Are you in Search of the Perfect Cutout Sugar Cookie Recipe? I have some Secrets that will help you get the Perfect Sugar Cookies for Christmas, Valentines Day or any day in between along with my Favorite Cutout Sugar Cookie Recipe and Sugar Cookie Royal Icing Recipe that is foolproof! I love a good Sugar Cookie and these tips and tricks are my secret to Perfect Sugar Cookies that everyone will love!
Cutout Sugar Cookie Recipe:
Cream Together:
1 Cup of Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 Sticks of Unsalted Butter
1 Egg
Slowly Add in:
3 Cups of Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
Mix Well, Roll Out Cookies and Cut with Cookie Cutters. Bake at 350 Degrees for around 10 Minutes or until edges are slightly brown.
Sugar Cookie Royal Icing Recipe:
4 Tbsp. Meringue Powder
1/2 Cup Water
1 lb.Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Corn Syrup
1 tsp. Vanilla
Americolor Gel Food Colors
Combine Meringue Powder & Water in a Mixer and Beat until Bubbly
Add in Corn Syrup and Vanilla and Mix quickly
Slowly add in Powdered Sugar and beat 3-5 minutes on high until icing forms stiff peaks
Divide & Add in Food Coloring and Stir until well mixed
Sugar Cookie Secrets:
Use the Right Recipe
Know before you start what type of Sugar Cookie you want to make. If you want soft and chewy cookies look for a soft Sour Cream Sugar Cookie Recipe, if you are wanting to Roll and Cut Out Sugar Cookies then use a Cutout Sugar Cookie Recipe like the one I posted above, the dough makes a huge difference.
Soften your Butter don’t Melt it
We have all been in a hurry and put that refrigerated butter in the microwave but then it comes out too melted. Set your butter out an hour or 2 before you plan on making cookies and let it soften naturally, a soft butter will blend better than melted butter.
Cut your Butter into Smaller Pieces
This helps the butter mix well into the dry ingredients. If your butter is soft and sliced it will mix quickly and it won’t be over worked or melted by the time it’s well mixed.
Use a Recipe with a lot of Flour
This goes back to the tip about picking the right recipe, but recipes with more flour tend to work better for Cutout Cookies. They won’t be as moist but they will hold their shape better in baking.
Don’t Stress over Crumbly Dough
It’s easy to think you need more liquid when your dough is crumbly. A good sugar cookie dough for cut out cookies will be crumbly at first, as you knead the dough it should work into a smooth ball over time, but it will take a little work. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!
Refrigerate Your Dough
I like to make Sugar Cookie Dough ahead of time and stick it in the Fridge to chill before cutting out my cookies. This helps them stay together and transfer better from the Flourered surface to the Cookie Sheet. The chilled dough holds it’s shape better so it’s easier to work with especially if your baking with kids.
Cut out the Same Shape all at once
If you are doing multiple shapes, doing the same one all at once will give you more effective use of your dough. For example with this cookie cutter tree shape I was able to flip the cookie cutter over and go the other direction to minimize the amount of dough wasted.
Use Decorating bottles for Flooding Cookies
I like to use a regular decorating bag for the Edges of my icing, but to flood or fill the cookies I use a thinner version of the royal icing listed above (Just add 1 tbsp. of water to thin) and place in a Decorating Bottle, these are much easier for kids to use as well!
Frost Your Cookies in Layers
One of the best ways to get Professional Looking Cookies at home is to frost in layers. This takes extra time but in the long run it’s really worth it. Make sure you plan in time for your First Layer to Dry before you add in the second layer. With the Royal Icing Recipe it really only takes 2-3 hours, but to be really solid allow 12-24 hours.
Add in Details Last
I like to work with a pattern or general idea of what I’m creating. Adding it details after the first layer has dried gives a great effect and really helps your cookies look finished!
Store Your Cookies with a Piece of Bread
This is one of my favorite tips I learned from a friend about 10 years ago. Cookies will stay softer when stored with a Piece of Bread in the bag. I’m not sure why or how it works, but it really does! Try It, it’s a simple trick with an item you probably already have and you just might be surprised at how much longer those cookies stay soft.
These are Just a few of the Tips and Tricks I use when creating Sugar Cookies, of course if you are baking with Kids some of these might be too time consuming, but it all depends on what the goal is. The recipes are still perfect if your planning an afternoon of baking with the kids and the Decorating Bottles are also still really great for kids! That’s pretty much the only way I let my kids decorate cookies these days.
What tips and tricks do you have for creating the perfect Sugar Cookies? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know!
