Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Cut out sugar cookies are one of the best Christmas sugar cookies recipe to make.Requiring just simple ingredients, these soft and chewy cookies are so much fun to make with the whole family!

Christmas sugar cookies are part of our family holiday season traditions. This Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie recipe is often the first thing I pull out of my recipe box to make. In fact, my kids think it’s the best sugar cookie recipe of all. The first time I made it with my boys’ help was when they were 2 and 4 years old!

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (1)

Why you’ll love these Christmas sugar cookies

This cut out out sugar cookie recipe is a great recipe that makes a soft sugar cookies that can be easily frozen if desired.

The tender dough mixes up quickly and doesn’t need to be chilled before rolling.

I usually bake the whole batch, let them cool, and then freeze them between layers of waxed paper in airtight containers.

Once it’s time to serve them, I thaw out the baked rolled sugar cookies and mix up a small batch of icing for the amount I want to serve. It’s easy and so delicious.

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (2)

How to Make Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookies

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.

Supplies Needed for Soft & Tasty Cut Out Sugar Cookies:

Large Bowl
Medium Bowl
Mixing Spoons
Pastry blender
Pastry cloth & rolling pin cover set (optional)
Rolling Pin
Cookie Cutters (whatever designs you choose) (I like Christmas trees, hearts, & mittens)
Cookie Sheet
Wire Cooling Racks

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (3)

Rolled Sugar Cookies Ingredients:

4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Butter
2 large Eggs, beaten
1/3 cup Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (4)

How to Make this Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe

(A printable recipe card is located at the end of this post for your convenience.)

You’ll mix up this simple recipe in 2 seperate bowls.

1. In the first large bowl, mix together:

4 cups flour,
1 tsp. baking powder, and
1/2 tsp. salt,
Cut in 1 cup butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives.

2. In another bowl, mix together:

2 beaten eggs
1/3 cup milk,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract,
1 1/2 cup sugar, and
1 teaspoon baking soda

4. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir gently.

5. Flip the dough onto a lightly floured pastry mat, and knead it gently ~ just so it sticks together.

6. Divide dough into 2 portions. Start with the first portion and roll dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness.

I use my Grandmother’s antique dough rolling pastry set (pictured above), but I’ve rounded up a whole list of top tools for dough rolling here.

Here is a video on tips for rolling out this sugar cookie dough:

7. Using your favorite cookie cutters, cut out whatever shapes you’d like. We have stars and trees at our house…

8. Place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. (Placing parchement paper on the baking sheets makes for easy clean up.)

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (12)

9. Bake cookies at 375 degrees for 5 minutes – or until very lightly golden brown.

Top Tip: The secret to soft and chewy old fashioned sugar cookies is to take them out before they start to brown. If they are too browned, they will turn crunchy!

10. Cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (13)

Once completely cooled, ice with your favorite homemade frosting.

Here is my quick and easy homemade frosting for sugar cookies. Or, you could try a fun idea using marbled icing.

Yield: About 4 dozen

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (14)

How should I store these cut out sugar cookies?

Store these sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. However, I feel better always refrigerating or freezing mine until I’m ready to use them.

To freeze sugar cookies, place them in an airtight container or heavy duty freezer bag, being careful to seperate each layer with wax paper or parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. Store in the freezer for up to six months.

For Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies:

You can use this same sugar cookie recipe for all seasons! Just use whatever shaped cookie cutter matches the holiday. Heart shaped cookie cutters with pink icing make darling Valentine’s Day cookies. Another option is to make marbled heart sugar cookies. They’re so pretty!

Need more help with Christmas cookie making?

I’ve put together a recipe collection of Christmas cookie recipes to help you save time & stress. Click the button below for all the details!

SAVE TIME & STRESS!

CHRISTMAS COOKIES RECIPES COLLECTION

With a mix of traditional & trendy Christmas cookies, this recipe collection with pictures can help bring back the fun (& simple) traditions of Christmas baking.

ON A SUP$R dUPER sALE NOW!!

For more Merry Christmas Season Recipes, you may want to check out these posts:

Christmas cookie recipes with pictures
Christmas Dipped Chocolates,
Swedish Tea Ring,
Overnight Buns,
Christmas Breakfast Recipes

More Christmas Cookies Recipes:

Never Fail Fudge
Make this condensed milk fudge recipe in the microwave in 5 minutes!
Chocolate Marshmallow Log
Cranberry Lemon Bars
Jam Sandwich Cookies (a shortcut recipe!)
75+ Christmas cookie recipes with pictures
Cute & quick Rudolph Cookies
Brownie Mix Cookies
Gluten-free cut out cookies

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe

Yield: 4 dozen

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This old fashioned rolled sugar cookie recipe is the best cut out cookie recipe! The dough is easy to work & the cookies are soft & YUMMY!

Ingredients

4 cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 cup Butter
2 Eggs, beaten
1/3 cup Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Instructions

Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender
In another bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and baking so
Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir gently
Flip the dough onto a lightly floured pastry mat, and knead it gently ~ just so it sticks together
Divide into 2 portions and roll each portion out to about 1/2 inch thick.
Using cookie cutters, cut out whatever shapes you’d like. We have stars and trees at our house…
Place on baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 5 minutes in an oven that has been preheated to 375 degrees.The secret to soft and chewy old fashioned sugar cookies is to take them out before they start to brown. If they are lightly browned, they will turn crunchy!
Cool completely on wire racks before icing.Step 10: Once completely cool, ice with buttercream icing with food coloring.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 48Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 100Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment or share a photo on Instaram and tag @harbourbreeze

Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to rolling out sugar cookie dough? ›

Place two equal-sized sheets of parchment paper underneath and above the dough, making a kind of dough sandwich. Then roll out with your rolling pin, keeping the dough sandwiched between the two parchment sheets. Once it has been rolled to the thickness you're going for, chill the dough for the requisite time.

Read On ›

What is the best thickness to roll sugar cookies? ›

With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.

See Details ›

Why are my rolled sugar cookies spreading? ›

However, if you over-cream it, the butter will melt too quickly and your cookies can spread. For the best results, he suggests placing butter and sugar in the bowl and creaming together just until the sugar is mixed in and the texture is uniform.

Keep Reading ›

Should you chill sugar cookie dough before rolling? ›

→ Follow this tip: Chill sugar cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. The dough will be so much easier to work with! It will roll out nicely, and if you're making cut-outs, chilled dough will help you get clean, sharp edges.

Explore More ›

How long do you chill sugar cookie dough? ›

It's not required for this sugar cookie recipe. Immediately baking after mixing will result in absolutely delicious cookies; however, if time permits, chilling the dough for 24-72 hours does result in cookies that are thicker, chewier, and more flavorful. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap before refrigerating.

Tell Me More ›

When making rolled cookies should they be rolled in a thick or thin sheet? ›

Thin enough to spread easily but not so thin that it just makes your cookies wet and runs off.

View Details ›

Why are my sugar cookies so puffy? ›

A spread with less fat, diet "margarines" or spreads in tubs contain have too much water. The water creates steam, causing the cookies to puff. Low protein flours, such as cake flour, absorb less water, leaving excess water to create steam, which causes the cookies to puff.

Learn More Now ›

What is the secret to thick cookies? ›

A low proportion of sugar relative to flour reduces spread, keeping the cookies thick. A high proportion of mix-ins helps thicken the dough. Blending chocolate chip styles creates a more dynamic flavor. Overnight refrigeration hydrates the flour, again helping the cookies stay thick.

Discover More ›

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

Keep Reading ›

Why do my sugar cookies taste like flour? ›

Generally that floury taste can be attributed to several things. Too much flour, bad recipe, improper mixing or underbaking, but the most common culprit is too much flour. Too much flour is most usually caused by scooping with the measuring cup and is probably the most common kitchen mistake made today.

Learn More ›

Why does sugar cookie dough need to rest? ›

The primary reason for a brief resting period to redistribute the liquid in the dough. While the dough sits, turning from loose and soft to drier and more scoopable, the flour is hydrating, yielding cookies that will bake and brown more evenly.

Can you roll out store bought sugar cookie dough? ›

Just roll the dough into one inch balls and then coat them in equal parts cinnamon and sugar. Then I press them gently with a glass before baking them according to the directions on the package. That's it!

What happens if my sugar cookie dough is too sticky? ›

When cookie dough is too sticky, you may have an imbalance of wet and dry ingredients. You can fix this by adding a teaspoon of flour or cornstarch at a time until your dough is just how you want. The added flour or cornstarch will absorb the excess liquid and reduce the dough's overall stickiness.

Know More ›

Why is my cookie dough too hard to roll out? ›

Tough – For rolled cookies, your dough can become “tough” by adding too much flour to your pin or counter before rolling it out. To avoid this, try using as little flour as possible while preparing to roll your dough.