Description
These Soft Sugar Cookies are a delightful treat featuring a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a perfect balance of sweetness. Enhanced with vanilla and topped with colorful decorating sugar, they are ideal for any occasion or celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Decorative Topping
- ⅓ cup colored decorating sugar
Wet Ingredients
- ⅔ cup shortening
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure a consistent baking temperature for even cooking.
- Cream Fats and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the shortening, softened unsalted butter, and white sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This helps to incorporate air into the dough for a tender cookie.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, mixing well after each addition to fully combine all ingredients.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to distribute the leavening and seasoning evenly throughout the dough.
- Make the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Shape and Decorate: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Roll the balls in the colored decorating sugar to coat fully, then place them spaced apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the centers look slightly underbaked to maintain softness.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For softer cookies, do not overbake; slight underbaking in the center helps maintain softness.
- Using room temperature butter allows for better mixing when creaming with shortening.
- Colored decorating sugar adds a festive touch but can be substituted with plain sugar or sprinkles according to preference.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft for several days.
Keywords: Soft Sugar Cookies, Sugar Cookies recipe, Soft Cookies, Vanilla Sugar Cookies, Holiday Cookies