Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes Basic Sugar Cookies 3.2 (2,633) 77 Reviews By Martha Stewart Test Kitchen Martha Stewart Test Kitchen The recipes developed by our test kitchen team have undergone a rigorous process of development and testing, ensuring that every element is optimal, from ingredient amounts to method and cooking time. This process includes triple-testing recipes to ensure they meet our high standards. The many stellar cooks and food editors who have been part of our team include Sarah Carey, Lucinda Scala Quinn, Jennifer Aaronson, Shira Bocar, Anna Kovel, Greg Lofts, Riley Wofford, Lauren Tyrell, and Lindsay Leopold. Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 10, 2022 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Prep Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Total Time: 2 hrs Yield: 32 This is one of Martha's favorite sugar cookie recipes. When she makes the classic buttery cookies, she likes to add one tablespoon of cognac alongside the egg and vanilla, after creaming together the butter and sugar. These treats are delicious plain—or you can decorate them with icing and sprinkles to make them festive for celebrations. Ingredients Sugar Cookies 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Assorted candies, sprinkles, or colored sugars, for decorating (optional) Icing 1 ½ cup confectioners' sugar 3-4 tablespoons milk, water, or lemon juice Directions In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Divide dough in half; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic; freeze until firm, at least 20 minutes, or place in a resealable plastic bag, and freeze up to 3 months (thaw in refrigerator overnight). Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Remove one dough disk; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Roll out 1/8 inch thick between two sheets of floured parchment, dusting dough with flour as needed. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Using a spatula, transfer to prepared baking sheets. (If dough gets soft, chill 10 minutes.) Reroll scraps; cut shapes. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges are golden, 10 to 18 minutes (depending on size). Cool completely on wire racks. To ice cookies, spread with the back of a spoon. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes. Decorate as desired. For the icing, sift confectioners' sugar into a small bowl. Whisk in milk, water, or lemon juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If too thin, whisk in more sugar; if too thick, add more liquid. Spread over cookies with back of a spoon. Add other decorations, if desired. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes. Minh + Wass Cook's Notes Use flour on utensils to keep dough from sticking: Dip the cookie cutters, and dust the spatula before transferring uncooked dough to a sheet. Rolling dough between two sheets of floured parchment will keep it from sticking to the rolling pin. You can store cookies in airtight containers at room temperature, up to 1 week. Rate it Print