Homemade Sugar Cookies with Healthier Options

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!

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!

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

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5 from 3 votes

Print

Sugar Cookies

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

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

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy, holidays, kids, sugar cookies

Servings: 24 servings

Calories: 176 kcal

Author: Cultured Palate

Ingredients

For Cookie Dough

• 1 c butter
• 2/3 c raw sugar
• 1 egg farm fresh
• 1 tsp vanilla almond or lemon favoring may also be substituted - make your own!
• 2 1/2 c flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

For Colored Sugar Sprinkles

• 1/2 c sugar
• 2 - 6 drops food coloring adjust to desired color

For Powdered Sugar Icing

• 1 c powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 Tbsp milk more if needed for desired consistency

Instructions

1. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add and beat the egg and vanilla.
3. Combine the flour and salt together.
4. Add to the butter, sugar, egg and vanilla and mix well.
5. Chill the dough for 3 - 4 hours before rolling it out. We usually refrigerate it overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350F.
7. Flour area to be used for rolling out the cookies. Use as little flour as possible to prevent dry cookies.
8. Place dough on floured area and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Again, use flour to prevent sticking during rolling, but as little as possible.
9. Cut into desired shapes.

10. Decorate with colored sugar sprinkles if desired. Mix sugar and food coloring - sprinkle on cookies.

11. Place cookies on greased cookie sheet

12. Bake at 350F for 10 -12 minutes or until firm. 

13. 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.

Recipe 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 Facts

Sugar Cookies

Amount Per Serving (3 cookies)

Calories 176 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 4g20%

Cholesterol 27mg9%

Sodium 119mg5%

Potassium 20mg1%

Carbohydrates 24g8%

Sugar 14g16%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 245IU5%

Calcium 7mg1%

Iron 0.6mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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