Soft Sugar Cookies with Decorative Sugar Recipe
These Soft Sugar Cookies are delightfully tender with a buttery flavor and a crisp, colorful sugar coating that adds a festive touch. Perfect for holidays or any special occasion, these cookies combine shortening and butter for a soft yet sturdy texture, enhanced by classic vanilla and a light dusting of colored decorating sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: About 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Decorating
- ⅓ cup colored decorating sugar
Cookies
- ⅔ cup shortening
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them to prevent sticking.
- Cream Fats and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat together the shortening, softened unsalted butter, and white sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will create a smooth base for your cookies.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then blend in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the rising agent and seasoning through the flour.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition until all the flour mixture is fully combined into a soft dough.
- Shape and Coat: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, form dough balls and roll each one in the colored decorating sugar to coat thoroughly. This adds a bright, sweet crust to the cookies.
- Bake: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This ensures they hold their shape and the texture remains soft.
Notes
- For softer cookies, do not overbake; watch closely near the 10-minute mark.
- Shortening combined with butter helps maintain a soft texture while adding flavor.
- You can substitute colored decorating sugar with granulated sugar or sanding sugar if preferred.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a more intense vanilla flavor, use pure vanilla extract.