54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (2024)

Table of Contents
Best Holiday Sugar Cookie Recipes Best Sugar Cookie Recipe (Video): Best Homemade Sugar Cookie Snowflake Sugar Cookies Simple Sugar Cookies Yuletide Pinwheel Sugar Cookies Vegan Orange Cardamom Sugar Cookies Softbatch Cookie Butter Brown Sugar Cookies The Softest Sugar Cookies (that Hold Their Shape) Red Velvet Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookie Lemon Tarts Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Vegan Matcha Sugar Cookies Soft Glazed Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Root Beer Float Sugar Cookies Lemon Sugar Cookies Brown Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Salted Caramel Buttercream Almond Flour Sugar Cookies Basic Sugar Cookies Coconut Flour Sugar Cookies Birthday Cake Sugar Cookies Soft Maple Sugar Cookies Easy Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies Egg-Free Sugar Cookie Dough Donut Sugar Cookies Circus Animal Sugar Cookies Dark Chocolate Brown Sugar Cookies Lofthouse Style Paleo Sugar Cookies Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting Keto Fathead Sugar Cookies Brown Sugar Cookies Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies Easy Pillowy Soft Sugar Cookies Sour Cream Sugar Cookies Perfect Sugar Cookies Maple Sugar Cookies Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Soft Sugar Cookies Bakery Style Sugar Cookies Small Batch Lemon Sugar Cookies Amish Sugar Cookies Soft Baked Cutout Sugar Cookies Peppermint White Chocolate Sugar Cookies Soft Vanilla Butter Sugar Cookies 4-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Funfetti Sugar Cookies Super Soft Chocolate Cut Out Cookies Keto Sugar Cookies Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies Easy Sugar Cookies Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Sugar Cookie Bites Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars Frosted Eggnog Cookies Chocolate Sugar Cookies FAQs References

We're in the middle of holiday season—it's time to level up your holiday cookie baking!

While gingerbread cookies, thumbprint cookies and molasses cookies play a pivotal role in holiday baking, we all know that drop-style and rolled sugar cookies are must-have cookie in any true baker's repertoire. They're soft and chewy, can be decorated a million different ways, and are always a hit with kids and adults alike.

Which means that you've got to get your sugar cookie recipes just right!

Related: 200+Best Christmas Cookies You Just Have to Try

No matter what diet you're on—or what type of cookies you like—sugar cookies are highly versatile and can easily fit any dietary preferences or needs you have. There are gluten-free sugar cookies, low-carb sugar cookies, keto sugar cookies and yes, vegan sugar cookies all included in this list.

Best Holiday Sugar Cookie Recipes

From fancier versions such as Soft Glazed Pumpkin Sugar Cookies, Red Velvet Sugar Cookies and Brown Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Brown Butter Buttercream, to simpler options such as Basic Sugar Cookies or Brown Sugar Cookies, there's bound to be an option for everyone!

Here are 54 easy sugar cookie recipes to make this holiday season. Browse through them, make sure to pin your favorites and let's get baking today!

Next: 50 Best Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe (Video):

Best Homemade Sugar Cookie

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Chef Jon Ashtonis showing us his tricks to making the bestsugar cookies at home, with this easy sugar cookie recipe.

Get the recipe: Best Homemade Sugar Cookie

Snowflake Sugar Cookies

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These sugar cookies are not too sweet and all dressed up with edible holiday decorations! Nothing says winter better than snowflakes and there’s nothing more delicious than these soft and buttery snowflake sugar cookies.

Get the recipe: Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Simple Sugar Cookies

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These simple sugar cookies can also be baked without sprinkles and then decorated with royal icing.

Get the recipe: Simple Sugar Cookies

Yuletide Pinwheel Sugar Cookies

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These yuletide pinwheel sugar cookies are definitely festive and perfect for the holidays!

Get the recipe: Yuletide Pinwheel Sugar Cookies

Vegan Orange Cardamom Sugar Cookies

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Tart and sweet orange is mixed with spicy and fragrant cardamom for an absolutely delicious eggless & dairy-free sugar cookie.

Get the recipe: Vegan Orange Cardamom Sugar Cookies

Softbatch Cookie Butter Brown Sugar Cookies

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These cookies are tender, moist, and filled with warming spices! If you like the flavor of cinnamon, ginger, soft gingersnaps, or molasses, these warm and comforting cookies will be your new favorites!

Get the recipe: Softbatch Cookie Butter Brown Sugar Cookies

The Softest Sugar Cookies (that Hold Their Shape)

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A secret ingredient in this sugar cookies recipe makes these cookies the softest and most flavorful cookies of your life! And they even hold their shape after baking.

Get the recipe: The Softest Sugar Cookies

Red Velvet Sugar Cookies

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Red velvet sugar cookies are perfect any time of year and take only 20 minutes to make.

Get the recipe: Red Velvet Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookie Lemon Tarts

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (10)

You’ll love these simple, fresh lemon tarts with no finicky crusts. Just bite-sized lemony-goodness with a sweet sugar cookie crust.

Get the recipe: Sugar Cookie Lemon Tarts

Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (11)

Easy and delicious vegan pumpkin sugar cookies with a simple vanilla icing! Completely gluten free and dairy free, these cookies are fun to make and perfect for the holidays!

Get the recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Vegan Matcha Sugar Cookies

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With just eight simple ingredients, these matcha cookies are truly an easy and delicious vegan and eggless cookie recipe.

Get the recipe: Vegan Matcha Sugar Cookies

Soft Glazed Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

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Sugar cookies just got better with a little pumpkin! This recipe creates soft, chewy, lightly spicy glazed pumpkin sugar cookies that are perfect for fall!

Get the recipe: Soft Glazed Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Root Beer Float Sugar Cookies

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These root beer float sugar cookies bring a summertime staple in the form of a cookie. The root beer flavor is subtle, not too powerful, but enough of a flavor to transform a simple sugar cookie into a unique treat.

Get the recipe: Root Beer Float Sugar Cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies

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These lemon sugar cookies are super soft, and so easy to make. Lemon sugar cookies with soft lemon frosting – they make the perfect treat!

Get the recipe: Lemon Sugar Cookies

Brown Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Salted Caramel Buttercream

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (16)

Delicious chewy sugar cookie bars made with brown butter. This adds such amazing flavor and the salted caramel buttercream on top is the best part!

Get the recipe: Brown Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Samated Caramel Buttercream

Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

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The best almond flour sugar cookies! Soft in the middle and crispy on the edges. Easy to roll out and perfect for cut-outs!

Get the recipe: Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

Basic Sugar Cookies

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This basic sugar cookie recipe is classic, and it’s my favorite go-to dessert recipe. These easy, soft sugar cookies go amazingly with Nutella, frosting, and pretty much everything else!

Get the recipe: Basic Sugar Cookies

Coconut Flour Sugar Cookies

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These coconut flour sugar cookies are perfectly crispy and sweet. You would never think they are made from coconut flour.

Get the recipe: Coconut Flour Sugar Cookies

Birthday Cake Sugar Cookies

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Birthday sugar cookies are the softest homemade sugar cookies covered in fun sprinkles that taste like a perfect birthday cake!

Get the recipe: Birthday Cake Sugar Cookies

Soft Maple Sugar Cookies

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Soft maple sugar cookies are perfect for the holidays or any time you’re craving a sweet sugar cookie that literally melts in your mouth.

Get the recipe: Soft Maple Sugar Cookies

Easy Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies

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An easy and delicious slice-and-bake sugar cookie recipe!

Get the recipe: Easy Slice-and-Bake Sugar Cookies

Egg-Free Sugar Cookie Dough

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Sugar cookie dough without the eggs, so it is meant for eating!! Satisfy your sweet tooth in about 5 minutes with this recipe!

Get the recipe: Egg-Free Sugar Cookie Dough

Donut Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (24)

Donut sugar cookies topped with icing and sprinkles are the best recipe for soft cut out sugar cookies made from scratch!

Get the recipe: Donut Sugar Cookies

Circus Animal Sugar Cookies

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Feel like a kid again with these super easy to make Circus Animal Sugar Cookies! Homemade sprinkled sugar cookies topped with frosted animal cookies!

Get the recipe: Circus Animal Sugar Cookies

Dark Chocolate Brown Sugar Cookies

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Dark chocolate brown sugar cookies have the perfect chewy texture on the inside with just a bit of crisp on the outside.

Get the recipe: Dark Chocolate Brown Sugar Cookies

Lofthouse Style Paleo Sugar Cookies

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These Lofthouse-style paleo cookies are easy to cut with cookie cutters, so you can have paleo shaped cookies for every holiday!

Get the recipe: Lofthouse-Style Paleo Sugar Cookies

Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

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These will be some of the best pumpkin cookies you ever try! The frosting on top is out of this world and the perfect compliment to these delicious cookies!

Get the recipe: Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

Keto Fathead Sugar Cookies

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These keto fathead sugar cookies use a low carb dough and are perfect for the holidays!

Get the recipe: Keto Fathead Sugar Cookies

Brown Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (30)

Brown sugar cookies made with dark brown sugar and butter are sweet, soft, chewy, and the perfect spin on the traditional cookie ready in under 30 minutes!

Get the recipe: Brown Sugar Cookies

Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies

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These copycat Lofthouse sugar cookies have a delicious buttery vanilla flavor, delicate crumb, and melt in your mouth. Then they’re topped with creamy frosting & tons of sprinkles.

Get the recipe: Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies

Easy Pillowy Soft Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (32)

Super soft sugar cookies with a delicate vanilla flavor and texture. They’re so good that you’ll want to eat them all as soon as they’re out of the oven. You’ve been warned!

Get the recipe: Pillowy Soft Sugar Cookies

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (33)

Sour cream sugar cookies are so tender and soft. This cake-like cookie is made rich with sour cream and butter and will so become a family favorite.

Get the recipe: Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Perfect Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (34)

Soft sugar cookies are perfect for the holiday season, birthdays, or any time you want a sweet treat!

Get the recipe: Perfect Sugar Cookies

Maple Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (35)

These maple sugar cookies are soft cut-out sugar cookies with crisp, defined edges that are loaded with maple syrup flavor – no chilling required, and ready in about 30 minutes!

Get the recipe: Maple Sugar Cookies

Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (36)

This recipe for cinnamon roll cookies is simple to make and will have you looking like a total baking rock star. You won’t believe how delicious these cookies are!

Get the recipe: Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies

Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (37)

The perfect soft and chewy sugar cookies: just the right amount of softness with a tiny bit of chewiness and a buttery vanilla taste. Simple and easy recipe.

Get the recipe: Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies

Soft Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (38)

Chewy, soft sugar cookies are the perfect treat for any occasion. This no-chill dough recipe is super easy and results in the perfect drop sugar cookie.

Get the recipe: Soft Sugar Cookies

Bakery Style Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (39)

These bakery-style sugar cookies are thick, lightly crisp around the edges, but oh, so soft and chewy in the middle.

Get the recipe: Bakery-Style Sugar Cookies

Small Batch Lemon Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (40)

These lemon sugar cookies are soft and chewy and with the perfect amount of citrus to bring sunshine to your day.

Get the recipe: Lemon Sugar Cookies

Amish Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (41)

Soft, puffy, melt-in-your-mouth Amish sugar cookies! This sugar cookie recipe could not be easier and they’re made with common pantry ingredients!

Get the recipe: Amish Sugar Cookies

Soft Baked Cutout Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (42)

These soft baked cutout sugar cookies are made with homemade frosting and are such a simple classic christmas cookie recipe.

Get the recipe: Soft Baked Cutout Sugar Cookies

Peppermint White Chocolate Sugar Cookies

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Peppermint white chocolate sugar cookies for a sparkling holiday treat!

Get the recipe: Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Soft Vanilla Butter Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (44)

All butter sugar cookies are soft and sweet cookies topped with a buttery vanilla frosting. Easy sugar cookie recipe made with simple pantry ingredients that yields about a dozen cookies.

Get the recipe: Butter Sugar Cookies

4-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (45)

These soft and chewy 4-Ingredient Sugar Cookies are made without eggs or cake mix and don’t require chilling or rolling. So simple, so good! Perfect for a quick and easy dessert!

Get the recipe: 4-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

Funfetti Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (46)

This funfetti sugar cookie recipe is soft and chewy, bakes up puffy, and is super easy to make with a delicious vanilla bean flavour. The cookies are filled with rainbow sprinkles for a fun and easy take on the classic sugar cookie.

Get the recipe: Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Super Soft Chocolate Cut Out Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (47)

These chocolate cut out sugar cookies put a fun spin on the classic we all know and love! They're super soft, chocolatey, and hold their shape well.

Get the recipe: Super Soft Chocolate Cut Out Sugar Cookies

Keto Sugar Cookies

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Low carb keto sugar cookies with coconut flour are perfect for any holiday! This 20-minute keto sugar cookie recipe has sugar-free options for sprinkles and frosting, too.

Get the recipe: Keto Sugar Cookies

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (49)

Soft, chewy cream cheese sugar cookies. This easy cut out sugar cookie recipe stays soft because of cream cheese.

Get the recipe: Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Easy Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (50)

This easy sugar cookie recipe is the only one I use – especially for holidays like Christmas! I’ve been baking these cookies for years – the recipe is simple and the dough is perfect for cut-out cookie decorating.

Get the recipe: Easy Sugar Cookies

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (51)

Save time this holiday season with this easy Christmas sugar cookie bars. They’re extra soft with a thick layer of frosting, and way less work than sugar cookies!

Get the recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Sugar Cookie Bites

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (52)

Cookie bites are tiny versions of our best sugar cookie recipe that are just as soft and tender. Make these mini sugar cookies today in just 30 minutes!

Get the recipe: Sugar Cookie Bites

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (53)

These frosted sugar cookie bars are soft, chewy and topped with homemade buttercream frosting and sprinkles. These cookie bars are made in a sheet pan and can easily feed a crowd.

Get the recipe: Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Frosted Eggnog Cookies

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These frosted eggnog cookies are made with a soft sugar cookie recipe that’s spiked with eggnog, and have a gorgeous swirl of eggnog frosting on top.

Get the recipe: Frosted Eggnog Cookies

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (55)

These decadent chocolate sugar cookies are supremely soft and chewy! They don’t need to be chilled before baking and they stay soft for days!

Get the recipe: Chocolate Sugar Cookies

54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (56)
54 Sugar Cookie Recipes That Will Bring Major Wow-Factor (2024)

FAQs

How to improve sugar cookies? ›

Take plain sugar cookies up a notch with exciting mix-ins like chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, toasted chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit or M&M's. Add these after blending your butter and egg into the sugar cookie mix.

What makes sugar cookies rise? ›

Mixing Butter & Sugar

Creaming is the act of mixing butter and sugar to incorporate air bubbles into the butter, creating a light and fluffy cookie.

How to make cookie mix taste like bakery? ›

How To Make Boxed Cookies Better
  1. Use butter instead of margarine or oil.
  2. Add powdered milk. Sprinkling about 2 to 3 tablespoons of powdered milk per cup of cookie mix may seem kind of unconventional, but it is the best hack! ...
  3. Add brown sugar. ...
  4. Add vanilla extract. ...
  5. Brown the butter. ...
  6. Include an extra egg yolk.
Jan 3, 2024

How to make sugar cookie dough mix better? ›

Easy Add-In: After creating the dough according to the sugar cookie mix instructions, Add 2 tablespoons of sour cream to create a tangier, cakier and all-around more flavorful cookie. Flavor Twist: For a punchier twist, swap the water in the sugar cookie mix instructions for rum, bourbon or coffee liqueur.

What is are some key tips in ensuring a successful sugar cookie? ›

Sugar Cookie Tips for the Best-Ever Treats
  • Add an Egg Yolk. This is one of those sugar cookie tips you may have heard of before: Add an extra egg yolk to your cookies. ...
  • Use Brown Sugar. ...
  • Chill the Dough. ...
  • Add a Secret Ingredient. ...
  • Keep an Eye on the Clock. ...
  • Store Cookies the Right Way.
Jun 20, 2018

Why didn't my sugar cookies flatten? ›

Too much flour causes the dough to become dry and crumbly, which prevents it from flattening out during baking. As a result, your cookies will stay in their original shape instead of spreading out into nice circles.

How do you fix flat sugar cookies? ›

If your cookies come out of the oven looking flat, you may not have adequately chilled the dough before baking. Chilling times may vary depending on the cookie you're making, but you should typically chill cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least two hours before you pop it in the oven.

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