American
Vanilla Cutout Sugar Cookies
Buttery vanilla cutout cookies keep crisp edges and a tender, even crumb, with restrained almond aroma and a light sparkling-sugar finish that needs no icing.
30 servings · 40 minutes prep · 22 minutes cook
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cool room temperature, 65°F/18°C
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, optional, optional; replace with an equal amount of vanilla extract for a nut-free flavor profile, verifying all labels
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
Finish
- 2 tablespoons coarse sparkling or granulated sugar
Directions
Mix and Roll the Dough
- Beat the butter and the dough portion of granulated sugar with the paddle on medium-low for 2 minutes, until creamy and slightly lightened but not fluffy. Scrape the bowl. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt; mix into the butter on low just until no dry flour remains. Divide in half. Roll each portion between parchment to an even 1/4 inch / 6 mm thickness.
Chill and Cut
- Stack the parchment-covered sheets on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 90 minutes, until firm. Heat the oven to 350°F / 175°C with a rack in the center and line two cool baking sheets.
- Peel away the top parchment, cut shapes about 2 1/2 inches / 6 cm wide, and place them 1 1/2 inches / 4 cm apart. Sprinkle with the finishing sugar. Refrigerate the filled sheet for 15 minutes. Reroll scraps only once.
Bake and Cool
- Bake one sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating after 7 minutes, until tops are matte and the bottom edge is barely golden. Keep waiting dough cold.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely before storing airtight for up to 5 days.
Allergen and Product Check
- Allergen note: contains wheat, milk, and egg. Almond extract may present an almond/tree-nut concern depending on formulation; it is optional and may be replaced with an equal amount of vanilla after label verification.
