Name: Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Western
Ingredients: 225g / 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (or use salted, skip salt); 1 cup caster/superfine sugar (granulated/ordinary white sugar ok too); 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 large egg (55-60g / 1.9-2oz); 3 cups plain/all-purpose flour; 3/4 tsp baking powder; 3/4 tsp salt; Icing for Sugar Cookies (optional); Melted chocolate for dipping (optional); Icing sugar and silver balls for decoration (optional)

There’s nothing quite like the warm, comforting smell of freshly baked sugar cookies filling your kitchen. This Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe is a timeless classic that’s crisp at the edges and tender in the middle, with a beautiful vanilla aroma that makes every bite a little celebration. Let me show you how easy it is to create these sweet, buttery delights.

The image shows a collection of Christmas-themed cookies on a white marbled texture. The cookies are decorated with smooth icing in shapes like stars, Christmas trees, candy canes, and snowflakes. One cookie is shaped like a snowflake and has a white icing base with green icing details creating a snowflake pattern on top. Another cookie shaped like a Christmas tree is covered in green icing with white icing lines forming garlands and small red and silver round candies as decorations. Candy cane cookies have a white icing base with red stripes evenly spaced across. Star-shaped cookies include one with red icing topped with white icing lines and small white sugar crystals. The icing layers are smooth and slightly glossy, sitting on a golden-brown cookie base. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made plenty of sugar cookie recipes over the years, but this one stands out for its perfect balance of buttery richness and that unmistakable vanilla sweetness. It’s simple enough for a weekday treat but elegant enough for holidays or gifts.

Classic Flavor: The vanilla really shines through, making these cookies irresistibly fragrant and tasty.
Perfect Texture: They have crisp edges that give way to a soft, melt-in-your-mouth center every time.
Easy to Customize: You can easily dress them up with icing, chocolate, or simple dustings of sugar.
Reliable for Any Occasion: From casual coffee breaks to festive celebrations, these cookies fit right in.

The image shows a baking tray full of Christmas-themed sugar cookies with detailed icing. There are three different shapes: snowflakes, candy canes, and stars. The snowflakes are iced with a white base and decorated with thin red or green lines and dots to create a delicate pattern. The candy cane cookies have a white base with red stripes running diagonally along the shape. The star cookies have a green or red base with white icing applied in a zigzag pattern on top. The tray is placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays its part beautifully in this Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe. From the richness of butter to the fluffiness added by baking powder — I’ll walk you through why every one is important and how to make smart choices at the store.

Flat lay of a small mound of softened pale yellow unsalted butter, a neat pile of fine white caster sugar, a single large brown egg with a clean uncracked shell, a modest heap of smooth white all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of clear golden vanilla extract, a pinch of fine white salt in a tiny white bowl, a small white bowl holding white baking powder, all arranged symmetrically in perfect proportions on a clean white ceramic plate, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Using softened unsalted butter lets you control the saltiness, but if you prefer salted butter, just skip extra salt. It adds that melt-in-your-mouth richness that makes the cookies tender.
Caster (Superfine) Sugar: This dissolves quickly, giving a smooth, tender crumb. You can swap granulated sugar if needed, though the texture might be a tiny bit crunchier.
Vanilla Extract: The star flavor here – a good quality pure vanilla extract really makes the difference, not just any artificial flavor.
Egg: Binds everything together, adding moisture and richness for that classic cookie softness.
All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of your dough; sifted to avoid clumps and to keep your cookies light.
Baking Powder: Gives just the right lift without making cookies cakey — crucial for that perfect texture.
Salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances flavors, but don’t overdo it!

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe is how adaptable it is. Personally, I love to switch things up depending on the season or how much time I have, and you’ll enjoy experimenting too.

Variation - Thinner or Thicker Cookies: I usually roll my dough about ⅛ inch thick for crispier cookies, but cozy evenings call for a ¼ inch thickness—soft and chewy is a personal favorite!
Flavor Boost: Sometimes I add a pinch of cinnamon or a splash of almond extract for a little twist. It adds warmth without overpowering the vanilla.
Decorations: For holidays, I love dipping half the cookie in melted chocolate or icing them with vibrant colors — it’s such a fun activity with the kids!
Dietary Tweaks: Using dairy-free butter substitutes works well if you’re avoiding dairy, just skip the extra salt if your substitute is salted.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugar

Start by beating the softened butter and caster sugar together in a large bowl until it turns creamy and light – usually about a minute on medium speed. This step is crucial because it helps create that lovely tender crumb texture inside your cookies. I find using a stand mixer makes this effortless, but a hand mixer works great too – just don’t skip this step!

Step 2: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Add in the egg and vanilla extract, then beat again until everything’s fully combined. I like to scrape down the sides of the bowl here to make sure it’s even — it helps with even baking and smooth dough.

Step 3: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

Now mix in your flour, baking powder, and salt. Start slowly so the flour doesn’t puff everywhere, then increase speed just until it’s combined. The dough might look a little clumpy, and that’s totally fine – don’t overmix or the cookies could turn tough.

Step 4: Shape and Chill the Dough

Dust your countertop with flour before turning the dough out. Pat it together gently, divide into two discs, and then roll out to your desired thickness — thin for crisp cookies, thicker for soft and chewy. If the dough feels sticky, sprinkle a little more flour, but be careful not to add too much. I usually chill any leftover dough in the fridge; it holds up beautifully and makes rolling easier next time.

Step 5: Cut and Bake

Use cookie cutters to press out your shapes. I always transfer the cookies carefully to parchment-lined trays using a thin spatula or knife to keep their edges pristine. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 10 minutes, rotating the trays halfway to ensure even baking. You want the tops pale golden, with edges just turning that delicate gold—this timing is key for perfect texture.

Step 6: Cooling and Decorating

Let the cookies cool completely on the trays; they continue to set and firm up after coming out of the oven. Whether you choose to ice, dip in chocolate, dust with icing sugar, or leave them plain, they’re delicious any way you serve them. Personally, I adore a simple dusting of sugar – sometimes less is truly more!

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned that some small tweaks make a huge difference when baking vanilla sugar cookies. These tips help you avoid common pitfalls and get bakery-quality results at home.

Softened Butter, Not Melted: Make sure your butter is soft but not melted. Melted butter makes overly flat cookies and changes texture.
Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined. Overworking leads to tough cookies.
Switch Your Baking Trays: If baking multiple trays, swap them halfway through. This balances oven heat and prevents uneven browning.
Roll Evenly: Rolling to consistent thickness helps cookies bake uniformly — I use a ruler sometimes to check thickness!

How to Serve Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe

vanilla sugar cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love dusting the cookies with powdered sugar for a simple, snowy look that’s perfect during winter. When I want to get fancy, melted chocolate drizzled or dipped onto half the cookie never fails to impress guests. Silver dragées add a festive sparkle, especially around the holidays.

Side Dishes

These vanilla sugar cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of coffee or tea—you can’t go wrong there! For a special treat, serve with homemade hot cocoa topped with whipped cream or marshmallows for a cozy afternoon snack.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I like to arrange these cookies on a tiered cake stand with sprigs of fresh rosemary or holly for a festive touch. Another fun idea is wrapping small stacks in parchment tied with twine for thoughtful homemade gifts. Nothing beats the smile when someone unwraps a box of lovingly baked vanilla sugar cookies!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and tasty for about a week, though I have to admit I rarely get that far without sneaking a few! Just keep them away from heat and moisture to maintain their crispness and flavor.

Freezing

Freezing is a lifesaver for me when I bake in bulk. I either freeze the dough discs wrapped tightly in plastic or the baked cookies in layers separated by parchment. Thaw cookies at room temperature to keep them tender and fresh-tasting—perfect for baking ahead of holiday parties.

Reheating

If you want that fresh-baked warmth without baking more dough, I pop cookies in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-7 minutes. This revives that crisp edge and soft center beautifully but watch closely to avoid overbaking.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, you can use salted butter. Just remember to skip adding extra salt since salted butter already contains salt. This helps keep the overall flavor balanced.

How thick should I roll the dough?

It depends on your preference! Rolling to about ⅛ inch (0.3 cm) results in crisper cookies, while ¼ inch (0.6 cm) makes them softer and chewier. I recommend trying both to see which you like best.

Can I decorate these vanilla sugar cookies with icing?

Absolutely! This recipe is perfect for decorating with icing, melted chocolate, or even sprinkles. Just make sure cookies are completely cooled before decorating to avoid melting your icing.

How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

To keep cookies from spreading excessively, make sure your butter is softened but not melted, and chill the dough if the kitchen is warm. Also, using parchment paper helps cookies bake evenly without sticking.

Final Thoughts

This Vanilla Sugar Cookies Recipe has been my go-to for everything from casual afternoon treats to festive celebrations. Its simplicity and reliability mean you can whip up a batch any time, and the results never disappoint. I hope you enjoy baking and sharing them as much as I do — they truly are a little bit of happiness baked into every bite.