Best 10 Shotwells Famous Sugar Cookies Recipes

SOFT CUT-OUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using) and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be relatively soft. If the dough seems too soft and sticky for rolling, add 1 more Tablespoon of flour.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. 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.
• Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with flour. Place a piece of parchment on top. (This prevents sticking.) Place the 2nd rolled-out dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top dough piece from the refrigerator. If it's sticking to the bottom, run your hand under it to help remove it- see me do this in the video above. Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used. Repeat with 2nd piece of dough. (Note: It doesn't seem like a lot of dough, but you get a lot of cookies from the dough scraps you re-roll.)
• Arrange cookies on baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
• Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing or easy glaze icing. Feel free to tint either icing with gel food coloring. See post above for recommended decorating tools. No need to cover the decorated cookies as you wait for the icing to set. If it's helpful, decorate the cookies directly on a baking sheet so you can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help speed up the icing setting.
• Enjoy cookies right away or wait until the icing sets to serve them. Once the icing has set, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending. Plain or decorated cookies stay soft for about 5 days when covered tightly at room temperature. For longer storage, cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days.

CRAVE-WORTHY SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Set racks in middle of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy, a few minutes. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat in the egg. Scrape down the bowl again, then add the flour mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together into a cohesive mass. It will be a little sticky.
• Place the remaining ½ cup cup sugar in a shallow bowl. Moisten your hands so the dough doesn't stick to them. Pinch off the dough by tablespoonfuls, shape into rough balls (see note below), roll in the sugar to coat, and place 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Using a flat-bottomed glass, flatten the cookies to ¼-inch thick. Bake for 10 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back midway through to ensure even cooking. The cookies will turn golden on the bottom but remain pale on top. Cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. (Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel to keep the dough moist between batches.)
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The Cookie Dough can be Frozen for up to 3 Months: Roll the dough into balls, let set on a baking sheet in the freezer, then place in a sealable bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer. (Allow 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven.) To Freeze After Baking: Let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.

JUNE'S FAMOUS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Begin by creaming the powdered and granulated sugars with the butter and vanilla.
• Add eggs one at a time and then oil until incorporated. Gradually beat in dry ingredients. Mix well.
• Use a large scoop to drop on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

SHOTWELL'S FAMOUS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix 1 cup sugar with 5 cups flour and baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt.
• Blend butter in with pastry cutter/pastry blender until crumbly.
• Beat eggs slightly in separate bowl and add remaining sugar gradually to egg mixture.
• Blend buttermilk and vanilla into egg mixture, then blend egg mixture together with dry ingredients. I use powdered buttermilk mix.
• Chill dough in plastic wrap or plastic bags in refrigerator until ready to bake (or use immediately). If you are short on time, put the dough in the freezer for 15 minutes or so, rather than in the refrigerator overnight.
• Turn 1/4 of dough onto lightly floured board.
• Roll to about 1/8" to 1/4" thick. Cut with cookie cutters or hand-cut into circles or other shapes. Use cookie cutters that are relatively simple -- fancier cookie shapes tend to burn or break more easily with this recipe.
• Dip cookie top lightly into cinnamon/sugar blend or into nutmeg/sugar blend, or shake on top of cookies.
• Bake at 375 ° F for 6-9 minutes, until *very* light brown at edges.
• Put on wire rack to cool.
• Source: Barbara/Eric Shotwell.

A PERFECT SUGAR COOKIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Sift together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, oil, confectioners' sugar and white sugar until well blended.
• Stir in the eggs, vanilla and lemon extracts.
• Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until well blended.
• Roll the dough into walnut sized balls.
• Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet. Flatten cookies to 1/8 inch thickness using the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Colored sugar may be used if you do not plan to frost cookies later.
• Bake for 9 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

WORLD'S BEST SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 cup granulated sugar.
• Beat in eggs until smooth.
• Slowly stir in oil, vanilla, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and flour.
• Chill for easy handling.
• Shape into walnut-size balls. Dip in sugar. Place on baking sheet and press down with the bottom of a glass.
• Bake at 350 degrees 10 to 12 minutes.
• Make about 4 dozen.

LARGE BATCH SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix together flour, salt, soda, and baking powder and set aside.
• Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Add vanilla, beat. Add milk, beat. Slowly add in the flour mixture, one to two cups at a time, and mix well.
• When all ingredients have been added in, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least two hours or overnight before baking.
• Before baking, preheat the oven to 350.
• Scoop dough by teaspoon-fulls and roll into balls, then place onto cookie sheet. Use a kitchen glass dipped in white sugar to flatten the balls of dough. Bake in preheated oven aprox 12 min, or until golden.
• Let set on cookie sheet for aprox 3 min, until firm, then transfer to cooling rack, or wax paper, to cool completely.
• *These can also be sprinkled with Cinnamon before baking to make Snickerdoodle or Spice Cookies.

CLASSIC SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, the softened butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the almond extract and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Divide dough in half; shape dough into 2 disks, and wrap in plastic wrap. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Roll each disk on lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick. Cut with 2- to 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters into desired shapes. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts at least 2 inches apart.
• Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• In medium bowl, beat 3 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla with spoon until smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too stiff to spread, add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time. Tint with food color. Spread frosting on cooled cookies. Decorate as desired with colored sugar or candy sprinkles. Let stand about 4 hours or until frosting is set. Store covered in airtight container at room temperature with waxed paper between layers.

THE BEST ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and baking soda; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Shape into 1-in. balls. Roll in additional sugar. Place on greased baking sheets; flatten with a glass. Bake until set, 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.