These delightful Easter Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for decorating! Shaped like colorful Easter eggs and topped with pastel icing or cheerful sprinkles, they’re a festive and versatile treat. Ideal for springtime celebrations, family baking sessions, or as edible gifts, these cookies bring seasonal charm and sweetness to any Easter dessert table.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These cookies have the perfect texture—tender on the inside with lightly crisp edges—and a buttery vanilla flavor that serves as a perfect base for decoration. The dough is easy to roll and cut, making it great for intricate shapes and designs. Whether you choose to decorate with royal icing, glaze, or colorful sprinkles, this recipe provides a reliable, crowd-pleasing foundation for your Easter cookie creations.
Ingredients
(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Icing or sugar sprinkles for decoration
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Once chilled, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut out cookies using egg-shaped or other festive cookie cutters.
- Arrange the cutouts on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Once fully cooled, decorate with icing and pastel sprinkles as desired.
Servings and timing
Servings: 24 cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)
Calories per cookie: Approximately 165 kcal
Variations
- Lemon twist: Add 1 tsp lemon zest to the dough for a citrusy note.
- Almond flavor: Substitute almond extract for vanilla for a different flavor profile.
- Gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to accommodate dietary needs.
- Royal icing: Use royal icing for a more intricate and long-lasting decoration.
- Colorful dough: Tint the dough with food coloring before rolling out for added festivity.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store undecorated or decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing (dough): The cookie dough can be frozen (wrapped well) for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rolling out.
- Freezing (baked cookies): Freeze baked, undecorated cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a sealed container. Decorate after thawing.
- Reheating: These cookies are not typically reheated, but can be refreshed in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 2–3 minutes.
FAQs
Can I skip chilling the dough?
Chilling is important to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. It also makes the dough easier to work with.
Can I use pre-made frosting?
Yes, store-bought frosting works well for decorating, though homemade icing allows for more customization.
How thick should I roll the dough?
About 1/4 inch thick is ideal for even baking and a soft interior.
What cookie cutters work best for Easter?
Eggs, bunnies, chicks, and flowers are all popular Easter shapes.
Can kids help with this recipe?
Yes, this recipe is great for involving kids—especially during the rolling, cutting, and decorating steps.
Can I add food coloring to the icing?
Yes, gel food coloring works best for vibrant shades without thinning the icing.
How do I get clean edges on my cookies?
Chill the dough thoroughly, use sharp cookie cutters, and avoid over-handling.
How long will decorated cookies last?
Decorated cookies will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, this recipe scales well. Double all ingredients and divide the dough into more portions for chilling.
What kind of icing should I use?
You can use a simple powdered sugar glaze, royal icing for detail, or buttercream for a softer touch.
Conclusion
Easter Sugar Cookies are a festive, fun, and flavorful way to celebrate spring. Whether you keep them simple with sprinkles or get creative with intricate icing designs, these cookies make a delightful addition to any Easter gathering. Soft, buttery, and easy to customize, they’re perfect for baking with family or gifting to friends—bringing both color and joy to the holiday season.
PrintEaster Sugar Cookies
These soft and buttery Easter Sugar Cookies are perfect for decorating with pastel icing or sprinkles. Fun to make with kids and a festive addition to any spring dessert table.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes + chilling
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Icing or sugar sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until dough forms.
- Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into egg shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on prepared baking sheets and bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are just golden.
- Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Once cooled, decorate with icing and pastel sprinkles as desired.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps maintain the cookie shape during baking.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant icing without thinning it.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg