There’s something special about handing someone a homemade soft and chewy sugar cookie. Not store-bought, not wrapped in plastic, something you made with your own hands, still carrying a little warmth. That’s the whole idea behind these easy no-chill sugar cookies, a recipe built for sharing, donating, and brightening someone’s day.
I have worked on perfecting this recipe over the past two years, and it is now a crowd favorite.
Why This Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe Is Perfect for Baking & Donating:
- No chilling required – straight from bowl to oven. Which matters when you are making multiple batches.
- Soft, chewy centers & crisp edges – they hold up beautifully during transport and taste amazing the next day.
- Perfect for beginners – no fancy tools or tricky steps. These quick and easy sugar cookies are truly for any baking skill level.
- Customizable - want to add colored sugar for the holidays? You can!
- Easy to scale — double or triple the batch for bake sales, charity events, or shelter drop-offs.
Jump to:
- Why This Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe Is Perfect for Baking & Donating:
- Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- Sugar Cookie Variations And Add-Ins
- Equipment
- How To Make Soft Sugar Cookies (Step By Step)
- How To Store Sugar Cookies (And Keep Them Soft)
- Top Tip: How To Perfectly Bake These Sugar Cookies
- FAQ
- Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Bake It Forward: How to Donate Your Cookies
- Let’s Bake It Forward
- 💬 Comments
Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- Egg yolks - add richness and moisture to the cookies
- Vanilla extract - when you make sugar cookies from scratch, we measure with the heart.
- Baking powder & Baking soda - they work together to be leaveners, by creating the chemical reaction in the baking process
- Unsalted butter - I love to use unsalted butter in my recipes, so I am able to control the amount of salt that goes in.
See the recipe card below for quantities and measurements.
Sugar Cookie Variations And Add-Ins
Want to amplify your quick and easy sugar cookies? Try these simple add-ins:
- Cinnamon - If desired add 1 teaspoon to the flour mixture.
- Almond extract - Add 1 teaspoon of almond extract to this cookie recipe. Make sure to only add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
- Frosted: Cool completely, then top with your favorite icing.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. I would recommend using the following:
How To Make Soft Sugar Cookies (Step By Step)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use parchment paper to line a cookie sheet. In a large bowl of the stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with rubber spatula. Add in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt (dry ingredients). Spoon the flour mixture into the wet ingredients at a low speed. Once the cookie dough is fully combined, use a medium-sized cookie scoop to scoop out the cookie dough. Using your hands roll the sugar cookie dough into a ball.
3. In a small bowl, add in the ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Drop your cookie dough ball into the granulated sugar. Roll it around gently until it is fully coated. Repeat this for all of your cookies.
4. Place your cookies on the prepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies for 10-13 minutes, taking them out when golden at the edges but still a tad undercooked-looking on top. Let the cookies sit on the hot baking sheet to cool. (about 15 minutes). Transfer cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling to room temperature. Enjoy!
Hint: Spooning in the dry ingredients will help ensure the batter comes out smooth.
How To Store Sugar Cookies (And Keep Them Soft)
Store fully cooled sugar cookies in an airtight container on the countertop for 4-5 days.
You can also freeze these cookies for 2 months. Freeze fully cooled cookies in a Ziploc bag. When you want to enjoy your cookies, let them come up to room temperature before serving.
Top Tip: How To Perfectly Bake These Sugar Cookies
Remove the sugar cookies from the oven when the tops have lost their shine, and the cookies are a light golden brown on the bottom. Leave them on the baking sheet to cool. This will help them continue to slowly bake.
FAQ
When your ingredients are at room temperature, they will incorporate better into the batter. This will give you a nice velvety batter, rather than a batter that is split.
Make sure your butter isn’t melted and don’t skip the parchment paper, it keeps cookies from sliding around and over-spreading.
This recipe doubles and triples beautifully. For a food bank donation or large charity event, I’d recommend tripling the recipe.
Policies vary by organization. Many food banks and shelters welcome homemade goods, especially during the holidays. Always call ahead, label your cookies with the date and ingredients, and package them in sealed bags or containers.
You may have overbaked them. Pull them out when the tops still look slightly underdone, they’ll firm up on the baking sheet as they cool. Also, double-check that your baking soda and baking powder aren’t expired.
📖 Recipe
Easy Classic Chewy Sugar Cookie Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Stand mixer/Hand mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Medium-sized cookie scoop
Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- 1 Egg yolk
- 2-½ Cups All-purpose flour
- ½ Teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ Teaspoon Baking soda
- 1-¼ Cups Granulated sugar
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 Cup Unsalted butter
Topping
- ¼ Cup Granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use parchment paper to line a cookie sheet. In a large bowl of the stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with rubber spatula. Add in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt (dry ingredients). Spoon the flour mixture into the wet ingredients at a low speed. Once the cookie dough is fully combined, use a medium-sized cookie scoop to scoop out the cookie dough. Using your hands roll the sugar cookie dough into a ball.
- In a small bowl, add in the ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Drop your cookie dough ball into the granulated sugar. Roll it around gently until it is fully coated. Repeat this for all of your cookies.
- Place your cookies on the prepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies for 10-13 minutes, taking them out when golden at the edges but still a tad undercooked-looking on top. Let the cookies sit on the hot baking sheet to cool. (about 15 minutes). Transfer cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling to room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
- Try not to overmix the batter. You want a light and fluffy cookie.
- Parchment paper is the way to go for this recipe.
Nutrition
Bake It Forward: How to Donate Your Cookies
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to turn a baking session into an act of kindness. Here are a few ideas for getting your cookies to people who’ll appreciate them most:
- Local food banks — check with your nearest Feeding America location to see if they accept homemade baked goods. Many do, especially during the holidays.
- Shelters and community centers — the Salvation Army and local shelters often welcome homemade treats. Call ahead to ask about packaging requirements.
- Neighbors and elderly residents — a small bag of cookies left on a doorstep can mean more than you’d think.
- Charity bake sales — these cookies travel well and hold up for 4–5 days, making them ideal for bake sale donations.
- First responders and healthcare workers — drop off a box at your local fire station or hospital break room.
Packaging tip: Let these easy to make sugar cookies cool completely, then stack them inside cookie bags. For food banks, label bags with the date baked and a simple ingredient list for allergy awareness.
Let’s Bake It Forward
Are you wanting to make someone smile today by baking a batch of Easy No-Chill Sugar Cookies? Drop off cookies at your local food bank or Salvation Army.
If you make these sugar cookies, tag me @sprinkledandsugaredbakery on Instagram and use the hashtag #SprinkledAndSugared or #GivingBack, your cookies might just be featured!
Happy baking, friends!
Are you a cookie lover like me? Try out another cookie recipe!
