While sugar cookie follows one basic recipe, there are variations that you can always make to change things up, like these 21 best sugar cookie recipes!
One of the cookies you can easily call a classic is the sugar cookie.
And believe it or not but these sugar cookie recipes are spin-offs of the original, which has been around since the 1700s.
It was introduced to the country by German settlers and was originally named Nazareth Sugar Cookie in honor of the immigrants who lived in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
This cookie has become so popular in the US over the years it actually has a day dedicated to it!
July 9th is National Sugar Cookie day.
Sugar cookies aren’t only popular in the US but also worldwide.
This treat goes by a few different names, and these include gimblettes (France), cimbellines (Italy), and keks (Germany).
While the most popular shape these cookies come in is round, they can actually be made in many different forms.
This is because sugar cookie dough can be rolled into a sheet and shaped with cookie cutters.
You’ll also find sugar cookies with toppings, fillings, and different complementary flavors in this list.
Examples of sugar cookies with toppings include Cinnamon Sugar Cookies and Red Velvet Sugar Cookies.
For a sugar cookie that goes perfectly with coffee, you should try #17.
Excited to start trying out the many variations of these cookies?
Let’s get to it!
Let’s get this list going with the original classic, which is made with the usual ingredients, including softened butter, eggs, vanilla, and white sugar.
The cookies in this recipe are made in balls and rolled in sugar before baking, giving them an extra layer of sweetness on the outside.
Here’s a version of this cookie with a touch of minty goodness.
To make it even better, it’s dipped in semi-sweet chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies after baking.
This is a great cookie to make for Christmas!
This is what you get when you take your usual sugar cookie recipe and divide it into two, with half getting a different color and flavor.
This recipe uses freeze-dried strawberries for the second color, but you can change this up if you want.
Other options for the marbling include cocoa, brown sugar, and freeze-dried blueberries.
If you love bananas and nuts, then this sugar cookie is the perfect one for you!
It combines two different types of cookies (shortbread and sugar) into one delectable treat that has the flavor of bananas and the crunch of walnuts in it.
If you want, you can also add peanut butter chips to the dough.
Another Christmas favorite is this cookie that combines red and white cookie dough in a crisp and festive treat.
This is a rolled cookie that you cut into circles to create the pinwheel effect.
If you want the cookie to have two flavors, you can add some peppermint flavor to the red portion of this recipe.
For a different flavor profile in a classic cookie, this is one of the sugar cookie recipes you can try.
One difference this cookie has with the classic is it uses brown butter instead of plain softened butter.
This makes each piece taste nutty and smoky.
Another tasty and zesty version of the sugar cookie is this one that incorporates the fresh and sour flavor of lemon.
These cookies are made the same way as old-fashioned ones – rolled into balls and then baked until crisp.
The lemony sweet flavor of each disc goes perfectly with coffee and tea.
Most cinnamon sugar cookies have cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top, but this one is slightly different.
It has cinnamon in the cookie dough and a creamy frosting on top.
If you’re not into the frosting, you can always roll each piece in cinnamon sugar before baking.
The main difference between this cookie and regular sugar cookies is the brown butter used with it.
This gives each cookie a soft, chewy texture and nuttiness you can’t get with plain butter.
Just be careful not to burn the butter when you make this recipe.
You’ll love our version of easy Brown Sugar Cookies, too!
Bitter with a hint of sweetness–that’s what you get with these Matcha Sugar Cookies!
It’s a sugar cookie you can make with only five ingredients.
Simple and easy to make, this recipe is one you can try to make for family and friends who love this green tea powder.
While most sugar cookie recipes ask you to use white sugar, this uses dark brown sugar.
This makes each cookie chewy, nutty, and darker in color than your usual sugar cookie.
It also has the added sweetness of butterscotch chips in it.
If you’re not fond of butterscotch, you can always swap it out with your favorite baking chips or leave it out.
Another favorite that you should definitely try making is this chocolatey red cookie that is great during the holidays.
Top it with cream cheese frosting, and add red plus green sprinkles for a truly festive cookie!
You can also sprinkle the top with red sprinkling sugar or green sprinkling sugar or decorate it with Christmas-themed toppers.
Can’t have anything with wheat flour in it?
Not to worry since here’s a gluten-free cookie you can enjoy anytime!
It combines tapioca, coconut, and almond flour, giving you a crisp and slightly crumbly version of this long-time favorite.
Another Christmas favorite turned into a Christmas cookie is this recipe.
Chewy, soft, sweet, and spicy, this treat can be served at parties or given out as a gift.
Dust the top with a little powdered sugar or roll in white sugar for added sweetness and contrasting color.
If you haven’t tried savory and aromatic sugar cookies before, it’s probably time for you to try them out.
This recipe gives you a salty and sweet shortbread cookie that’s totally addictive.
Another thing to point out about this cookie is it uses cold butter, and each flat disc is made using sand-like dough you press together.
You can make this cookie using your favorite sugar cookie recipe.
The star of this treat is the rich chocolate filling in the middle that turns this into a cookie sandwich!
You can substitute the chocolate filling with other flavors like peanut butter, buttercream, and cream cheese.
If you haven’t had enough of this spice mix in your coffee, you can always add it to your favorite sugar cookie.
Yes, this popular autumn flavor can also be added to your cookies.
Can’t find ready-made pumpkin spice for this treat?
Make your own by combining the cinnamon powder with nutmeg, ginger, and allspice powders.
Now, here’s a recipe that takes your usual sugar cookie and turns it into a chocolatey one with the addition of one ingredient.
For a darker and more chocolatey cookie, use Dutch process cocoa instead of just ordinary cocoa powder.
You can add some espresso powder to the mix for a bittersweet result.
Did you know that your favorite sugar cookie dough can be used to make tarts?
Fill each mini cup with your favorite lemon curd after baking.
You can substitute the lemon curd with other fillings, such as strawberry jam, orange marmalade, and even blueberry pie filling!
Soft with some sour notes, this is one of those sugar cookie recipes that you can use repeatedly.
This recipe gives you really soft cookie dough that you scoop onto cookie sheets to bake.
This dough can also be slightly sticky, so chilling it before scooping it out is a good idea for easier handling.
For a firmer cookie with a chewy texture, this recipe is what you need.
These cookies are also less sweet than others on this list, so it’s a perfect choice for those who don’t like overly sweet treats.
The bottom line
With this list of sugar cookie recipes, you can bake a wide variety of sweet treats for you and your family.
Try out one or more of these recipes when you need baked goods for bake sales and for party treats.
You can also make these to give as gifts during the holidays and other special occasions.
Or you can simply bake these because they’re a great treat to have with your morning coffee and afternoon tea.
Oh, and they’re easy to store, too, so you can make a few batches in advance for whenever you crave something crisp and sweet.
21 Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Collection
While sugar cookie follows one basic recipe, there are variations that you can always make to change things up, like these 21 sugar cookie recipes!
Ingredients
- Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Marbled Sugar Cookie
- Banana Bread Shortbread Sugar Cookies
- Pinwheel Sugar Cookies
- Orange Cardamom Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
- Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
- Matcha Sugar Cookies
- Butterscotch Sugar Cookies
- Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
- Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
- Gingerbread Sugar Cookies
- Parmesan & Rosemary Sugar Cookies
- Sandwich Sugar Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Tart Sugar Cookies
- Buttermilk Sugar Cookies
- Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies
Instructions
- Find your favorite cookie from our Sugar Cookie Recipes list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start baking and make us proud!