The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1Make the Sugar Cookies:
2. 2Cream together butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer.
3. 3Add vanilla and eggs and beat until combined.
4. 4Add flour, baking powder and salt and beat until combined.
5. 5Divide dough into two equal portions.
6. 6Shape each piece of dough into a round, flat disc and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
7. 7Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
8. 8Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
9. 9Line two to four large baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
10. 10Remove one sugar cookie dough disc from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to soften slightly.
11. 11Place sugar cookie dough on a floured surface and roll to ½” or ¼” thickness (thicker = softer cookies).
12. 12Use your favorite cookie cutter shapes and cut out the dough and place them 1” apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
13. 13Repeat until all the dough is used. You can gather and re-roll the dough scraps two additional times (3 times total).
14. 14Decorate With Sprinkles Only (No Frosting)
15. 15Use a pastry brush and brush the cookies with a little bit of milk or cream. Then decorate with sprinkles, which will stick to the milk/cream.
16. 16Bake
17. 17Bake in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes or until cookies are puffed and just set around the edges.
18. 18Remove and let sit on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
19. 19Repeat with second disc of dough.
20. 20Make the sugar cookie frosting:
21. 21Combine all frosting ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
22. 22Start with 2 TBS milk and increase until your desired consistency is achieved.
23. 23If using food coloring, separate frosting into smaller bowls and add food coloring to your liking.
24. 24Place each color in a disposable piping bag fitted with your tip of choice.
25. 25Once cookies are completely cooled, decorate cookies.
26. 26Let decorated cookies sit at room temperature for at least 3 hours, or until the frosting is completely hardened. Chilling them in the refrigerator helps speed up the setting process.
27. 27Store in an airtight container or on a plate wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature or in the refrigerator.