Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sugar cookies are a classic for a reason! Buttery, sweet and deliciously simple, they’re perfect for cutting into festive shapes and decorating with colourful icing. Whether you're making Christmas trees, snowflakes, or gingerbread people, this easy recipe is a great one to have on hand during the festive season.

Ingredients

⅔ cup butter, softened (150g)

⅔ cup sugar (135g)

1 large egg

1¾–2 tsp vanilla

2 cups plain flour (250g)

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

You'll also need:

• Christmas cookie cutters
• Baking paper
• Rolling pin

How to Make Sugar Cookies

Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. 

Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well incorporated.

Add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix until it forms a dough. Try not to overwork the mixture.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to around 5mm thick. Lightly dust your cookie cutters with flour and cut out your shapes.

Transfer your cookies to a lined baking tray and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. This helps to resolidify the butter and ensures that the cookies don’t spread.

While you wait, preheat your oven to 170°C.

Bake cookies for 12 minutes or until the edges are light golden brown. 

Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack. The cookies should firm up while cooling.

Allow cookies to cool entirely before decorating or your icing will run.

Easy Royal Icing for Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 large egg white

1 tsp lemon juice

250g icing sugar 

Food colouring

Method:

Whisk the egg white until frothy.

Add the icing sugar, lemon juice and desired food colouring, then whisk until thick and shiny.

If your icing is too thick, add a few drops of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Place the coloured icing into a piping bag and carefully snip the tip, leaving only a small opening.

Once your cookies have cooled completely, decorate with your royal icing and enjoy!