Sugar Cookies

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Show: Good EatsEpisode: The Cookie Clause

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (435)

Cook Time:
9 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
about 3 dozen-2 1/2 inch

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: 2 hr 0 min
Cook: 9 min
Total:: 2 hr 24 min

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Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon milk
Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough

Directions

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Sugar Cookies
Bethany Auburn, AL 11-18-2009
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A Family Tradition
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

My husband and I make these every Christmas. I've never tried the icing because we decorate our cookies with colored sugars... prior to baking. They're just sweet enough and absolutely wonderful!Read more
recipe Sugar Cookies
Elizabeth Woodbourne, NY 11-07-2009
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This is the best recipe for sugar cookie cutouts!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have tried so many sugar cookie recipes for cutouts and always end up with cookies that spread and look like a mess. These... cookies retain their shape and taste really good!Read more
recipe Sugar Cookies
Linda Rochester, NY 11-01-2009
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Not Bad
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

After seeing totally different reviews on this recipe I decided to try it. I found it to be average--definitely not the best... sugar cookie I ever tasted. The flavor was lacking somewhat even though I did add vanilla to it. The dough was easy to handle after chilling and rolled out well. I guess it just depends on individual taste on what people like. Read more
recipe Sugar Cookies
Amanda Shelby Twp, MI 10-28-2009
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delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made these for my daughter's birthday and several of the guests thought they tasted awesome- best sugar cookie they had... ever had. My mom agreed as well, and she has made a lot of cookies. I think the secret is the confectioners sugar; they didn't taste too much like flour or too tough. Perfect!Read more
recipe Sugar Cookies
Lisa Perry, MI 10-25-2009
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Sinking cookies
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this cookies today for the first time and I love the flavor but they kept sinking. Am I missing something? How do I... stop them from sinking?Read more
recipe Sugar Cookies
Ann Hamilton, OH 10-24-2009
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Just like I remember!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe was excellent! The cookies taste just like I remember when I was a child. The secret is in the icing! Thanks. ... AnnRead more