Super Soft Sugar Cookies are some of the best sugar cookies you’ll ever make. Using simple, classic ingredients, this sugar cookie recipe delivers tender, buttery cookies with excellent flavor and texture.
This soft sugar cookie recipe is straightforward and reliable. Below you’ll find tips for consistently perfect cookies, a simple buttercream frosting, ingredient notes, and step-by-step instructions so you can bake soft, tender cookies every time.
Softest Sugar Cookies EVER!
After testing many recipes, this version stands out for its ideal balance of wet to dry ingredients. The result is a cookie that’s soft, flavorful, and melts in your mouth. If you enjoy store-style soft sugar cookies, these are even better — not doughy, not dry, just perfectly tender. The included buttercream frosting complements the cookies beautifully.
How to make perfect sugar cookies every time
- Chill the dough. Sugar cookie dough is sticky at first. Chill it for at least two hours so it becomes easier to roll and cut. Avoid adding extra flour before chilling — that can make cookies dry and crumbly.
- Use softened, not melted, butter. Melted butter changes the texture and causes excessive spreading. Softened butter (room temperature) gives the best results.
- Cream butter and sugar properly. Beat the butter and sugar together for 2–3 minutes to create a light, even texture that improves the cookie’s tenderness.
- Preheat the oven. An oven at the correct temperature ensures the cookies bake evenly and hold their shape.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform size. A scoop helps keep cookies the same size so they bake consistently.
- Line your baking sheet. Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat prevents sticking and makes removing cookies effortless.
- Don’t overbake. The centers should remain soft. If the bottoms start to brown, remove the cookies; they’ll finish setting as they cool.
Ingredients for super soft sugar cookies
Sugar: 1 cup.
Butter: 1/2 cup, softened.
Egg: 1 large egg.
Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon.
Sour cream: 1/3 cup — this adds moisture and keeps the cookies tender.
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon to balance the sweetness.
Baking soda: 1/2 teaspoon for gentle leavening.
Flour: 2 cups all-purpose flour.
Buttercream frosting
Butter: 1/2 cup softened.
Powdered sugar: 4 cups.
Milk: 1/4 cup (adjust to reach desired consistency).
Vanilla extract: 2 teaspoons.
How to make the softest sugar cookies
Dough
In a large bowl, cream the sugar and softened butter together with an electric mixer for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, and sour cream and mix until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda, then add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat until smooth.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a towel and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to several hours. Chilled dough is easier to roll and will hold shape better while baking.
Bake
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll the chilled dough to your desired thickness, cut with cookie cutters, and place on a lined baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes. Let cookies cool on the sheet for 3–4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Frosting
In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, mixing until smooth and creamy. Add additional milk a teaspoon at a time if you need a thinner consistency.
Once cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the frosting and decorate as desired. Add sprinkles or other decorations for a festive touch. Serve and enjoy.
Super Soft Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 cup soft butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
-
Dough: Cream sugar and butter for 2–3 minutes. Add egg, vanilla, and sour cream. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda, then add to the wet ingredients and beat until smooth.
-
Cover and refrigerate the dough for several hours, at least 2 hours for best results.
-
Bake: Roll dough and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 375°F for about 10 minutes.
-
Frosting: Beat the butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla and beat until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add milk as needed for desired consistency. Spread frosting on cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles if desired. Serve and enjoy!
-
For festive decorations, try chocolate frosting, candy corn, or colored M&M candies for seasonal touches.
Notes
Cookies can be frozen up to 1 month if frosted, or 3–4 months unfrosted. Dough freezes well for 3–4 months in an airtight container.
Nutrition
|
Carbohydrates: 37 g
|
Protein: 2 g
Can you use salted butter for sugar cookies?
Yes — salted butter can be used. Some bakers prefer unsalted butter to control salt precisely, but salted butter works well and can enhance the cookie’s sweet-salty balance. If you use salted butter, you can reduce or omit the added salt to taste.
How do you keep sugar cookies soft?
Sour cream in the dough helps keep these cookies moist and tender for longer. Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container to preserve softness. Rolling the dough to an appropriate thickness also prevents them from becoming brittle after baking.
Can I freeze decorated sugar cookies?
Yes. Let the frosting set at room temperature for about an hour, then place the cookies on a baking sheet and flash freeze until firm (1–2 hours). Transfer to an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. Thaw before serving.
How long should I let these cookies cool?
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3–4 minutes before moving them to a wire rack. They’re still soft when hot, so a brief rest on the sheet prevents them from breaking. After a few minutes on a rack they are usually cool enough to enjoy—warm cookies are delightful.
Why did my cookies spread?
Excessive spreading usually means the dough was too warm. If kitchen temperature is high or your butter was overly soft, chill the shaped dough on a sheet in the freezer for 30–60 minutes before baking to firm it up and reduce spreading.
These cookies were decorated for Thanksgiving—simple seasonal decorations make them festive and fun.
Other sugar cookie ideas
- Buttermilk Sugar Cookies
- Watermelon Sugar Cookies
- Frosted Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Under the Sea Cookies
- Frosted Strawberry Cookies
- Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- Jello Sugar Cookies
- Butter Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Fall Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Popsicle Sugar Cookies
These Super Soft Sugar Cookies are tender, flavorful, and made with basic pantry ingredients. Follow the tips and steps above and you’ll have a reliable recipe for soft, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies every time.
