• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • Beef Gravy
  • Store

Cooking With Curls logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • Beef Gravy
  • Store
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • Beef Gravy
    • Store
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Cookies » Sugar Cookies & holiday phenomonon

    Published: Dec 23, 2012 · Modified: Jun 5, 2020 by Lisa Johnson

    Sugar Cookies & holiday phenomonon

    • Share
    • Tweet

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The strangest thing happens in Cedar Rapids during the holiday season, no it doesn't have anything to do with Sugar Cookies, the population more than doubles. Or at least that is how it seems. The roads are packed with cars anytime of the day or night. The stores are crammed full of people. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas it looks more like Los Angeles than Cedar Rapids. So here's my question.....

    This is my all-time favorite recipe for cut-out Sugar Cookies that I have been making since I was a child! cookingwithcurls.com

    Where are all of these people hiding during the rest of the year? They must come from somewhere, but where? If the parking lots were filled with out of state license plates it would explain it, but they are not! In Iowa the license plates list the county where you live, and the majority of the plates in the parking lots say LINN county. Are there really thousands of people living here that only shop during the holidays? If anyone knows the answer, please let me know.

    These Cut-out Sugar Cookies can be decorated any way you like with sugar, glaze or frosting! cookingwithcurls.com

    Are you ready to talk cookies? Cut-out Sugar Cookies to be exact!! Each year I make two batches, one with colored sugars and one with frosting and sprinkles. They are a bit time consuming, but the dough can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator for several days or even frozen for up to three months. This year I even made them with a simple glaze....

    Cut-out Sugar Cookies topped with a simple glaze are exactly what every cookie platter needs! cookingwithcurls.com

    Winter is Coming! 😉 Get it? Anyway.....

    How to Make Cut-Out Sugar Cookies:

    Beat the butter, shortening, eggs, and vanilla together in a large bowl.....

    Beat the butter, shortening, egg, flavorings, and powdered sugar in a large bowl cookingwithcurls.com

    Blend in flour, baking powder, and salt.....

    Stir in the flour and salt cookingwithcurls.com

    Cover or wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.

    When ready to bake, remove the dough from the refrigerator.....

    Chilled Sugar Cookie dough cookingwithcurls.com

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

    Cut the dough in half, set the other half off to the side, and roll the dough 1/8th-inch thick on a lightly floured surface.....

    Sugar Cookie dough rolled out on the counter cookingwithcurls.com

    Cut into desired shapes making sure to keep the cuts as close as possible.....

    Shapes cut-out of the dough with cookie cutters cookingwithcurls.com

    Remove the excess dough and carefully remove the cut-outs.....

    Remove the excess dough from around the cookie cut-outs cookingwithcurls.com

    Place on the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with sugar and/or sprinkles, if using.....

    Cookie cut-outs with sugar and sprinkles on a parchment paper lined baking sheet cookingwithcurls.com

    Leave plain if you will be frosting your cookies.

    Bake for 6 - 8 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges.....

    Undecorated cookies on a baking sheet cookingwithcurls.com

    Do Not over bake your cookies unless you like crunchy cookies!

    Remove cookies from the baking sheet and place on a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.....

    A plate of yummy Christmas Cookies! cookingwithcurls.com

    I dare you to just eat one! 😉

    These Cut-out Sugar Cookies are crisp around the edges, soft and tender on the inside, and topped with sugar, glaze or frosting! cookingwithcurls.com

    These Cut-out Sugar Cookies are crisp around the edges, and soft and tender on the inside...YUM!!

    Notes:

    • If your cookies are thicker than 1/8th inch they will take longer to bake, so keep an eye on them!
    • My cookies took 6 minutes to cook, 7 minutes was darker than I wanted.
    • Once you have cut out your shapes, roll unused dough into a ball and set aside. Continue cutting shapes out of the remaining fresh dough. Re-roll all of the used dough together and cut out additional shapes. The more your roll your dough, the tougher your cookies will be so keep those cuts close together to minimize your scraps.

    Additional Holiday Cookies that your family will love:

    • Candy Cane Cookies - Show above
    • Snowballs aka Russian Teacakes - Shown above
    • Chocolate Mocha Cookies - Shown above and in desperate need of new images!
    • Caramel Cream Sandwich Cookies
    • Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

    I pointed out all of my other favorite holiday cookies, but Cut-out Sugar Cookies are perfect anytime of year! Pink hearts for Valentine's Day, bunnies and eggs for Easter, spiders and pumpkins for Halloween, the possibilities are endless!!

    How do I frost my Cut-out Sugar Cookies?

    This is my favorite Buttercream Frosting recipe that I use on cookies and cupcakes!

    How do I glaze my cookies?

    With this amazing Cookie Glaze recipe of course!

    How do you like your Cut-out Sugar Cookies? Frosting? Sugar? Glaze?

    Enjoy!!

    This is my all-time favorite recipe for cut-out Sugar Cookies that I have been making since I was a child! cookingwithcurls.com

    Cut-out Sugar Cookies

    Cut-out Sugar Cookies are a family favorite that are perfect topped with sugar, sprinkles, glaze or frosting! 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cookies, sugar cookies, cut-out cookies, Christmas cookies, recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 minutes
    Chilling Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 21 minutes
    Servings: 48 Cookies
    Calories: 69kcal
    Author: Lisa Johnson

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
    • ¼ cup shortening (you can omit the shortening and use all butter if preferred)
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Beat the butter, shortening, eggs, and vanilla together in a large bowl.
    • Blend in flour, baking powder, and salt.
    • Cover or wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
    • When ready to bake, remove the dough from the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
    • Cut the dough in half, set the other half off to the side, and roll the dough 1/8th-inch thick on a lightly floured surface.
    • Cut into desired shapes making sure to keep the cuts as close as possible.
    • Remove the excess dough and carefully remove the cut-outs. Place on the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with sugar and/or sprinkles, if using. Leave plain if you will be frosting your cookies.
    • Bake for 6 – 8 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges. Do Not over bake your cookies unless you like crunchy cookies!
    • Remove cookies from the baking sheet and place on a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.

    Notes

    • If your cookies are thicker than 1/8th inch they will take longer to bake, so keep an eye on them!
    • My cookies took 6 minutes to cook, 7 minutes was darker than I wanted.
    • Once you have cut out your shapes, roll unused dough into a ball and set aside.  Continue cutting shapes out of the remaining fresh dough.  Re-roll all of the used dough together and cut out additional shapes.  The more your roll your dough, the tougher your cookies will be so keep those cuts close together to minimize your scraps.
    • Nutrition Facts do not include frosting/glaze/sugar toppings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 18mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    « Candy Cane Cookies
    Chocolate Mocha Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joanne T Ferguson says

      July 11, 2013 at 10:08 pm

      G'day and how cute, true!
      It wouldn't be Christmas or Christmas in July without sugar cookies too!
      Cheers! Joanne
      Foodie Friends Party
      Cheers! Joanne

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Headshot of Lisa Johnson

    Hi, I'm Lisa - Welcome to my kitchen! I have a passion for good food and love sharing my creations with friends, family and everyone that loves a homecooked meal. This is where I share my favorite recipes with step-by-step instructions as well as tips and tricks to help you make these delicious recipes in your home.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Watermelon Mojito Recipe
    • Instant Pot Veracruz Pork Chops
    • Watermelon Pina Colada
    • Fish Taco Salad
    Shop Lisa's Favorite Products on amazon.com with 5 product images.

    As seen in...

    List of magazine where my recipes have been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Info

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates & receive a FREE Instant Pot e-Book filled with the Top 10 reader's favorite recipes!

    Topics

    • Instant Pot
    • Tropical Pina Colada
    • Beef Gravy
    • Recipe Index

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2012-2022 Cooking with Curls® | All Rights Reserved