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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Published: Dec 10, 2018 by Dina-Marie · Modified: Aug 11, 2022 1 Comment This post may contain affiliate links

    Homemade Sugar Cookies with Healthier Options

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    This homemade sugar cookies recipe is tried and true - a traditional cookie recipe. If that is what you are looking for, then you have come to the right place. But, don't worry if you are looking for a healthier sugar cookie because I have healthy options too!

    Homemade Sugar Cookies Recipe shown on plate with blue tablecloth

    Like Cocoons, this homemade sugar cookie recipe is a holiday tradition for our family.

    Now, I am sure most people have a favorite homemade sugar cookie recipe so, why would you need mine? Well, one bite says it all!

    Just in case you don't have a homemade sugar cookie recipe - here is our family's recipe my mother-in-law passed down.

    She made homemade sugar cookies every Christmas. They were a holiday baking tradition and I have continued the tradition with my children.

    Sugar Cookies - 5 Easy Steps

    There are 5 easy steps to making these traditional sugar cookies:

    1. Mixed ingredients
    2. Chill the dough
    3. Cut into Shapes
    4. Decorate - Depending on your decoration, you may bake first.
    5. Bake

    I usually quadruple the sugar cookie recipe and divide the dough into balls so that each child will have their own ball of sugar cookie dough to roll out and decorate.

    Even the older children still at home want their turn! As you can see, they get really creative and even do multi-colored sugar cookies!

    An overhead shot of homemade sugar cookies ready to bake on a tray covered with colored sugar

    I love traditions that you never outgrow!

    There is just something about fitting the cookie cutters on the dough, placing them on the pan, decorating and then of course, eating them because you know those were YOUR sugar cookies!

    Healthier Sugar Cookies

    Sugar cookies fall into the 80/20 Rule of eating in our home. But, it is always nice to have healthier options available.

    I normally decorate sugar cookies with colored sugar sprinkles (see recipe for instructions) because they use less sugar than a powdered sugar icing (instructions given in recipe).

    How to make traditional sugar cookies healthier:

    • Use a combination of white and whole wheat flour 50/50. I have tried using only whole wheat flour but they turn out heavy.
    • Spring wheat, also known as pastry wheat or white wheat, works best for the whole wheat flour as it is lighter and makes fluffier baked goods.
    • Substitute turbinado sugar for the regular white sugar - it is not as processed. It also has slightly larger crystals. If you are new to making healthier recipes, you may find that it is not quite as sweet as you are used to.
    • I use the colored sugar crystals as icing rather than a powdered sugar glaze because it uses less sugar and the cookies are still nice and sweet.

    Some Fun Tips For Making Homemade Sugar Cookies

    • Try adding different sprinkles (colors and shapes)
    • Use fun cookie cutters to make unusual shapes
    • Use different colored sugar to create patterns
    • Edible glitter is always fun!
    • Icing with my Powdered Sugar Icing allows for decorative piping, drizzling or spreading with a knife

    Homemade Sugar Cookies Recipe shown on plate with blue tablecloth

    If you’ve tried this recipe for Homemade Sugar Cookies or any other recipe on Cultured Palate please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YouTube and TWITTER.

    Homemade Sugar Cookies Recipe shown on plate with blue tablecloth

    Sugar Cookies

    Cultured Palate

    This rolled sugar cookie recipe proves that holiday traditions can be fun and delicious.

    5 from 3 votes
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    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 35 mins

    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American

    Servings 24 servings
    Calories 176 kcal

    Ingredients

      

    For Cookie Dough

    • 1 c butter
    • ⅔ c raw sugar
    • 1 egg farm fresh
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla almond or lemon favoring may also be substituted - make your own!
    • 2 ½ c flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    For Colored Sugar Sprinkles

    • ½ c sugar
    • 2 - 6 drops food coloring adjust to desired color

    For Powdered Sugar Icing

    • 1 c powdered sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 tablespoon milk more if needed for desired consistency

    Instructions

     

    • Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
    • Add and beat the egg and vanilla.
    • Combine the flour and salt together.
    • Add to the butter, sugar, egg and vanilla and mix well.
    • Chill the dough for 3 - 4 hours before rolling it out. We usually refrigerate it overnight.
    • Preheat oven to 350F.
    • Flour area to be used for rolling out the cookies. Use as little flour as possible to prevent dry cookies.
    • Place dough on floured area and roll to ¼ inch thickness. Again, use flour to prevent sticking during rolling, but as little as possible.
    • Cut into desired shapes.
    • Decorate with colored sugar sprinkles if desired. Mix sugar and food coloring - sprinkle on cookies.
    • Place cookies on greased cookie sheet
    • Bake at 350F for 10 -12 minutes or until firm. 
    • Allow to cool before decorating with powdered sugar icing. Mix powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Add more milk if necessary for desired consistency. Thinner icing can be drizzled. Thicker icing can be piped or spread with a knife.

    Notes

    Some Fun Tips For Making Homemade Sugar Cookies
    • Try adding different sprinkles (colors and shapes)
    • Use fun cookie cutters to make unusual shapes
    • Use different colored sugar to create patterns
    • Edible glitter is always fun!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3cookiesCalories: 176kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 119mgPotassium: 20mgSugar: 14gVitamin A: 245IUCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.6mg

    Keyword easy, holidays, kids, sugar cookies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    What holiday traditions do you have? Leave a comment, I would love to hear about them!

     

     

    More Cookies

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    • How To Make Buckeyes - A Holiday Tradition
    • Healthy Chocolate Covered Bacon
    • Pumpkin Spice Cookies

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Emily Kemp says

      April 03, 2018 at 3:01 am

      5 stars
      Sugar cookies are always so fun to make, I don't actually have a recipe I use every time so will definitely try this one!

      Reply

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