Welcome to the world of truly irresistible treats! These classic Amish Sugar Cookies are famous for their incredibly soft, pillowy texture that simply melts in your mouth. You’ll love their old-fashioned simplicity and how easy they are to make, requiring no chilling time. This straightforward recipe yields about 5 dozen delightful cookies, perfect for any occasion.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Amish Sugar Cookies
You are about to discover your new favorite cookie. These delightful Amish Sugar Cookies offer so much to love, especially for busy parents and beginner bakers:
- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Perfection: Experience an unparalleled soft, pillowy texture with every bite.
- Quick & Easy: Forget about chilling dough; these cookies go from bowl to oven in no time.
- Simple Ingredients: You likely have all the pantry staples needed for this recipe right now.
- Versatile Treat: Easily customize these cookies with different extracts or fun toppings.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Ideal for holidays, thoughtful gifts, or a simple everyday indulgence.
Ingredients
Gather your ingredients to create these wonderful Amish Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Notes & Substitutions
Achieving the perfect texture for your Amish Sugar Cookies relies on understanding a few key components. Softened butter creams easily with sugar, creating a light, airy base for the cookie dough. Canola oil significantly contributes to the cookies’ incredible moisture and trademark softness. While you might be tempted, do not substitute confectioners’ sugar for granulated sugar; it adds to the cookies’ delicate structure. Room temperature eggs blend more smoothly into the batter, preventing curdling. Cream of tartar is vital for these cookies, providing an essential leavening agent that works with baking soda to create their signature soft, slightly tangy crumb. Feel free to experiment with different extracts, like almond or lemon, for unique flavor profiles.
Equipment
You won’t need much specialized equipment for these simple Amish Sugar Cookies. Just gather these essential baking tools:
- Large mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Baking sheets
- Wire cooling racks
How To Make Amish Sugar Cookies
Prepare your delicious batch of Amish Sugar Cookies with these easy, step-by-step instructions. This simple process ensures perfect results every time.
Prep: First, preheat your oven to 375°F. This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature for even baking.
Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, canola oil, and both granulated sugar and confectioners’ sugar. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat these ingredients together until they become light and fluffy. This step incorporates air, contributing to the cookies’ softness.
Add Eggs & Vanilla: Next, beat in the two large, room temperature eggs until they are thoroughly blended into the mixture. Follow this by beating in the vanilla extract, ensuring it is evenly distributed throughout the wet ingredients.
Combine Dry: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Whisking ensures these dry ingredients are well combined, which promotes even leavening in your Amish Sugar Cookies.
Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry mixture into the creamed wet ingredients. Beat on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix the dough. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Form Cookies: Drop the dough by small teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Leave a little space between each cookie to allow for slight spreading.
Bake: Place the baking sheets in your preheated oven. Bake the Amish Sugar Cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Do not overbake to maintain their soft texture.
Cool: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring them to wire racks. Allow them to cool completely to room temperature on the racks.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Mastering your Amish Sugar Cookies is easy with a few insider tricks. Cream the butter and sugars adequately until light and fluffy; this step is crucial for achieving that characteristic perfect texture. Always measure your flour accurately using the spoon and level method to prevent dense cookies. Avoid overmixing the dough once the flour is added, as this can develop gluten and result in tough cookies. Ensure all your cold ingredients, especially eggs, are at room temperature for a smooth, homogenous dough.
Cream of tartar is a unique leavening agent and is essential for the soft, slightly tangy crumb of these particular cookies; do not substitute it. For an extra rich flavor, consider using higher-fat Amish butter if you can find it. Lastly, ovens vary, so adjust your baking temperature, possibly to 350°F, if your cookies are browning too quickly at 375°F.
Serving, Storage & Variations
These delightful Amish Sugar Cookies are wonderful served simply, perhaps with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. You can also get creative with their presentation.
Storage Instructions
- Room Temperature: Store your baked Amish Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They will remain wonderfully soft.
- Keep Soft: For an extra measure to keep them soft, place a slice of plain bread inside the airtight container with the cookies. The bread will absorb excess moisture, helping the cookies retain their tenderness.
- Freezing Baked Cookies: To freeze baked cookies, first flash freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They will keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Delicious Variations
- Glaze: Drizzle cooled cookies with a simple confectioners’ sugar glaze for added sweetness and shine.
- Spices: Enhance the flavor by adding a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice to the dry ingredients.
- Extracts: Experiment with different extracts like almond, lemon, or orange extract in place of, or in addition to, vanilla for a unique twist.
- Coatings: Roll the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar or colorful sprinkles before baking for an extra decorative touch and a pleasant crunch.
Nutrition
Understanding the nutritional breakdown of your favorite treats can be helpful. Here is the estimated nutritional information per one of these delicious Amish Sugar Cookies. This provides a general guide for mindful enjoyment of these wonderful sweets.
| Nutritional Component | Amount Per Cookie |
|---|---|
| Calories | 117 |
| Fat | 7g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Cholesterol | 14mg |
| Sodium | 48mg |
| Carbohydrate | 13g |
| Sugars | 5g |
| Fiber | 0g |
| Protein | 1g |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What makes them “Amish” sugar cookies?
These cookies are called “Amish” due to their traditional, simple ingredients and often feature oil in addition to butter, which contributes to their uniquely soft and cake-like texture. They often come from Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch culinary traditions.
Do these cookies spread a lot?
No, these Amish Sugar Cookies typically do not spread excessively. Dropping them by teaspoonfuls will result in small, thick, pillowy cookies that hold their shape well.
Can I use all butter instead of oil?
While you can use all butter, it will change the texture. The canola oil is key to the extraordinary softness and moistness of these particular Amish sugar cookies, so using all butter will result in a firmer, crispier cookie.
Why is cream of tartar necessary?
Cream of tartar is crucial because it reacts with the baking soda to provide leavening and helps create the characteristic soft, tender crumb, preventing the cookies from becoming too chewy.
Can I roll and cut this dough?
This dough is quite soft due to the oil content, making it less ideal for rolling and cutting intricate shapes. It works best as a drop cookie for its intended soft texture.
How do I make them chewier?
If you prefer chewier cookies, you might need to adjust the recipe significantly, perhaps by reducing the oil or cream of tartar. However, these particular Amish Sugar Cookies are specifically designed for their signature melt-in-your-mouth softness, not chewiness.
Final Thoughts
These delightful Amish Sugar Cookies prove that the simplest recipes often yield the most satisfying results. Their incredible melt-in-your-mouth texture and straightforward preparation make them an absolute winner for any baker, from beginner to experienced. We encourage you to try this classic recipe and experience the joy of baking such a beloved treat. They are versatile, easy to store, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleasing hit for every occasion.
Historically, the sugar cookie as we know it today was developed by Protestant settlers in the 1700s in Pennsylvania. For more on their origins, you can explore the history of Amish celebration sugar cookies.
Amish Sugar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, cream together butter, oil, and sugars, then beat in eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk dry ingredients, then gradually add to the wet mixture until just combined.
- Drop dough onto ungreased baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
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/
