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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.
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.
As a result, your vanilla sugar cookies will have this nice rounded top:
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!
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
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
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 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.
Love all the sprinkles Julia. Going to have to try the tip of freezing the cookie dough to get a rounded shape. Pinning!
Wow, what wonderfully colourful cookies! We have sweets in the UK called jazzies, which are chocolate buttons covered in these sprinkles, so these cookies look just like them! Yum!
These are so cute!! I LOVE sprinkles so the though of sprinkle cookies...:) oh boy!
I love all the sprinkles you've been using. 🙂 They are SO darn cheery and always make me smile. 🙂
These are adorable Julia! I'll have to try freezing, 30 and refrigerating 30 the next time I make cookies. Love these sprinkles! 🙂
Looks delicious and simple!
Julia, you are sure having fun with these sprinkles-) Your cookies looks so cheerful and happy-) I think I am done with my baking-) Too much sugar-)) You have a wonderful evening!
Great job with these cookies - love how covered they are with rainbow fun!
LOVE how cute and colorful these pretty cookies are!!
They look fun and pretty!
Everything you put sprinkles on Iwannamake:)
...that will certainly put a smile on your face! I'm smiling. Thanks 🙂 ela
A classic holiday treat, Julia. They look so delightful and festive!
Cute, sweet and festive sugar cookies, Julia! Such beautiful photography, too. Will pin in the mornin'. (It's very late! Baked today and baking tomorrow.) You might want to update this recipe as to the quantity of sprinkles needed since the cookies are coated. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, girl!
Stacy, these do require quite a few sprinkles! I think I might be out of all my sprinkles now! 🙂
You're killing me with your recent adorable cookie recipes! I love sprinkles..these look so good and melt in your mouth...will try!