You know what they say, the best sugar cookies are the ones you have in front of you. But seriously, at this moment in time I no longer have a favorite sugar cookie recipe. There are just so many good ones. I wish I had just one good one I could truly call the best.
Some Really Good Sugar Cookie Recipes
Since I didn't give you "the best" I'll send along some recommendations. I'm excluding cut-outs and butter cookies and linking only to American style round, crunchy and/or soft sweet sugar cookies. I'm also excluding Snickerdoodles or any fine cinnamon sugar type cookies. If I weren't, I'd suggest the Mrs. Fields' Cinnamon Sugar.
First, there are the Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies These were originally developed by America's Test Kitchen. They used a technique I've always liked which is combining oil and butter, but they also ramp/amp up the softness with a little cream cheese.
A reader favorite would be Secret Ingredient Sugar Cookies. The secret ingredient is instant pudding mix. Isn't it always? But seriously, they are pretty good cookies.
Some really special sugar cookies are Swedish Dream Cookies. They have the lightest texture you can imagine, but you have to hunt down baker's ammonia. Luckily hunt down just means click a button.
And I've always really liked these cookies from Fine Cooking, which are chewy. Just don't overbake!
Some Cut-Out Cookie Recipes
I said I wasn't including cut-outs, but here they are anyway.
In the Sugar Cookies category, you will see there is one post without a photo, and the post just links to Lisa's page where she posted Ethel's Sugar Cookies, an old one from Betty Crocker. You may want to just stop here and make Ethel's, based on Lisa's notes.
Lazy Mom's Sugar Cookies. These are cut-outs made with melted butter, therefore they are easy and don't require an electric mixer. I've always loved this recipe for its convenience.
Wondra Flour Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs -- Old me complicating things by using different flour. The dough was dry, but the cookies were fantastic!
Cookies on a Stick. Stick optional -- My most trusted recipe for thick and sturdy sugar cookies. Maybe one day I'll update that page.
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs -- Another one I've made multiple times (not lately).
The Rochester Gas and Electric Recipe is great if you like cookies with some bite to them. The recipe requires shortening. I sure wish they'd hurry up and develop a healthy shortening that works as well as old trans-fatty Crisco did. But Crisco is still good. I'm old now as I update this and I've tried a lot of shortening. Crisco really is the best as far as flavor goes.
Here's a recipe I never updated, but these coconut sugar cookie cut outs have an easy-to-work-with dough and a subtle coconut flavor.
[email protected] says
The link to this recipe gives me a 404/not found. I'd love to try it--can you put the recipe in the comment box. I really just need the ingredients and the baking time. I can figure out how to put it together. thanks!
Kimberly says
Anna,
thank you for the information, it was so helpful. I'm def. going to give this a try this year.
Anna says
Kim, those are great questions!
What we did was auction off a certificate saying the winner would get 2 dozen cookies delivered every month for 4 months. The certificate included contact info and the winner could get the cookies on any day (provided I was in town) or for any even she/he wanted. My winner just told me to bring her whatever, whenever (evenings) and we discussed some of her favorites. As for delivery, I put my cookies in brown sacks from Paper Mart. These are the BEST. I love these little bags because they are functional and not unattractive. They're not flashy, but they look good and they keep the cookies fresh.
http://www.papermart.com/Product%20Pages/Product.aspx?GroupID=14726&SubGroupID=14727&ParentGroupID=18899#14727
But you can package things however you want. At one point, the Target Dollar Stop at these cute $1.00 canvas bags and I put a bunch of the filled brown bags in the canvas sack and delivered the cookies in that.
Kimberly says
Hi,
These cookies look great, but I love the idea of cookie of the month, I love to bake and this would make a great gift idea if the opportunities arises this year with my two ds school. Can I ask a few questions:
How many cookies did you bring? Was is a dozen or two?
How did you bring them over? Reusable tins or just wrapped in saran wrap?
Did the receivers after getting to know them were able to make requests? did you try maybe a quick bread one month in place of cookies?
I love to bake it's my one passion and hopefully one day a career, and I just love this idea...
Thanks,
Kim
Sue says
Hi Anna!
I just stopped by and looked again at that photo. Are the milk glass and composition book really small or are those cookies huge? Just wondering. I think the recipe says they're abut 5 inch cookies but yours look bigger.
I just did a bunch of data entry at my volunteer job. Maybe my brain is playing tricks on me.
Danielle says
I'm a sucker for sugar cookies and these look great. Would you be willing to post your tweaked version with the cane juice crystals? Thanks!
Susan says
Hi, any updates on those compost cookies ?? I keep checking !!
dawn says
I haven't made sugar cookies in years, not even this past christimas. If you say this one is the best (for now) then I believe you.
Emily says
Sugar cookies are the BEST. These look excellent!
PlumGaga says
I also offered a cookie-of-the-month at an auction and delivered my third batch -- classic chocolate chips -- this morning! So far, only complements.
Katrina says
They look like a perfect sugar cookie.
Sue says
I have been tempted to try those cookies so I'm glad to hear you like them.
Judy says
I like you site's new look. Very crisp and bright.
VeggieGirl says
They sound fabulous, for sure!