Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe
This classic rolled sugar cookie recipe makes soft, tender cookies that hold their shape without chilling the dough. Perfect for Christmas or any holiday — just cut, bake, and decorate!
Looking for the Best Rolled Sugar Cookies Recipe?
This Old-Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie recipe has been a part of our family’s Christmas tradition for decades. In fact, it’s the very first cookie recipe I ever made with my boys when they were just 2 and 4 years old!
It’s one of those tried-and-true recipes that has stood the test of time — simple ingredients, no fancy equipment, and a result that’s soft, tender, and absolutely delicious every time.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What You’ll Need for Soft & Tasty Cut Out Sugar Cookies:
(Exact measurements are in the printable recipe card below.)Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.
Ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter
- Eggs
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- White sugar
- Baking soda
Helpful Tools:
- Large and medium mixing bowls
- Pastry blender or two knives
- Rolling pin (or pastry cloth and rolling cover)
- Cookie cutters — trees, stars, hearts, mittens… whatever you love!
- Baking sheets and parchment paper
- Wire cooling racks
How to Make this Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe
(Find full details and exact measurements in the printable recipe card below.)
1. Cut butter into dry ingredients with a pastry blender. 
2.Mix liquid ingredients in a seperate bowl. 
3.Pour liquid into dry ingredients and stir to combine.
4. Gently knead the dough until it sticks together. 
5. Divide dough into 2 portions.
6. Roll each portion out to about 1/2 inch thick and cut with your favorite holiday cookie cutters.
7. Bake at 375°F for 5 minutes. 
8.Cool on wire rack completely before icing. 
9. Serve as a fun holiday treat!
Handy tip: Prevent Sticky Dough!
When making this sugar cookie dough, the butter should NOT be melted or softened too much. You will want to cut it in with a pastry blender until it resembles course oatmeal. Then when you add the liquid ingredients to it, just mix until barely combined. It will actually be a bit crumby! Then knead it together gently with your hands before rolling out. Here is a quick video demonstrating mixing the dough:
Grandma Rita’s Sugar Cookie Tips
- The secret to soft and chewy old fashioned sugar cookies is to take them out before they start to brown. If they are too browned, they will turn crunchy!
- I use my Grandmother’s antique dough rolling pastry set (pictured above), but I’ve rounded up a whole list of top tools for dough rolling here.
- Here is my quick and easy homemade frosting for sugar cookies. Or, you could try a fun idea using marbled icing.
Once completely cooled, ice with your favorite homemade frosting.
How should I store these cut out sugar cookies?
Store these sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. However, I feel better always refrigerating or freezing mine until I’m ready to use them.
To freeze sugar cookies, place them in an airtight container or heavy duty freezer bag, being careful to seperate each layer with wax paper or parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. Store in the freezer for up to six months.
For Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies:
You can use this same sugar cookie recipe for all seasons! Just use whatever shaped cookie cutter matches the holiday. Heart shaped cookie cutters with pink icing make darling Valentine’s Day cookies. Another option is to make marbled heart sugar cookies. They’re so pretty!
Want more recipes perfect for the holidays?
I’ve got you! I’ve done the thinking & planning for you and put together 29 favorite holiday dinner recipes – along with lots of tips & tricks (& bloopers!) I’ve learned in decades of holiday dinner experiences. Grab yourself and copy and enjoy having Grandma helping you in the kitchen this year!;)
Old Fashioned Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe
These old-fashioned rolled sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for cut-out Christmas cookies — no chilling required! A simple, nostalgic recipe that’s fun to make with kids and freezes beautifully.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Flour
- 1 tsp. Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1 cup Butter
- 2 Eggs, beaten
- 1/3 cup Milk
- 1 tsp. Vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Instructions
Please refer to the videos in the post above for helpful tips for mixing and rolling out the dough.
- Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender
- In another bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and baking soda.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir gently. It should be sort of "crumby".
- Flip the dough onto a lightly floured pastry mat, and knead it gently ~ just so it sticks together.
- Divide into 2 portions and roll each portion out to about 1/2 inch thick.
- Using cookie cutters, cut out whatever shapes you’d like. We have stars and trees at our house…
- Place on baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 5 minutes in an oven that has been preheated to 375 degrees.The secret to soft and chewy old fashioned sugar cookies is to take them out before they start to brown. If they are lightly browned, they will turn crunchy!
- Cool completely on wire racks before icing.
- Once completely cool, ice with buttercream icing with food coloring.
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Regency Wraps Regency Natural Pastry Cloth & Rolling Pin Cover Set 100% Cotton
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 48 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 100Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g
Frequently Asked Questions about Rolled Sugar Cookies
Do I need to chill the dough?
Nope, and that’s one of my favourite things about this recipe! The dough rolls out beautifully right away, and the cookies hold their shape in the oven without any chilling. More time for decorating!
Why did my sugar cookies spread?
The most common reason is butter that’s too soft or melted. Use butter that’s softened but still cool, so the dough stays firm enough to hold those pretty cookie cutter shapes.
How thick should I roll sugar cookies?
I roll mine about ½ inch thick, which keeps them soft and tender in the middle. Thinner cookies will be crispier and need a little less time in the oven.
What’s the best frosting for these cookies?
I love a simple buttercream with a little food colouring. Try my easy frosting for sugar cookies, or get fancy with this pretty marbled icing.
For more Christmas Cookies Recipes, you may want to check out these posts:
- Never Fail Fudge
- Make this condensed milk fudge recipe in the microwave in 5 minutes!
- Cranberry Lemon Bars
- Jam Sandwich Cookies (a shortcut recipe!)
- 75+ Christmas cookie recipes with pictures
- Cute & quick Rudolph Cookies
- Brownie Mix Cookies
- Christmas Dipped Chocolate
I read it wrong three times! My apologies… I have just never added soda or powder to wet. Thanks and I am trying these now 🙂
Hi, Jessica
Just wondering how the cookies came out? Did you add the baking soda to wet ingredients?
Hi Michelle, You do add the baking soda to the wet ingredients in this sugar cookies recipe. It sounds a bit strange, but it works!! Have fun baking!!
Do I really only have to bake 5mins? Really want to try this
Love the recipe – is it ok to freeze the dough or put in the fridge to do it later ?
Thank you
Happy Holidays !
I am seeing you add baking soda twice in the recipe. It would seem it should just go in with the flour but thought to ask. Thank you.
one is baking soda and one is baking powder
That was my first thought as well, regarding the baking time. And far to much liquid to be easily handled! Bummer!!
I had the same experience with having kids “help” me baking cookies. They do finally come back into the kitchen when the cookies are done baking! Where did you get your pastry mat?
Hi Rene, The pastry mat and rolling pin cover that are pictured are actually my Mom’s! But, you can get pastry mat sets for rolling out dough on Amazon. They are now linked in the post for your convenience. I find they help keep the counter from getting quite so messy!
Hi Rita!
Sugar cookies are our family's favourite Christmas cookie as well. Our recipe is a little different, but the cookies look the same. We frost ours too, but put sprinkles on top.
I love the pictures of your boys baking!
Hugs,
Heather
I made these cookies, they are awesome! My whole family, friends, and work love them. They all could not believe how fluffy and soft they are. I’m definitely going to make more for Christmas and even Valentine’s Day.
Love this recipe!!! Turned out perfect and very tasty. Have tried many recipes that did not work. Thank you for sharing!!
Love this recipe but found it to be too sticky to handle so added about a cup and a half more flour and they turned out perfect. ❤️
I’m making this recipe for the first time myself now and I’m having the same problem. The dough is super sticky and I thought the directions exactly I have added a cup of flour now and it’s still sticky. So afraid to add more and that they will be too tough
Cookie dough rolled 1/2 inch thick will not bake in 5 minutes. Dough spread badly for me. Sorry but best to stay with my tried and true recipe I usually use.
I wondered about this too… Thank you!