Amish Sugar Cookies recipe - The Gold Lining Girl (2024)

Soft, puffy, melt-in-your-mouth Amish Sugar Cookies! This sugar cookie recipe could not be easier and they’re made with common pantry ingredients! These Amish Sugar Cookies are a lot like cut-out cookies, but much less work! Top them with your favorite icing or glaze for an extra special cookie!

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These Amish Sugar Cookiescalled out to me in an issue of Taste of Home recently. They looked so uncomplicated and simple, in an elegant way, not a basic way.They’re just so… pretty. Aren’t they? And these Amish Sugar Cookies aren’t even iced, so I figured they must be a really good cookie if they can stand on their own without a glaze or icing.

That said, I have made these sugar cookies andfrostedthem. It’s not necessary, but it’s pretty damn amazing. We’ll get to those in a few days.

These sugar cookiesare everythingI was hoping for when I wanted to try a new sugar cookie recipe this year. I made theseClassic Sugar Cookies last year, and I adore those cookies. They’re sooooooo rich. They’re ultra-chewy, with crispy edges, and really, really rich…. luxurious even.

Like these Amish Cookies, those Classic Sugar Cookies melt in your mouth, but the texture is different altogether – chewier and crispier. (Though… for the ultimate crispy sugar cookie: these Thin Crispy Amish Sugar Cookies, fyi!)

These Amish Sugar Cookies are soft and puffy, but still dense and substantial. They’re really buttery, rich, and flaky. They remind me a lot of a cut-out cookie, but without any rolling! You get all the benefits of cut-outs, but at a fraction of the work. Cut-outs are one of my favorite cookies, but I hate to makethem because they’re so much work. Theyare the lazy persons’ cut-outs. 🙂

I tried this recipe a few weeks ago, and it was foolproof on attempt #1. I had no issues, and I loved everything about them. This is a perfect, simple sugar cookie recipe, and they need nothing else!

These are great as-is, and *incredibly* easy. I’ve made these cookies 3x in the last few weeks. Try them once, you’ll fall in love too!

Updated March 2019: I’ve now made these cookies into a BUNCH of different variations! Check ’em out:

I made a few that are great for fall/holidays, like these Pumpkin Spice Latte Amish Sugar Cookies, these Iced Chai-Spiced Amish Sugar Cookies, and these Peppermint Amish Sugar Cookies.

Other great fall variations, though they could really be for anytime are these Pecan Praline Amish Sugar Cookies and these Iced Maple Amish Sugar Cookies. Omg, don’t you love an iced maple cookie??

For springtime and summer, these Iced Almond Sugar Cookies are gorgeous, and the almond flavor is so incredible. Same with these Toasted Coconut Amish Sugar Cookies. So pretty, and soooo addictive. I adore citrus cookies, so if you’re the same, check out these Iced Lemon Amish Sugar Cookies and Iced Orange Amish Sugar Cookies.

My personal favorite, and a reader favorite is these Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies. Talk about nice to look at, AND more important, they feature the most delicious combo of flavors.

For any ol’ time at all, these Thin Crispy Amish Sugar Cookies are delightful, and we love to dunk them in coffee or milk, and these Iced Vanilla Amish Sugar Cookies are a classic!

  • Iced Vanilla Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Chocolate Cherry Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Pecan Praline Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Iced Maple Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Iced Chai-Spiced Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Thin Crispy Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Iced Almond Sugar Cookies
  • Iced Lemon Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Toasted Coconut Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Coconut Oil Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Peppermint Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Butter Pecan Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Pistachio Coconut Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Eggnog Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Cranberry Orange Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Brown Butter Amish Sugar Cookies

NOTE — updated December 2019: I have been asked many times about whether these can be made into cutouts. The short answer is that I don’t recommend it. I have experimented with them as cutouts, and while they’re unbelievably delicious, I think the dough is more high-maintenance than other cutout cookie recipes.

The long answer: It can be done. They can be made into cutouts, and I do love the end result, but the process is a bit cumbersome.

If you’d like to try, here are my tips:

  • The dough must be thoroughly chilled. No short-cuts. Completely chilled dough is a must.
  • Work in small batches, about the size of an orange or small grapefruit, and leave the remaining dough in the fridge so that it stays chilled.
  • The dough softens rather quickly (because it has lots of butter = yay!), so work somewhat swiftly.
  • Use ample powdered sugar — you really can’t overdo it — for dusting them and rolling them out. I used over a cup in the course of a batch. You can use flour if you prefer, but I LOVE what rolling cutouts in powdered sugar does for them.
  • When rolling, thoroughly sprinkle with powdered sugar, roll a bit, lift dough and rotate, roll a bit more, and make sure it’s not sticking along the way… though this process is pretty typical for making any cutout recipe, I think it bears mentioning.
  • I would not roll thinner than 1/4-inch, it’s about the perfect thickness.
  • Cookies spread a bit, so I would leave 2 inches between them on cookie sheets. I would use nice, sharp cookie cutters.
  • I used silicone mat-lined baking sheets so that cookies would not spread as much, and so there would be no risk of them sticking to the pan. Parchment-lined baking sheets will give a similar effect.
  • Bake at 375 for only 7-9 minutes. I set the timer for 6 minutes, rotated the tray, and baked an additional 2-3 minutes. These being thinner, they’re more delicate, and benefit from reduced baking time.
  • Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheets for 2-3 minutes so that they firm up before you transfer them. Carefully transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
  • Ice and decorate as desired!

Those are my tips if you choose to make Amish Sugar Cookie cutouts, but I do believe there are easier doughs to work with for cutouts. That said, these cookies are truly wonderful as cutouts.

Pictures of the process will be forthcoming very soon — stay tuned.

Amish Sugar Cookies recipe - The Gold Lining Girl (9)

Amish Sugar Cookies

Amish Sugar Cookies recipe - The Gold Lining Girl (10)Sarah

Soft, puffy, melt-in-your-mouth Amish Sugar Cookies! This sugar cookie recipe could not be easier and they're made with common pantry ingredients! These Amish Sugar Cookies are a lot like cut-out cookies, but much less work! Top them with your favorite icing or glaze for an extra special cookie!

4.98 from 40 votes

Prep Time 20 mins

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Course Cookies

Servings 48 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, oil, and sugars until combined.

  • Beat in eggs and vanilla.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.

  • In two additions, add flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until just combined. Do not overmix. Dough will be kinda fluffy and light!

  • Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

  • Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets.

  • Bake at 375 for 8-11 minutes, or until edges and bottoms are lightly browned.

  • Remove to wire racks to cool.

Notes

These are good for at least a week, but best within the first 3-4 days. After a few days, they get crumbly and a bit on the drier side - still a delicious cookie though.

These freeze really well! Iced or plain, they freeze beautifully.

Keyword amish cookies, amish sugar cookies

Adapted from Taste of Home.

Related Recipes

  • Pecan Praline Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Butter Pecan Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Peppermint Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Eggnog Amish Sugar Cookies
Amish Sugar Cookies recipe - The Gold Lining Girl (2024)

FAQs

What is the best thickness for sugar cookies? ›

Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.

Should sugar cookies be crunchy or soft? ›

Honestly this! Sugar cookies, to me, should have a buttery dryness to them, but crumble easily. I've used shortbread cookie dough to make decorated sugar cookies and they turn out great. They're rigid enough to survive handling, but have a nice buttery chew.

How do you make sugar cookie dough taste better? ›

Almond Extract: For a twist on the traditional sugar cookie flavor, try adding a small amount of almond extract. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust according to your preference. Citrus Zest: Incorporate the zest of citrus fruits like lemon, orange, or lime into the dough. The zest adds a bright and refreshing flavor.

Do you flatten cookie dough before baking? ›

Flattening the cookie dough provides more surface area that comes into contact with the ice bath, shortening the time it takes to chill. Then submerge the dough in the ice water and let it chill. After 20 minutes the dough will be completely chilled and ready for baking.

Should I chill cookie dough before baking? ›

Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies. Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.

How long do you chill sugar cookie dough? ›

Bake cookies on parchment paper: Sometimes greasing a baking sheet can cause sugar cookies to spread. Instead, use parchment paper to prevent sticking and help the cookies keep their shape. Don't let the dough get warm. Notice the dough needs to be chilled for at least 2 hours.

What is the secret to making cookies soft? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

Can you roll out sugar cookie dough before chilling? ›

So, roll out the dough while it's still soft (right after mixing it together), and then chill the rolled-out dough.

Should you let sugar cookie dough rest? ›

"This allows the dry ingredients time to soak up the wet ones, which results in a firmer dough. It leads to a marvelously chewy, chocolate-rich cookie." So yes, resting your cookie dough makes better cookies.

What happens if you add too much sugar to cookie dough? ›

Sugar sweetens the cookies and makes them an enticing golden brown. Adding too little sugar can affect the taste and texture of cookies. Adding too much can cause them to be brittle. Take your time creaming the sugar and butter together at the beginning.

Should you chill sugar cookie dough? ›

Chilling the dough is a key step in making sugar cookies, especially when you're making cut-outs. Even if you're tight on time, make sure to get the dough in the fridge, or even the freezer, even if it's only for a little while. Skip this step, and the dough will be sticky, and much harder to work with.

How long should you chill cookie dough before baking? ›

As a general rule of thumb, you should refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. More than that, and you won't see a noticeable difference in the final product. Once the dough has chilled, let it warm up at room temperature until it's just pliable (about 5 to 10 minutes).

What happens if you don't chill your cookie dough? ›

It can depend on the type of cookie dough, but for the most part, chilling the dough makes it keep its form, and if it has butter in it, prevents the butter from melting. If you don't chill the dough, it will be much softer and not keep its shape as well, both before and during baking.

How thick are decorated sugar cookies? ›

The ideal thickness to roll out your sugar cookie dough is about 1/4"--that way, they'll be tough enough to be handled and decorated, but thin enough to stay a little crunchy.

What is the standard sugar cookie size? ›

Sugar cookie prices are highly subjective and depends location, design, skill level/experience and what the market can hold. These are standard size cookies, approx. 3-4 inches on their longest side.

What thickness should cut out cookies be? ›

Most recipes suggest rolling the dough to ¼-inch thick because it's easy to work with (less breakage) and achieves a soft, tender cookie.

How thick should cookie cutouts be? ›

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the sugar cookie dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut out shapes as desired, transfer to prepared baking sheets, and bake cookies until set but still pale, 10 to 12 minutes.

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