Go Back

Sugar Cookies That Hold Their Shape

No-spread cut-out sugar cookies with soft centers and crisp edges. They keep sharp edges in the oven, so they're perfect for decorating with easy icing.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Dessert, Holiday Treats
Cuisine American
Servings 30 cookies
Calories 140 kcal

Ingredients
  

Cookies:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled, plus more for rolling
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened but still cool (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract optional

Easy icing:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 to 4 tbsp milk
  • 2 tbsp light corn syrup helps the icing set shiny
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • gel food coloring and sprinkles optional

Instructions
 

  • Whisk the flour and salt in a bowl and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Do not overbeat. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extract.
  • Add the flour mixture and mix on low just until the dough comes together. Divide in half, roll each half between two sheets of parchment to 1/4 inch thick and chill for at least 1 hour.
  • Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment. Cut the chilled dough into shapes and place 1 inch apart. Freeze the cut cookies on the pan for 10 minutes.
  • Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are just set and the bottoms are very lightly golden. Cool on the pan 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Whisk the powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup and vanilla until thick but spreadable. Tint with food coloring if you like. Decorate the cooled cookies and let the icing set for 4 to 6 hours.

Notes

Make ahead: Chill the rolled dough up to 3 days, or freeze up to 3 months.
Storage: Store iced cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Reheat: Not needed. Freeze un-iced cookies up to 3 months.
Variations: Add 1 tbsp lemon or orange zest for citrus cookies. Use 1 tsp peppermint extract instead of almond. No baking powder is used on purpose so the cookies keep their shape.
Keyword christmas sugar cookies, cut out sugar cookies, no spread sugar cookies, sugar cookies that hold their shape