Description
These Soft Sugar Cookies are tender, buttery, and bursting with sweet sprinkles, making them perfect for any celebration or a delightful everyday treat. With a combination of vanilla and almond extracts, these classic cookies offer a rich, aromatic flavor and a soft, chewy texture that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
Topping
- â…“ cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (205ºC) to ensure it reaches the proper temperature by the time you finish preparing the cookies. Place the sprinkles into a small bowl and set aside for easy access during cookie preparation.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on high speed to beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This step incorporates air for a tender texture. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract, then beat again until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the baking powder and salt to the wet mixture and beat until incorporated. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing on medium speed until the dough is fully blended and smooth without overmixing to maintain softness.
- Form and Sprinkle Cookies: Roll the dough into 1½ inch balls using your hands or a cookie scoop. Roll each ball in the bowl of sprinkles to coat the top evenly. Place the sprinkled dough balls on ungreased cookie sheets, spacing them about two inches apart to allow expansion while baking.
- Bake: Place the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden brown. This timing ensures a soft center with slightly crisp edges.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the sheets for 2 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely, which helps maintain their soft texture.
Notes
- Softer butter at room temperature results in better mixing and a fluffier cookie.
- Do not overbake; cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
- You can substitute sprinkles with colored sugar or finely chopped nuts.
- For a stronger almond flavor, increase almond extract slightly but be careful as it can become overpowering.
- If you don’t have an electric mixer, you can mix by hand but it may take longer to achieve a fluffy texture.
