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    Home » Desserts » Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies

    Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies

    Published: May 9, 2022 · Jill Baird · Leave a Comment

    chewy sugar cookies, how to make drop sugar cookies soft

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    soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe, sugar cookies ready for frosting.
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    soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe

    These Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies are buttery, tender, and so simple to make.  No need to roll or chill the dough for these chewy sugar cookies - just make, bake and eat.

    Jump to:
    • The Best Chewy Sugar Cookies
    • Decorating Chewy Sugar Cookie Ideas 
    • Ingredients in Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe
    • How to Make Chewy Soft Sugar Cookies
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing and Freezing
    • Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe

    The Best Chewy Sugar Cookies

    Sometimes you want a crisp, cookie-cutter sugar cookie and sometimes you just want something you can sink your teeth into... enter the best soft, chewy sugar cookie! Wa-Bam! This recipe makes the ultimate Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies that you can enjoy all year long, holidays or not.  They are buttery, super tender with just a hint of vanilla. 

    Make this recipe as is, or get creative! Try adding other extracts, sprinkles, and food coloring, or frosting the tops and decorating however you'd like.

    Note that this vanilla cookie recipe produces soft and chewy drop sugar cookies that won't work for cutting out shapes.  If cookie cutter cookies are what you are going for, check out our Best Rolled Sugar Cookies recipe.

    soft and chewy Sugar cookies cooling on a wire rack.

    Decorating Chewy Sugar Cookie Ideas 

    Want to decorate these cookies for the holidays or birthday parties?  Here are a few ideas:

    • Roll the dough in plain white sugar or even colored sugar before baking, just as you would do for Snickerdoodles.  
    • Frost the tops using Buttercream Frosting, Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting, Cream Cheese Frosting or even our easy Royal Icing recipe.  Then, sprinkle or decorate with sprinkles, small candies, chocolate chips or whatever else you’d like.
    • Add rainbow or holiday-colored sprinkles to the cookie dough.
    • Dip or drizzle your soft drop sugar cookies with melted chocolate.
    A stack of soft chewy sugar cookies on a table with sprinkles.

    Ingredients in Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe

    • Butter - be sure that your butter is soft before making the dough.  You can either leave it out overnight at room temperature or place in a microwave-safe container and heat for about 10 seconds at a time just until soft.
    • Sugar - this recipe calls for white granulated sugar.
    • Eggs - it’s best to pull your eggs out to room temperature at least 30 minutes before making your dough so that they don’t “shock” the butter.
    • Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract tastes best.
    • Salt - sea salt works great.
    • Baking Powder - this helps the cookies to rise in the oven.
    • Baking Soda - this reacts with the baking powder to help the cookies rise.
    • Flour - this recipe uses all-purpose flour.
    Baked soft chewy sugar cookies on a baking sheet, sugar cookies chewy cooling.

    How to Make Chewy Soft Sugar Cookies

    1. Make the sugar cookie dough.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and sugar and cream together using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, or about 3-5 minutes.  Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed and scraping between each addition.  Then, add the vanilla and salt and mix just until combined.  In a separate large bowl, whisk together the baking powder, baking soda and flour.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
    2. Optional - chill the dough.  Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes to 2 hours.
    3. Scoop cookies.  Using an ice cream scoop or a spoon, form 2" balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet about 2" apart.
    4. Bake.  Bake in a preheated oven for 8-9 minutes, or until lightly browned on the edges.
    5. Cool.  Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
    6. Serve.  Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.  Enjoy!
    Three photos showing a mixing bowl with cookie dough, a baking sheet with balls of cookie dough and a baking sheet with baked cookies. how to make sugar cookie recipe chewy.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need to chill this cookie dough?

    With this recipe, it’s really not supercritical that you chill the dough before baking.  If you have the time, it’s never a bad idea!  

    How long do soft sugar cookies take to bake?

    Since they are meant to be soft and chewy, you really need to keep an eye on these cookies to make sure you don’t over-bake them.  They bake quickly at 350 degrees - usually between 7-10 minutes for me.  They are done once they have spread out, no longer look wet in the center and have just barely started to brown around the edges.

    How do I keep these cookies soft and chewy?

    The most important thing is to be sure you don’t over-bake them, so keep a close eye on these cookies in the oven.  Also, be sure and measure accurately.  The ratio of flour to butter and eggs is super important to keeping a good soft and chewy balance.

    A stack of chewy sugar cookies on a wire cooling rack, sugar cookie recipe chewy.

    Storing and Freezing

    • Room Temperature: to keep your soft, chewy sugar cookie, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
    • Freezer: you can freeze both the baked cookies and the unbaked cookie dough.  As long as the cookies are stored in an airtight container or freezer bags, they will last for up to 2 months.
    • To Bake Cookies from Frozen: you can pull frozen dough balls from the freezer and bake directly in a preheated oven, adding an extra couple of minutes to the baking time.
    chewy sugar cookies, how to make drop sugar cookies soft
    Print

    Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe

    These Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies are buttery, tender and so simple to make.  No need to roll or chill the dough - just make, bake and eat.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 24 people
    Calories 306kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Butter room temperature
    • 2 cup Sugar
    • 2 large Eggs room temperature
    • 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • ¾ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and sugar and cream together using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, or about 3-5 minutes.
    • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed and scraping between each addition. Then, add the vanilla and salt and mix just until combined.
    • In a separate large bowl, whisk together the baking powder, baking soda and flour. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
    • Using an ice cream scoop or a spoon, form 2" balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet (or baking sheets with parchment paper) about 2" apart.
    • Bake in a preheated oven for 8-9 minutes, or until lightly golden on the edges.
    • Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • Serve immediately or store in a an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 306IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg

    Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes:

    • Easy and Chewy Cowboy Cookies
    • Chocolate Covered Wafer Cookies
    • Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza
    • Oatmeal Butterscotch Chip Cookies
    • Crushed Oreo Cookies
    • Soft Gingersnap Cookies
    • More Cookies and Bars
    • More No-Bake Cookies

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    Pinterest pin for Chewy Sugar Cookie recipe.

    These simple Soft, and Chewy Sugar Cookies are buttery and tender with just a hint of vanilla. No need to roll or chill the dough for these chewy sugar cookies - just make, bake and eat.

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