Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies recipe is a soft and chewy recipe, which is made with real butter and vanilla bean paste. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, perfect for a simple treat or a holiday platter, ready in about an hour.
Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies Ingredients
A simple, classic list for the ultimate soft-baked cookie.
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups sugar, plus 1/4 cup for rolling
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
How To Make Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies
A step-by-step guide to these wonderfully soft and chewy cookies.
- Prep and Mix Dry Ingredients: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the room-temperature butter with 1 1/3 cups of the sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Form the Dough: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla. On low speed, gradually fold in the flour mixture until it is just combined. Do not overmix.
- Scoop, Roll, and Chill: Place the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar on a shallow plate. Using a large scoop (about 1/3 cup), scoop the dough directly into the sugar and roll to coat it well. Place the sugar-coated dough ball on the prepared baking sheet and press lightly to flatten the top. Chill the formed dough in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
- Bake the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Arrange the chilled cookie dough mounds on two unlined baking sheets, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cookies are just set and the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
For the perfect soft, not crispy, sugar cookie every time.
- How do I get soft, not crispy, sugar cookies? The secret is to not overbake them. Pull them from the oven when the edges are just lightly golden and the centers look set but are still very soft. They will continue to firm up as they cool on the hot baking sheet.
- Why use room temperature ingredients? Using room temperature butter and eggs is crucial for the creaming process. It allows the butter and sugar to incorporate more air, which results in a softer, more tender cookie.
- Do I have to chill the dough? Yes, this is an important step. Chilling the scooped dough for 15 minutes before baking helps the cookies to spread less, resulting in a thicker, chewier cookie.
- Can I make these cookies smaller? Absolutely! The recipe calls for very large 1/3-cup scoops. For smaller cookies, use a standard 1.5-tablespoon cookie scoop. You will need to reduce the baking time significantly, likely to around 10-12 minutes.
What To Serve With Sugar Cookies
The perfect accompaniment for this classic, comforting cookie.
These soft and chewy sugar cookies are a perfect treat on their own. They are a classic pairing with:
- A tall, cold glass of milk
- A hot cup of coffee or tea
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream to make a cookie sandwich
How To Store Sugar Cookies
Keeping your cookies soft and fresh.
- Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay soft and delicious for up to three days.
- Freeze: These cookies freeze beautifully. You can freeze the baked, cooled cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to three months. You can also freeze the unbaked scoops of dough; just bake them from frozen, adding an extra 1 to 2 minutes to the bake time.
Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per large cookie.
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Fat: 18 g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I add frosting to these cookies?
Yes, but they are designed to be a simple, non-frosted sugar cookie. If you do want to frost them, a simple buttercream or a cream cheese frosting would be delicious. You may want to skip rolling them in sugar before baking if you plan to add frosting.
Can I make these into cut-out cookies?
No, this dough is too soft and is not suitable for making cut-out cookies. It’s specifically designed to be a u0022dropu0022 or u0022rollu0022 style cookie for a soft, chewy texture.
What is vanilla bean paste?
Vanilla bean paste is a thick, syrupy mixture that contains the tiny seeds from a vanilla bean. It provides a more intense, visually appealing vanilla flavor with beautiful black specks. If you don’t have it, an equal amount of high-quality pure vanilla extract is a perfect substitute.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Mississippi Mud Pie Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Frozen Lemonade Pie Recipe
Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies Recipe
Description
Classic, bakery-style soft and chewy sugar cookies, made with a simple dough, rolled in sugar for a slightly crisp exterior, and baked until the edges are just golden.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a stand mixer, cream the room-temperature butter and 1 1/3 cups of sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
- On low speed, gently mix in the flour mixture until just combined.
- Scoop the dough (using a 1/3-cup scoop for large cookies), roll the balls in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, and place on a baking sheet. Press to flatten slightly.
- Chill the dough balls for 15 minutes.
- Bake the chilled cookies for 16-18 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.
Notes
- u003cliu003eUsing room temperature butter and eggs is crucial for the perfect soft and light texture.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eDo not over-bake these cookies! They should look slightly underdone in the center when you pull them from the oven to ensure a chewy result.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eChilling the dough before baking helps to create a thicker cookie that spreads less.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThe unbaked cookie dough balls can be frozen for up to three months for a quick, fresh-baked treat anytime.u003c/liu003e
