Looking for the best sugar cookie dough recipe for cookie cutters? You’ve just found it. These easy vanilla sugar cookies are buttery, perfectly sweet, and ideal for stamping, rolling, and decorating.

This classic sugar cookie dough is a staple when it comes to rolling and cutting shapes, especially when using cookie cutters or stamps with fine details or small letters. It’s also the one we trust and use for almost every product photo or test batch.

What Makes This Sugar Cookie Recipe Better

We’ve tested a lot of sugar cookie recipes over the years — some too soft, others too dry, many that puff up or spread no matter how long you chill them. This one hits all the right notes. Here’s why:

• Holds shape when baked: Minimal spreading or puffing for clean, crisp edges.
• Effortless to work with: Smooth, pliable, and easy to roll out without sticking.
• Buttery vanilla flavor: Delicious enough to enjoy plain or decorate.
• Great texture: Light and slightly crisp with a tender center.
• Simple Ingredients: Made flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract - nothing fancy.
• Customizable: A solid base for adding flavor without compromising texture.

How to Make Vanilla Sugar Cookies (Quick Steps)

1. Cream butter and sugar. Beat room temperature butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix just until smooth.
3. Add flour gradually. Mix in flour in batches until a soft dough forms. Don't overmix.
4. Chill the dough. Divide the dough, shape into disks, wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
5. Roll, stamp, and cut. Roll the dough to 5–6mm, stamp designs and cut into shapes.
6. Bake until just golden. Bake at 180°C / 350°F for 10–12 minutes. The cookies should be pale with golden edges. Cool completely before decorating

Common Questions About Sugar Cookie Dough

• Can I use granulated sugar?

You can (by weight), but we don’t recommend it. Powdered sugar gives these cookies a perfectly smooth texture and is especially helpful for achieving clean details with stamps.

• Why do my cut-out sugar cookies spread during baking?

We struggled with this exact problem! There are three main reasons for spreading: the butter was too warm and overbeaten, the dough wasn't chilled enough before baking, or the ingredients ratio is wrong. Chill your dough properly and consider using a kitchen scale for more consistent results.

• Can I decorate these cookies with royal icing?

Yes! These cookies are a great base for royal icing, fondant, or buttercream. We've used this dough for everything from birthday sets to elaborate wedding favors with intricate designs.

• Can I make this sugar cookie dough ahead of time?

Absolutely. This dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before using. You can also freeze the wrapped dough disks for up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling and cutting.

• How long do vanilla sugar cookies last?

Store completely cooled, undecorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For decorated cookies, allow the icing to set completely before storing in a single layer in an airtight container.