SUGAR COOKIES

These Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies are some of our holiday favorites! Super versatile as far as toppings and they are delicious!

Sugar Cookies

If you love these Christmas Cookies you will absolutely love these delicious Tea Cakes. They are an old-fashioned classic that have been in our family for many years!

❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE

This recipe is a Christmas tradition and old fashioned sugar cookies are a must at Christmas. So fun to decorate and they keep well too. So you can make them in advance. They are so fun to make with kids, get all the sprinkles out and the frosting if you want to frost them. These cookies are one of the many things that make Christmas fun.

🍴KEY INGREDIENTS

  • Powdered sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Oil 
  • Butter 
  • Eggs
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Baking soda
  • Cream of tartar
  • Vanilla
  • Frosting Ingredients– Optional
  • Confectionery sugar
  • Shortening (I use Crisco)
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • food coloring of your choice

SWAPS

I have made these with both canola and olive oil and they both turned out fine. So that can be switched up.

🍽️HOW TO MAKE

Organize all of your ingredients before you get started.

COOKING STEPS

Step 1
Cream sugars, oil and butter until fluffy.  Beat in eggs. Add dry ingredients along with vanilla.  Mix well.  Chill dough 1 hour in refrigerator.

Step 2
Form into balls with your hands and place on sprayed or lightly greased cookie sheet.  Press flat with your palm or a glass.  Sprinkle with colored sugar.

Step 3
Bake 12 to 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.  Makes about 3 dozen depending on size of cookies. These cookies taste wonderful.

Note:
I have used this recipe for over 30 years.  It is a great recipe.  I used cookie cutters to make these.  The dough will be too soft to roll out with a rolling pin.  I just sprinkled the counter with flour, took a handful of dough and flattened it enough to cut out a shape with a cutter dipped in flour.  I put the dough back in the fridge between cooking times.

⭐TIP

You want to keep the dough cold, so if it is starting to get warm put it back in the refrigerator. If you using cookie cutters you can spray the edges with spam or flour the edges to help with them sticking to the dough.

You also want to remove cookies before they are really done. They will continue to cook once removed from the oven. It’s very easy to over cook cookies. For more tips, check out this article.

Sugar Cookies

RECIPE VARIATIONS

So many ways to enjoy these cookies, from adding frosting (either homemade or from a can), sprinkles, and any kind of fun decor you can come up with. These are just a wonderful base Christmas cookie with endless possibilities.

❓FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are these soft or crispy?

They can be either, if you want more of a soft cookie, make them thicker and don’t over cook them. If you like a crispy cookie, make them thinner.

Can I make these in advance?

Yes, they keep very well in an airtight tin. I have kept them for weeks. We make them the beginning of December and enjoy them all month!

STORING

Store in an air-tight container to keep fresh.

Easy Christmas Divinity

This Divinity is made in the microwave and has many ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐reviews!

Microwave Peanut Brittle

This peanut brittle is so easy to make and a wonderful holiday treat!

Five Minute Fudge

This fudge is an excellent recipe for the holidays! Makes a great gift too!

SERVING SIZE

This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies, so you can figure out your serving size.

Sugar Cookies

Anne Walkup
These Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies are always a Christmas classic! You can add sprinkles, add frosting, decorate how you like, but definitely make them! They are a must have during the holidays.
5 from 10 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 12 minutes
Course Cookies
Cuisine American
Servings 3 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup oil I use Canola or Olive
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Cream sugars, oil and butter until fluffy. Beat in eggs. Add dry ingredients along with vanilla. Mix well. Chill dough 1 hour in refrigerator. Form into balls with your hands and place on sprayed or lightly greased cookie sheet.
  • Press flat with your palm or a glass. Sprinkle with colored sugar. Bake 12 to 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. Makes about 3 dozen depending on size of cookies.

Notes

I have used this recipe for over 30 years. It is a great recipe. I used cookie cutters to make these. The dough will be too soft to roll out with a rolling pin. I just sprinkled the counter with flour, took a handful of dough and flattened it enough to cut out a shape with a cutter dipped in flour. I put the dough back in the fridge between cooking times.
Keyword Sugar Cookies
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Recipe Rating




32 Comments

  1. D. Morgan says:

    I usually half the recipe because it makes so many. Use a cookie scoop and form a ball. Roll the top half of the ball in colored sugar. Place on parchment papered cookie sheet. Use a water glass sprayed with PAM and slightly flatten the ball. Bake accordingly. Never tried using a cookie cutter. Round cookies are all uniform in size since I used a cookie scoop.5 stars

  2. Has anyone ever tried a sub for granulated sugar? Was thinking maple syrup, honey etc. let me know, Thanks can’t wait to taste:)

  3. Kimberly Andren says:

    I freeze all kinds of cookies. Going to try these next.

  4. My Mom gave me this recipe, she has had it since the 60’s. I even inherited the exact same cookie cutters!! The photo you show could easily have come from my table.5 stars

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      How wonderful!

  5. Linda Diane says:

    I love your recipes. I am wanting to use my new snow flake cookie cutters to make gifts for the family. Can I use royal icing on these cookies? Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      I have never tried putting icing on these cookies but I see no reason why you couldn’t, Linda. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well and thank you for your nice comment. I am happy you enjoy the recipes.

  6. Brenda Thomas says:

    How long can you keep the dough refrigerated?

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      I don’t put it in for any longer than what it takes to make the cookies. If it gets too soft while I am cutting out cookies, I put it back for a while until it gets where I can cut out more cookies.In other words I have not tried just keeping the dough in the fridge for several days.

  7. What kind of shorting do you mean solid liquid

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      When I say shortening I mean solid and I use Crisco.

  8. Can you use shortening instead of the oil?

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      You can try it. I never have.

  9. Love this easy recipe! Plan on making these!

  10. What type of oil should we use.

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      I use Canola.

    1. The Southern Lady says:

      I have never tried using olive oil.

  11. This comment is being transferred from the Facebook page:

    Kimberly Broyles Goodman: My son and Mom made these yesterday – they were so great! Thick, soft and perfect!!

  12. Deborah Miller says:

    Are these cookies crispy or soft and chewy?

    1. They are not real hard. I guess you would say more crispy. I think it sort of depends on how thick you make the cookie.

  13. I have used this recipe for years, my sister in law gave it to me. Makes the best sugar cookies every time. It is also great to roll and use cookie cutters!5 stars

  14. judy helmers says:

    This is the recipe I use.
    . I have had so many compliments and people asking for this recipe. I know I cannot leave them alone when I make them!5 stars

  15. Hi. Going to have a go at these today :0) How long will these keep for please? Thankyou

    1. Janine, I keep them in a tin box for weeks. I have not frozen them but I think you could freeze them, too. Good luck. I hope you like these cookies.

      1. Hi. Thankyou so much for your reply. Have made them this morning and they are delicious. Now will share them with the rest of my family. Janine :0)5 stars

  16. Oh it wouldn’t be Christmas without sugar cookies would it : )

  17. Is it possible to use cookie press?????

  18. I have needed a good recipe for sugar cookies and this sounds perfect. Cant wait to try.