookies

    Perfectly shaped vanilla sugar cookies, decorated with colorful sprinkles.  These are easy to make and they look super festive for Christmas and other holidays without much effort. 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 40 cookies
    Calories per serving 96 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups all-purpose flour , sifted or aerated – see my notes below
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 8 oz unsalted butter (226 grams), room temperature (let the butter from refrigerator sit on the counter for about an hour or so), not melted but softened
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure

    Instructions 

    • In a medium bowl, combine together flour and salt and mix.
    • In a separate bowl, using electric mixer, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light in color and fluffy. Add an egg and vanilla – continue beating for a couple minutes. Turn off the electric mixer, add flour-salt mixture and then continue beating on low speed until well-combined but without over mixing.
    • Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Roll these cookie balls in sprinkles. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Freeze until firm, for about 30 minutes.
    • Bake at 350 degrees F in the preheated oven for 14 minutes. Do not over-bake. Remove from the oven, and transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    Recipe is adapted from Martha Stewart
    Important note about properly measuring flour using measuring cups:
    The proper way to measure flour using measuring cups is to aerate it first. This is done either by sifting flour, or aerating it by fluffing it up and whisking it well, then spooning it into the measuring cup, then carefully removing any excess flour with a knife. If you just stick that measuring cup in the bag of flour and scoop some out, you will get a lot more flour than what the recipe calls for. Do aerate the flour, or you will end up with dry dough!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Vanilla Sugar Cookies
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    96
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    4
    g
    6
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    16
    mg
    5
    %
    Sodium
     
    16
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    12
    mg
    0
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    12
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    150
    IU
    3
    %
    Calcium
     
    3
    mg
    0
    %
    Iron
     
    0.5
    mg
    3
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword christmas sugar cookies, cookies with sprinkles, vanilla sugar cookies
    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      January 03, 2023 at 2:58 pm

      Worst sugar cookies ever…is the recipe missing a stick of butter…very dry and hard to mix..didn’t spread…hard nuggets..ate them anyway

      Reply
    2. Eddie Reads

      April 11, 2021 at 4:49 pm

      I made these for my sisters daughter who is going through a y divorce. She actually just got sent the divorce papers yesterday and SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE WAS GOING TO SEND THEM! So I baked her these cookies to help her get through her divorce so that not everything in her life feels bitter, because I have also gone through divorce several times due to legal reasons which I won't mention in this comment. Anyway the sugar cookies took longer to cook than stated in the recipe.

      Reply
    3. Hailey

      June 18, 2020 at 5:44 pm

      They were alright, mine didn’t have much flavor. maybe it’s just because I prefer chocolate though. but great for people who only like vanilla/sugar flavored things

      Reply
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