Soft Sugar Cookies (Easy & Bakery Style)
These soft sugar cookies are buttery, chewy in the center, and lightly crisp on the edges. Made with simple pantry ingredients, this easy no-chill recipe comes together in just 25 minutes and gives perfect bakery-style cookies every time.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups 318g all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks 226g unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1¼ cups 250g granulated sugar
- ¼ cup 50g granulated sugar (for rolling)
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
- Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- Add dry ingredients and mix until dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Scoop dough into balls and roll in sugar.
- Place on baking sheet 2 inches apart.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are set and centers look slightly soft.
- Cool on tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
Notes
- Make sure your butter is at cool room temperature (not melted) for the best texture.
- Do not skip creaming butter and sugar properly — it helps create soft, fluffy cookies.
- Measure flour correctly using the spoon & level method to avoid dense cookies.
- For extra soft cookies, slightly underbake them (centers should look a little soft).
- Rolling dough balls in sugar gives that classic bakery-style crackly finish.
- No chilling is required, but if your kitchen is warm, chilling for 10–15 minutes can help control spreading.
- Cookies continue baking on the tray after coming out of the oven, so don’t overbake.