Chewy Sugar Cookies — Soft, Sweet & Bakery-Style Perfect

🎉 Introduction

These Chewy Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious — the kind of cookie that stays tender in the center with lightly crisp edges. The flavor is rich with vanilla, and the texture is perfectly chewy without being cakey. They are simple, classic, and timeless — ideal for holidays, birthdays, gift boxes, or cozy baking days at home.

This recipe uses pantry-staple ingredients and requires no special equipment. Just mix, scoop, roll in sugar, and bake. The secret to the perfect chewy texture is the ratio of butter to sugar and slightly underbaking to lock in moisture.

These cookies are sweet, comforting, and everything we love about homemade baking.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer (hand or stand mixer)
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Rubber spatula
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cookie scoop (optional)

🛒 Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cups granulated white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For Rolling

• ¼ cup granulated sugar (optional, for coating)

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• In a bowl, whisk together:
  • flour
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
• Set aside.

Step 3: Cream Butter & Sugar

• In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 2–3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
• Add the egg and vanilla extract.
• Mix until smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Add Dry to Wet

• Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two parts.
• Mix on low just until combined — do not overmix.

Step 5: Shape

• Scoop dough into balls (about 1 ½ tablespoons each).
• Roll each ball in a little sugar for a sparkly finish.
• Place on baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.

Step 6: Bake

• Bake 8–10 minutes — edges should be slightly set and centers soft.
• Do not overbake — they will continue to set as they cool.

Step 7: Cool & Enjoy

• Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a cooling rack.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: ~24 cookies
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Bake Time: 8–10 minutes per batch
• Total Time: ~25 minutes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
• Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.
• For warm cookies, microwave 8–10 seconds before serving.

🥄 Variations

• Sparkle Cookies:
  Roll in coarse sugar for crunch.
• Frosted Version:
  Top with vanilla buttercream or cream cheese icing.
• Citrus Twist:
  Add 1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest to the dough.
• Holiday Spice:
  Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for warmth.
• Half-Dip in Chocolate:
  Dip half of each cooled cookie in melted white or dark chocolate.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Why do my cookies turn out cakey?
   Too much flour — spoon and level flour when measuring.
2. How do I keep cookies chewy?
   Do not overbake; remove when still soft in the center.
3. Does the butter need to be softened?
   Yes — softened butter is key to proper texture.
4. Can I chill the dough?
   Yes — chilling helps prevent spreading (30 minutes recommended for thick cookies).
5. Can I make the dough ahead?
   Yes — refrigerate up to 48 hours before baking.
6. Can I freeze the dough?
   Yes — freeze pre-rolled cookie balls, then bake from frozen.
7. Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
   Yes — reduce added salt to a pinch.
8. How do I make them thicker?
   Chill dough and reduce baking time.
9. Can I bake two sheets at once?
   Yes — rotate pans halfway through for even baking.
10. Can I reduce the sugar?
    Slightly — but cookies will become less chewy.

🏁 Conclusion

These Chewy Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and full of classic vanilla flavor. They’re simple to make, dependable, and always crowd-pleasing — the kind of cookie you bake once and return to forever. Whether for holidays, everyday treats, or gifts, these cookies deliver comfort and joy in every bite.

Beautiful. Familiar. Perfectly chewy.

Adam

Chewy Sugar Cookies — Soft, Sweet & Bakery-Style Perfect

These Chewy Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious — the kind of cookie that stays tender in the center with lightly crisp edges. The flavor is rich with vanilla, and the texture is perfectly chewy without being cakey. They are simple, classic, and timeless — ideal for holidays, birthdays, gift boxes, or cozy baking days at home. This recipe uses pantry-staple ingredients and requires no special equipment. Just mix, scoop, roll in sugar, and bake. The secret to the perfect chewy texture is the ratio of butter to sugar and slightly underbaking to lock in moisture. These cookies are sweet, comforting, and everything we love about homemade baking.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

bake time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 24 cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Dry Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 ¼ cups granulated white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For Rolling

• ¼ cup granulated sugar optional, for coating

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer (hand or stand mixer)
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Rubber spatula
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cookie scoop (optional)

Method

 

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

1. In a bowl, whisk together:
2. flour
3. baking powder
4. baking soda
5. salt
6. Set aside.

Step 3: Cream Butter & Sugar

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 2–3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg and vanilla extract.
3. Mix until smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Add Dry to Wet

1. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two parts.
2. Mix on low just until combined — do not overmix.

Step 5: Shape

1. Scoop dough into balls (about 1 ½ tablespoons each).
2. Roll each ball in a little sugar for a sparkly finish.
3. Place on baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.

Step 6: Bake

1. Bake 8–10 minutes — edges should be slightly set and centers soft.
2. Do not overbake — they will continue to set as they cool.

Step 7: Cool & Enjoy

1. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
2. Transfer to a cooling rack.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.

For warm cookies, microwave 8–10 seconds before serving.

🥄 Variations

Sparkle Cookies:
Roll in coarse sugar for crunch.

Frosted Version:
Top with vanilla buttercream or cream cheese icing.

Citrus Twist:
Add 1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest to the dough.

Holiday Spice:
Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for warmth.

Half-Dip in Chocolate:
Dip half of each cooled cookie in melted white or dark chocolate.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why do my cookies turn out cakey?
Too much flour — spoon and level flour when measuring.

How do I keep cookies chewy?
Do not overbake; remove when still soft in the center.

Does the butter need to be softened?
Yes — softened butter is key to proper texture.

Can I chill the dough?
Yes — chilling helps prevent spreading (30 minutes recommended for thick cookies).

Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes — refrigerate up to 48 hours before baking.

Can I freeze the dough?
Yes — freeze pre-rolled cookie balls, then bake from frozen.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes — reduce added salt to a pinch.

How do I make them thicker?
Chill dough and reduce baking time.

Can I bake two sheets at once?
Yes — rotate pans halfway through for even baking.

Can I reduce the sugar?
Slightly — but cookies will become less chewy.

🏁 Conclusion

These Chewy Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and full of classic vanilla flavor. They’re simple to make, dependable, and always crowd-pleasing — the kind of cookie you bake once and return to forever. Whether for holidays, everyday treats, or gifts, these cookies deliver comfort and joy in every bite.

Beautiful. Familiar. Perfectly chewy.