Description
Sweet birthday sugar cookies bring delightful memories of childhood celebrations. Buttery, perfectly frosted treats promise delectable joy for guests craving classic homemade comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
Leavening Agents:
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Flavor and Decoration:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup rainbow sprinkles (jimmies work best)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by setting the temperature to 350F (175C) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie performance.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, whip butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes airy and voluminous, which typically requires approximately 2-3 minutes of vigorous blending.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
- Create a separate mixing zone and thoroughly combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt using a whisking technique to ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Gently introduce the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring with minimal manipulation to prevent overworking the dough.
- Delicately fold sprinkles throughout the dough, distributing them evenly for a festive appearance.
- Form uniform dough portions using a 1½ tablespoon measure, strategically placing each ball on the prepared baking sheets with approximately 2 inches of separation.
- Transfer cookies to the preheated oven and bake for 9-11 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges while maintaining a soft, tender center.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize, then carefully relocate to a wire cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth creaming, which creates a lighter, fluffier cookie texture.
- Use gel food coloring in sprinkles for more vibrant colors without affecting dough consistency.
- For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurements.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and create more defined cookie shapes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg