Perfect Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe for Easy Homemade Treats
These soft and chewy sugar cookies are a nostalgic, comforting treat with a perfect balance of flavor and texture. Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients, they are ideal for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¾ cups (345 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla bean paste
- ¼ cup (60 grams) sour cream
- Optional: Sprinkles or sanding sugar for decorating before baking
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup (226g) softened unsalted butter with 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in 2 large eggs, one at a time, then mix in 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste until fully combined.
- Stir in ¼ cup (60g) sour cream until fully blended.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in batches, mixing on low speed just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours).
- Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with sanding sugar or sprinkles if desired.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until edges are just starting to turn golden but centers still look soft.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
Chilling the dough is essential to control spread and enhance flavor. Use room temperature eggs and butter for best results. Avoid overmixing the dough to keep cookies soft. If cookies spread too much, chill dough longer or reduce butter slightly. Cookies may look underbaked in the center when removed from oven; they will firm up as they cool.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 2
Keywords: sugar cookies, soft cookies, chewy cookies, vanilla sugar cookies, easy cookies, homemade treats, holiday cookies