Cut Out Sugar Cookies | Sally's Baking

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil offers a dairy-free option, while margarine can be more economical.

granulated sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index, while brown sugar is often cheaper.

powdered sugar

🥗Healthier: stevia

💰Cheaper: cornstarch

Stevia provides a sugar-free alternative, while cornstarch can be used to thicken icing.

food coloring

🥗Healthier: natural food dyes

💰Cheaper: none

Natural food dyes can be made from fruits and vegetables.

In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

In another bowl, beat together the wet ingredients: butter, granulated sugar, 1 egg, and vanilla extract using a mixer.

Optionally, add almond extract for flavor, or use orange zest, lemon zest, maple extract, coconut extract, or pumpkin pie spice.

Chill the cookie dough, which is crucial for keeping the cookies thick and holding their shape.

Roll out the cookie dough before chilling it, not after, to make it easier to work with.

Divide the cookie dough in half and roll out smaller sections on a nonstick surface like a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

Chill the rolled-out dough in the refrigerator.

Cut the chilled cookie dough into shapes using cookie cutters and re-roll any scraps to avoid waste.

Bake the shaped cookies at 350°F until lightly browned around the edges.

After the cookies cool completely, decorate them using royal icing or glaze icing as preferred.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens