Buttery Sugar Cookies

Classic buttery sugar cookies rolled in coarse sanding sugar for a sweet, crispy exterior. These tender cookies are made with simple ingredients for a delicious homemade treat.

24 servings
1 hr 56 min

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup coarse sanding sugar
  • equipment

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Beat together butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer (preferably fitted with paddle attachment) or 6 with a handheld. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low, then mix in flour.

    6 min

  2. 2.

    Halve dough and form each half into a disk, then wrap in wax paper. Put each disk in a resealable plastic bag and chill until firm enough to roll into balls, about 1 hour.

    60 min

  3. 3.

    Heat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

    10 min

  4. 4.

    While oven heats, work with 1 piece of dough (keep remaining dough chilled). Roll 1 level tablespoon of dough into a ball, then roll in coarse sugar in a shallow bowl to coat completely. (If dough becomes too soft to roll easily into balls, quick-chill in the freezer or chill in the refrigerator.)

    15 min

  5. 5.

    Place balls 2 inches apart on a lined baking sheet. With the flat bottom of a glass, flatten balls into 2-inch rounds.

    10 min

  6. 6.

    Bake cookies, one sheet at time, until bottoms are golden, 12 to 15 minutes total. Cool on sheets 2 minutes, then transfer with a metal spatula to racks to cool completely. Make more cookies with remaining dough on cooled baking sheets.

    15 min

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