Easy Spiced Sugar Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These easy spiced sugar cookies are a perfect treat to enjoy any time of year. Soft, buttery, and delicately flavored with warm spices, they offer a delightful twist on the classic sugar cookie.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225g) butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup (200g) sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups (375g) flour
- ⅓ cup (45g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup caster sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch ground nutmeg
- Pinch ground cloves
- Pinch ground cardamom
Instructions
- Step 1: In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
- Step 2: Beat in the vanilla extract and the egg, scraping down the bowl after mixing.
- Step 3: Sift together the flour, cornstarch, and salt, then add to the butter mixture. Mix on medium speed until incorporated.
- Step 4: Divide the dough into two portions, then roll each piece out between two sheets of parchment paper.
- Step 5: Use a cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on baking sheets.
- Step 6: Chill the cookies in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Step 7: Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350°F).
- Step 8: Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes until they turn golden brown.
- Step 9: While the cookies bake, combine the caster sugar with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom in a small bowl.
- Step 10: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheets.
- Step 11: After cooling slightly, coat the cookies in the spiced sugar mixture and transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Tips & Variations
- For a richer flavor, substitute half the butter with browned butter before mixing.
- Try adding finely chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the dough for extra texture.
- If you prefer a stronger spice flavor, increase the cinnamon and cardamom slightly.
- Use different cookie cutter shapes to match the season or occasion.
Storage
Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze for up to three months. Reheat briefly in a warm oven to restore some softness if desired.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of sifted flour?
Yes, you can use all-purpose flour, but be sure to sift it to avoid lumps and ensure an even texture in your cookies.
Why do the cookies need to chill before baking?
Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape during baking and results in a more tender texture. It also allows the flavors to meld better.
Print
Easy Spiced Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: About 30 cookies 1x
Description
These easy spiced sugar cookies are buttery, tender, and infused with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Perfect for holiday baking or anytime you crave a fragrant, sweet treat. The cookies are chilled before baking to hold their shape, then coated in a spiced sugar mixture for an extra layer of flavor and crunch.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (225g) butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup (200g) sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups (375g) flour
- 1/3 cup (45g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
Spiced Sugar Coating
- ½ cup caster sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch ground nutmeg
- pinch ground cloves
- pinch ground cardamom
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the room temperature butter and sugar until the mixture is light and creamy, which helps to incorporate air for a tender cookie.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the vanilla extract and egg, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure everything is fully combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix on medium speed until fully incorporated to form a soft dough.
- Roll Out Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions. Roll each portion out between two sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even thickness.
- Cut Cookies: Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the rolled dough. Transfer the cut cookies to prepared cookie sheets, leaving some space between each.
- Chill Cookies: Place the cookie sheets with cut-out cookies into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This chilling step helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF) to get it ready for baking the cookies.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies on the baking sheets in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they turn golden brown around the edges.
- Prepare Spiced Sugar: While the cookies bake, mix together the caster sugar with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom to create the spiced sugar coating.
- Cool and Coat Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes to set. Then, gently coat the slightly cooled cookies in the spiced sugar mixture.
- Final Cooling: Transfer the coated cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely. Refrigerating the dough and letting the cookies cool thoroughly helps them to set their shape and prevents breakage.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and helps maintain cookie shape.
- Rolling between parchment paper avoids sticking and makes transferring easier.
- Allow cookies to cool before coating to avoid them breaking apart.
- For a stronger almond flavor, a few extra drops of almond extract can be added, but be careful as it is potent.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: spiced sugar cookies, easy sugar cookies, holiday cookies, cinnamon cookies, buttery cookies
