Staples · Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day
Reliable Vanilla Cutout Cookies
A sturdy, buttery vanilla cutout cookie that holds its shape for decorating and works for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, or any afternoon involving sprinkles.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 11 min
- Total
- 36 min
- Serves
- About 30 cookies
The recipe card
Reliable Vanilla Cutout Cookies
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 11 min
- Total
- 36 min
- Serves
- About 30 cookies
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla. **Simple glaze:** 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla.
Method
- Whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Beat butter and sugar until light, about 2 minutes; beat in egg and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients just until combined. Divide, flatten into disks and chill 1 hour.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Roll between parchment to 1/4 inch, cut shapes and place 1 inch apart on lined sheets; chill shaped cookies 10 minutes if soft.
- Bake 9–11 minutes until edges are set and barely golden. Cool fully.
- Stir glaze until spreadable and decorate.
