Dive into the delightful world of classic chewy sugar cookies with this incredibly simple, no-chill recipe. You’ll love the irresistible combination of soft centers and perfectly chewy edges that make these cookies a timeless favorite. Forget the waiting game; this easy method means you can enjoy freshly baked, melt-in-your-mouth chewy sugar cookies faster than ever. Perfect for any occasion, from everyday treats to festive decorating!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Effortless & Fast: No chilling required means quick prep and less waiting for your delightful chewy sugar cookies.
- Perfect Texture: Enjoy a delightful balance of soft, tender centers and delightfully chewy edges in every bite.
- Rich Flavor: Each cookie boasts a buttery, sweet profile with deep, comforting vanilla notes.
- Customizable: These simple chewy sugar cookies are an ideal canvas for decorating with frosting, sprinkles, or glazes.
- Simple Ingredients: You likely have all the common pantry staples needed to make these delicious treats right now.
Ingredients for Chewy Sugar Cookies
Gather these ingredients to create your batch of perfect chewy sugar cookies:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, for dipping
Notes & Substitutions
- Butter: Use softened, unsalted butter for the best flavor and texture. Room temperature butter creams beautifully.
- Granulated Sugar: This is key for achieving the classic chewiness and slightly crisp edges characteristic of these soft sugar cookies.
- Egg: Essential for binding the ingredients, adding moisture, and providing structure to the cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: Crucial for that warm, classic sugar cookie flavor. Don’t skip it!
- Almond Extract (Optional): A small amount of almond extract enhances the overall flavor profile, adding a subtle depth.
- All-Purpose Flour: To ensure consistent results in your baking, understanding how to accurately measure flour is essential. Measure correctly by spooning flour into a measuring cup and leveling it off to avoid dense or dry cookies.
- Baking Soda & Powder: This combination of leavening agents ensures your cookies are perfectly soft and slightly risen.
- Salt: Just a touch of salt balances the sweetness, making the cookie flavor pop.
Equipment You’ll Need
Baking these delightful chewy sugar cookies is easy with standard kitchen tools.
- Electric mixer (stand or hand-held) for efficient mixing.
- Large and medium mixing bowls for combining ingredients.
- Measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient portions.
- Baking sheets to hold your cookies in the oven.
- Parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
How to Make Chewy Sugar Cookies
Follow these simple steps to create perfectly soft and chewy sugar cookies in no time!
- Preheat Oven & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat it lightly with baking spray. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, using either a stand mixer or a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and 1 1/4 cups of granulated sugar. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, usually about 1 minute.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and the optional almond extract. Continue mixing until all these wet ingredients are fully combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture in the large bowl. Mix on low speed until the flour is just combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to incorporate all ingredients evenly. Avoid overmixing to keep your chewy sugar cookies tender.
- Roll Cookie Dough: Take small portions of the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. The dough for these no-chill sugar cookies will be soft and pliable.
- Coat in Sugar: Place the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar in a shallow dish. Roll each dough ball generously in the sugar, ensuring a good coating. This adds a delightful sparkle and a slightly crisp exterior.
- Bake: Arrange the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set and the centers still look slightly soft.
- Cool: Allow the freshly baked chewy sugar cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy! Serve plain, or feel free to frost them or cover them with a glaze, if desired, for an extra touch of sweetness.
Pro Tips for Perfect Chewy Sugar Cookies
- No Chill Necessary: This recipe is designed to be baked immediately. Skip the chilling step entirely for quick and easy chewy sugar cookies.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Many baking experts emphasize the importance of room temperature butter for achieving the ideal texture in cookies and other pastries. Ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better, creating a smooth, even dough.
- Don’t Overmix: Mixing the dough too much after adding the flour can develop the gluten, leading to tough, rather than tender, cookies. Mix until just combined.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Scooping directly can pack too much flour, resulting in dry cookies.
- Avoid Overbaking: For maximum chewiness, remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look slightly soft. They will continue to set as they cool.
- Troubleshooting: If your cookies spread too much, your butter might have been too soft, or you might have overmixed the dough. If they are dry, you may have added too much flour.
Serving, Storage & Variations
These versatile chewy sugar cookies are delicious in so many ways!
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy your chewy sugar cookies plain for a simple treat. They also make an excellent base for frosting, glaze, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Serve them alongside a glass of milk, coffee, or even with a scoop of your favorite ice cream for a delightful dessert.
Storage
Store baked chewy sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain their freshness and chewiness.
Freezing Baked Cookies
For longer storage, freeze baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
Freezing Cookie Dough
Roll dough balls as directed, then freeze them on a baking sheet until firm. Transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag. Bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
Flavor Variations
- Citrus Zest: Add 1-2 teaspoons of fresh lemon or orange zest to the dough for a bright, zesty flavor.
- Different Extracts: Experiment with other extracts like peppermint for the holidays, coconut for a tropical twist, or lemon extract for a stronger citrus note.
- Spices: Incorporate 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg into the dry ingredients for a warm, spiced version of these easy sugar cookies.
- Holiday Sprinkles: Instead of granulated sugar, roll the dough balls in festive colored sprinkles before baking for a fun, celebratory look.
Nutrition
Here’s an estimated nutritional breakdown per cookie, based on the provided ingredients. Please note that these values are approximations and can vary based on specific brands and exact measurements.
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is an estimate only.
| Nutrient | Amount Per Cookie |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~170 kcal |
| Total Fat | ~9g |
| Saturated Fat | ~5g |
| Cholesterol | ~30mg |
| Sodium | ~60mg |
| Total Carbs | ~20g |
| Dietary Fiber | ~0.5g |
| Total Sugars | ~12g |
| Protein | ~2g |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are my sugar cookies not chewy?
Your cookies might not be chewy if they were overbaked or if you used too much flour. Remove them from the oven when the edges are set but the centers still look soft, and ensure you measure flour correctly.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can often substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. The texture of these chewy sugar cookies may vary slightly.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these soft sugar cookies stay fresh and delicious for about 3-4 days.
Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar?
Using all brown sugar would result in a softer, chewier, and more molasses-flavored cookie, which might not yield the classic chewy sugar cookies texture. For best results with this recipe, stick to granulated sugar.
What’s the best frosting for sugar cookies?
A simple royal icing or a smooth buttercream frosting works wonderfully for decorating chewy sugar cookies. A thin glaze made from powdered sugar and milk is also a quick and easy option.
Final Thoughts
You now have the perfect recipe for making the best chewy sugar cookies without any chilling time! This straightforward method ensures you get those delightful soft centers and chewy edges every single time. These versatile treats are easy to customize and always a crowd-placer. So, gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and bake a batch of these incredible chewy sugar cookies to share with your family and friends today!
The Best Chewy Sugar Cookies (No Chill!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or coating it with baking spray.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar using a standing or hand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about one minute.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract to the creamed mixture and beat until all ingredients are well combined.
- Gradually mix in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until just combined, remembering to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar for dipping.
- Place the sugared dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes, or until the cookies have set.
- Once baked, allow the cookies to cool completely.
- Enjoy your chewy sugar cookies; you can optionally frost or cover them with a glaze.
Notes
Hi there, I’m chef living in New York City. Every morning, I wake up to the sounds of my little one’s laughter and the comforting routine of preparing breakfast for my family my husband, our child, and my beloved mother, who’s become both my rock and my inspiration since my father passed away. As the only daughter left in our family, I feel a deep responsibility to carry on his memory whenever I step into the kitchen.
- Dominiquehttps://goldfoodie.com/author/empirecipegmail-com/
- Dominiquehttps://goldfoodie.com/author/empirecipegmail-com/
- Dominiquehttps://goldfoodie.com/author/empirecipegmail-com/
- Dominiquehttps://goldfoodie.com/author/empirecipegmail-com/
