Easter Sugar Cookies Recipe

The Cheerful Easter Sugar Cookies Recipe Everyone Loves

Sweet memories often swirl around mom’s legendary easter sugar cookies that transform ordinary moments into delightful celebrations.

Childhood whispers of excitement emerge whenever these delicate treats appear on the kitchen counter.

Soft, buttery dough becomes a canvas for colorful sprinkles and creative designs.

Baking these cookies connects generations through shared traditions and intimate kitchen experiences.

Decorative icing adds whimsical charm to each carefully crafted piece.

Simple ingredients blend into magical memories that spark joy and nostalgia.

Jump into this delightful recipe and create something wonderfully memorable for your loved ones.

FAQs

  • What ingredients do I need for Easter sugar cookies?

You’ll need butter, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, salt, powdered sugar, milk, and food coloring. Optional extras include sprinkles for decoration.

  • Can kids help make these cookies?

Absolutely! Kids can help cut out shapes with cookie cutters, mix ingredients, and decorate with icing. Always supervise children when using kitchen tools and equipment.

  • How do I prevent my cookies from spreading while baking?

Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling and cutting. This helps the cookies maintain their shape and prevents excessive spreading during baking.

  • What are the best tips for perfect cookie icing?

Let cookies cool completely before decorating. Use a piping bag or spoon for precise icing application. Allow icing to set fully before stacking or storing cookies.

Sugar Cookies That Are All Dressed For Easter

  • Quick Easter Delight: Perfect family baking project that brings everyone together in the kitchen.
  • Festive Fun Factor: Create adorable seasonal shapes like bunnies and eggs that make decorating a joyful, creative experience.
  • Kid-Friendly Adventure: Simple recipe steps allow children to help roll, cut, and decorate cookies with minimal adult supervision.
  • Versatile Make-Ahead Treat: Cookies can be prepared in advance and stored for up to 5 days, making party planning or gift-giving super convenient.
Cookie Base Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Essential dry ingredient creating the cookie's structure and texture.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a tender cookie crumb.
  • Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor and creates a soft, buttery cookie texture.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients together and provides moisture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds classic sweet flavor and enhances overall taste.
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
  • Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and creates a light, soft texture.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.
Decorative Ingredients:
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, spreadable icing for cookie decoration.
  • Milk: Helps thin and blend icing to perfect consistency.
  • Food Coloring: Adds festive Easter colors to decorative icing.
  • Sprinkles: Optional decorative element for extra visual appeal and texture.

Easter Sugar Cookies – How to Cut and Decorate

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Turn your oven to 350°F.

Grab a baking sheet and cover it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Mix the Cookie Base

Grab your mixing bowl and create a fluffy mixture by blending:
  • Softened butter
  • Sugar

Whip in the egg and vanilla extract until everything looks smooth and creamy.

In another bowl, combine:
  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.

Step 3: Shape Adorable Cookies

Dust your work surface with flour.

Roll out the dough to a quarter-inch thickness.

Use playful Easter-themed cookie cutters like bunnies, eggs, and chicks to create cute shapes.

Transfer the cutouts to your prepared baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the oven.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until the cookie edges turn a light golden color.

Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely.

Step 5: Whip Up Colorful Icing

In a bowl, blend:
  • Powdered sugar
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract

Stir until the mixture becomes silky smooth.

Divide the icing into smaller bowls and add different food coloring to create a rainbow of festive shades.

Step 6: Decorate with Creativity

Use a spoon or piping bag to add beautiful designs to your cookies.

Sprinkle some extra fun with colorful sprinkles for a festive touch.

Let the icing set and dry completely.

Step 7: Preserve and Enjoy

Store your amazing Easter sugar cookies in an airtight container.

They’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days – if they last that long!

  • Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet mixture to prevent overworking the dough, ensuring tender and delicate cookies.
  • Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading and maintain precise cookie shapes during baking.
  • Add milk or powdered sugar gradually to create smooth, spreadable icing that sets beautifully without running off cookies.
  • Use different piping tips, food coloring, and sprinkles to create unique and personalized Easter-themed cookie decorations.
  • Layer cookies between parchment paper in an airtight container to preserve their texture and prevent sticking for up to 5 days.

Sugar Cookies from Easter Stay Soft When Covered

  • Place cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Keep at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate for extended freshness.
  • Wrap unfrosted cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.
  • Warm refrigerated cookies briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or place in a preheated oven at 300°F for 2-3 minutes to restore softness.
  • Avoid storing decorated cookies with wet icing, as they can become soggy. Let icing completely dry before stacking or storing to preserve texture and design.

Fun Sips With Sugar Cookies

  • Pair Sweet Beverage with Easter Cookies: Creamy hot chocolate perfectly complements the sugary sugar cookie, creating a delightful flavor harmony.
  • Elevate Dessert Experience: Pair light lavender tea with these delicate Easter cookies for a sophisticated and refreshing taste combination that enhances the sweetness.
  • Match Festive Drinks: Chilled pastel-colored milk (strawberry or vanilla) adds playful charm and matches the whimsical Easter cookie theme, making the treat more enjoyable for children and adults.
  • Create Celebratory Moment: Sparkling white wine with subtle fruity notes provides an elegant adult twist, balancing the cookie's sweetness for a festive Easter gathering.

Easter Sugar Cookies Spins

  • Gluten-Free Easter Cookies: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same texture and taste for those with wheat sensitivities.
  • Vegan Easter Sugar Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil, use a flax egg instead of a regular egg, and select plant-based milk for the icing to create a dairy-free version.
  • Low-Sugar Easter Treats: Substitute regular sugar with coconut sugar or stevia, reducing overall sweetness while maintaining the classic cookie flavor profile.
  • Chocolate-Dipped Easter Cookies: After baking and cooling, dip half of each cookie in melted dark or white chocolate, then sprinkle with crushed nuts or colorful sugar crystals for added texture and visual appeal.
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Easter Sugar Cookies Recipe

Easter Sugar Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Festive Easter Sugar Cookies blend nostalgic sweetness with seasonal charm, offering pastel-colored delights that dance between crisp edges and tender centers. Decorated with delicate icing and sprinkled with spring-inspired creativity, these cookies invite celebration and bring joy to family gatherings.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg

Sugar and Decoration:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons milk (adjust for consistency)
  • Food coloring (pastel colors: pink, yellow, blue, green)
  • Easter sprinkles for decoration

Seasoning and Leavening:

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the work area by preheating the oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring a clean, ready workspace.
  2. Create the cookie base by thoroughly creaming butter and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and airy. Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, blending until completely unified.
  3. Craft the dry mixture separately by whisking flour, baking powder, and salt, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
  4. Merge wet and dry components gradually, mixing until a cohesive, soft dough emerges without overworking the mixture.
  5. Transform the dough by rolling it out on a lightly floured surface to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness, creating an even canvas for cutting.
  6. Select Easter-themed cookie cutters and carefully stamp out playful shapes like bunnies, eggs, and chicks, transferring each delicate cutout to the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, watching for gentle golden edges that signal perfect doneness. Remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
  8. Construct the decorative icing by whisking powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until silky smooth, creating a pristine white base.
  9. Divide the icing and introduce vibrant food coloring, transforming the mixture into a palette of festive spring hues.
  10. Embellish the cooled cookies using a spoon or piping bag, applying intricate designs and patterns with precision.
  11. Enhance the decoration with a sprinkle of colorful embellishments, adding texture and whimsy to each cookie.
  12. Allow the icing to set and stabilize, creating a beautiful, professional finish.
  13. Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container, preserving their freshness for up to 5 days of enjoyment.

Notes

  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading and maintain sharp cookie shapes.
  • Use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and better cookie texture.
  • Adjust baking time based on cookie thickness – thinner cookies need less time to prevent burning.
  • Swap regular flour with gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly version without compromising taste.
  • Replace vanilla extract with almond or lemon extract for unique flavor variations.
  • Pipe intricate designs by using different piping tip sizes for detailed Easter decorations.
  • Prevent icing from running by ensuring it’s thick enough – add more powdered sugar if too thin.
  • Store decorated cookies in single layers with parchment paper between to protect delicate designs.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 179
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 38 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 18 mg
Daniel Bruns

Daniel Bruns

Founder & Culinary Innovator

Expertise

Recipe development for home cooks, Nutritional analysis and meal planning, Culinary education and food writing

Education

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations
Focus: Classical and contemporary cooking techniques, Culinary entrepreneurship and kitchen management, Menu development and food cost analysis


Daniel’s story started with flour on his face and a pie in the oven at his grandma’s house. He later sharpened his skills at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
His goal? Recipes so simple you’ll want to cook every night. When he’s not whipping up one-pan wonders, Daniel’s outside picking herbs, hosting neighborhood cook-offs, or baking chocolate cakes with his kids, messy, sweet, and unforgettable.

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