Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (2024)

Shelly 153 Comments

★★★★★5 from 14 reviews

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These Soft Amish Sugar Cookies are hands-down my new favorite sugar cookies recipe. They’re so simple and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, you have to stop what you’re doing right now and make these!

Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Easy Amish Sugar Cookies
  • What Makes these Cookies Unique?
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How to Make Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Tips for the Best Cookies
  • How to Store Extras
  • Can I Freeze These?
  • More Sugar Cookie Recipe to Try
  • Get the Recipe

Easy Amish Sugar Cookies

I’ve developed quite the sugar cookie collection over the years. Looking for a foolproof Cut Out Sugar Cookie recipe? Covered! Or Easy Soft Sugar Cookies WIth Frosting? I gotcha. And if you’re looking for the BEST soft, no fuss sugar cookie recipe, allow me to introduce you to my new favorite: Amish Sugar Cookies!

This easy sugar cookie recipe is all kinds of old-fashioned and nostalgic, and I love it. The texture of these cookies quite literally melts in your mouth. It’s unreal! They’re thick and soft without being cakey, perfectly buttery and sweet – everything you want a sugar cookie recipe to be!

Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (2)

What Makes these Cookies Unique?

Rumor has it that versions of these sugar cookies have been circulating since the 1700s, when they originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch. This old-timey cookie recipe includes vegetable oil and powdered sugar in addition to butter and granulated sugar.

Healthy? Maybe not. However, this unusual combination is what makes Amish sugar cookies uniquely melt-in-your-mouth and oh-so-amazing!

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Recipe Ingredients

  • Butter: Salted or unsalted, at room temperature.
  • Vegetable Oil: Or another neutral oil, such as canola.
  • Sugar: Both granulated sugar as well as powdered sugar is what gives these cookies a particularly tender texture.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract, and not the imitation kind.
  • Cream of Tartar: Almost every Amish cookie recipe features cream of tartar, which reacts with baking soda to provide the leavening. This gives these cookies a light and fluffy rise.
  • Baking Soda
  • Eggs
  • Flour
  • Salt
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How to Make Amish Sugar Cookies

Make the Dough: Cream together the butter, oil, and sugars. Next beat in the eggs and vanilla, followed by the baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Slowly add in the flour, continuing to mix the dough until just combined.

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Scoop the Dough: Use a cookie scoop to scoop dough balls out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

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Bake: Bake the cookies in a preheated 350°F oven, until the edges are just golden. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

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Tips for the Best Cookies

  • Use a Cookie Scoop: I used my large cookie scoop to make these the perfect size and height. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, here’s the link to my favorite!
  • Don’t Over-Bake the Cookies: These cookies will only be slightly golden when they leave the oven. They may even appear under-baked – and that’s fine! Whatever you do, make sure to not over-bake these sugar cookies. You can bake out the magic. It’s a fact. Besides, they’ll continue to bake as they rest on the sheet!
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How to Store Extras

Store these Amish sugar cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze These?

You can freeze both the unbaked cookie dough as well as the baked cookies for up to 3 months.

To Freeze Cookie Dough: Scoop the dough balls out onto a baking sheet, and then place the whole sheet into the freezer to flash-freeze. Once solid, transfer the dough to an airtight, freezer-safe bag or container to store them. Bake the cookie dough directly from frozen, adding an extra couple of minutes to the baking time.

To Freeze Baked Cookies: Store the baked cookies airtight once they’re completely cooled. Use pieces of parchment paper to separate the layers as needed. Freeze the cookies, and let them thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to serve them.

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More Sugar Cookie Recipe to Try

  • Amish Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cookies
  • Pressed Frosted Sugar Cookies Recipe
  • Easy Soft Sugar Cookies
  • The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
  • Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Print

    Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (10)

    Soft Amish Sugar Cookies

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 14 reviews

    • Author: Shelly
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 24 large cookies 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Amish

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    Description

    These Soft Amish Sugar Cookies are hands-down my new favorite sugar cookies recipe. They’re so simple and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, you have to stop what you’re doing right now and make these!

    Ingredients

    Scale

    • 1 cup butter, room temperature
    • 1 cup vegetable oil
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 tsp vanilla
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp cream of tartar
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 4 1/2 cups flour
    • *optional sprinkles to garnish

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°
    2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
    3. In your mixing bowl cream together butter, oil and both sugars until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
    4. Add in baking soda, cream of tartar and salt and mix in.
    5. Turn mixer to low and add in flour, mixing until combined.
    6. Using a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoons) dough onto lined baking sheet. Add sprinkles now if desired. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges just start to golden.
    7. Allow to cool for 3 minutes on baking sheet and transfer to wire rack to finish cooling.

    Notes

    recipe adapted from Taste of Home Magazine

    store airtight for up to 3 days

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 249
    • Sugar: 12.5 g
    • Sodium: 158.7 mg
    • Fat: 12.9 g
    • Carbohydrates: 30.5 g
    • Protein: 3 g
    • Cholesterol: 40.5 mg

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    **NOTE** When I first posted this recipe I left out the eggs on the printable recipe as an oversight. The recipe is corrected now. Thank you so much for the emails letting me know!!**

    Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the secret to soft cookies? ›

    Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

    What is the trick to sugar cookies? ›

    The very best sugar cookies are soft and tender. → Follow this tip: One of the keys to great sugar cookies is mixing the dry ingredients only until they're just incorporated, and not a second longer. Once the dry ingredients are added, less mixing equals more tender cookies.

    What to add to sugar cookie mix to make it better? ›

    Almond Extract: For a twist on the traditional sugar cookie flavor, try adding a small amount of almond extract. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust according to your preference. Citrus Zest: Incorporate the zest of citrus fruits like lemon, orange, or lime into the dough. The zest adds a bright and refreshing flavor.

    What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

    If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

    How do you make cookies soft fast? ›

    Just wrap a cookie or two in a damp paper towel and then put them in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds. The moisture from the paper towel should soften the cookies right up. So if you wonder how to soften hard cookies quickly? Microwave is the way!

    How long should you chill sugar cookie dough? ›

    Transfer the dough, still between the two pieces of parchment paper, to a baking sheet. Chill in the fridge for at least two hours to allow the dough to firm up, and up to three days ahead. Proceed with the recipe as written - such as my easy sugar cookie recipe.

    What is the best thickness for sugar cookies? ›

    Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.

    What is the best thickness for decorated sugar cookies? ›

    Most recipes suggest rolling the dough to ¼-inch thick because it's easy to work with (less breakage) and achieves a soft, tender cookie. Roll out a portion of dough at a time and keep the remaining dough in the refrigerator.

    How can I keep my sugar cookies soft? ›

    Putting a slice of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies will help the cookies stay soft: fresh bread is moist, and that slice will give up its moisture for the greater good: keeping the cookies from drying out. We recommend white bread so that no flavor is transferred to the cookies.

    Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

    Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

    What happens if you add too much sugar to sugar cookies? ›

    Sugar sweetens the cookies and makes them an enticing golden brown. Adding too little sugar can affect the taste and texture of cookies. Adding too much can cause them to be brittle. Take your time creaming the sugar and butter together at the beginning.

    Can you over mix sugar cookie dough? ›

    Overmixing the dough

    Well, it's not. You really can overmix sugar cookie dough, which then leads to a tougher, chewier cookie. To ensure a light, fluffy cookie every time, mix until your ingredients are just incorporated and then put the mixing spoon down for good.

    Why do my sugar cookies taste so bland? ›

    If the baked cookies taste a bit bland (and if the dough is fairly soft and receptive to additions), add salt and/or spices to the remaining dough before baking. If, on the other hand, they're a bit salty for your taste, try rolling the dough balls in sugar before baking.

    How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

    Double Your Yolks Most cookie recipes call for at least one egg. You can try omitting the white of each egg, which tends to dry out when baked, and replacing it with an additional yolk. Plus, egg yolks have more fat than egg whites, which helps to keep your cookies moist and chewy.

    What makes cookies crispy or soft? ›

    Sugar dissolved in baking forms a syrup as the dough heats up. Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

    What determines the moistness of a cookie? ›

    Water in the butter will aid in leavening the cookie during baking and any remaining water after baking will contribute to moistness in the cookie's texture. The higher butter cookie has slightly more spread than the low butter and control. The biggest difference is in the flavor and mouthfeel of the cookie.

    How to make cookie mix softer? ›

    If you like a chewier texture in your cookies, toss in an extra egg yolk to your mix. Adding extra egg yolks works wonders to enhance the moisture content in a cookie, making it super soft and gooey. As a family that loves a soft cookie, this is one of our favorite hacks!

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