How to Make Easy Sugar Cookies with Decorations

Test cook Dan Souza makes Julia a festive recipe for Easy Holiday Sugar Cookies.
Get the recipe for Easy Holiday Sugar Cookies: cooks.io/2vohnnH
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[@kareninalabama]

I'll have to give this recipe a try. I used to have a home-based cookie business and I found my go-to recipe on the Wilton cake forum; it's called simply "Melissa's Sugar Cookies." It's very similar to this recipe, but it has no leaveners of any kind, so the edges stay sharp and there is no puffing. It also has an extra 1/4-1/2 cup of flour, so the cookies are more like a shortbread - not very sweet, so when they're decorated with colored sugars, glaze, frosting, or royal icing, the sweetness level is just right. But the best part of that recipe was that the dough requires zero chilling; you can roll out the dough, cut the cookies, and bake them right after making the dough. The recipe didn't call for almond extract, but I always added about 1/4 teaspoon because it just adds a complexity of flavor beyond plain vanilla. I will say that about 5 years after I left the baking biz, I got a call from someone who'd had one of my cookies. She'd kept the wrapper for years and told me it was one of the best cookies she'd ever had. (Even though I was no longer in the business, I wanted to bake her a dozen cookies just for her kind words.) But I'm intrigued by ATK's recipe even though I don't want to have to chill the dough.

[@lindaellis2265]

An exceptional recipe for small batch sugar cookie cutouts. I’ve been making these since the first airing of this video on PBS, and they are ALWAYS easy to roll out, cut, bake, and decorate! And…the best part…they are tender and delicious!

[@tracyt2246]

I made these sugar cookies and decorated them based on this recipe, delicious! Not overly sweet, just right. I did my best with the decorating, the "flooding" technique was on point! My cookie decorating doesn't hold up to Dan Souza's that is for sure!

[@jean-mariepadden6150]

I love the methods and suggestions you make along the way. It is so much easier to duplicate your excellent techniques once seeing them on video! Thanks for your joyous baking inspiration!

[@juliesherwood8535]

Finally a sugar cookie that sounds delicious. I’ve tried for years to find/create a sugar cookie I liked...this may be it!!! Anxious to try it!!! Thank you!!!

[@monagallant1417]

Well, I added a T of almond milk and, since I am out of Almond extract, used peppermint extract. I didn't use a food processor, I used my stand mixer for all the wet. And I used my Magic Bullet to grind down the sugar! Worked perfectly. The idea of rolling between parchment paper is smart. It's chilling now. Thanks. Merry Christmas.

[@davidlindgren7605]

tip: Spray the cookies lightly with water before adding sugar decorations, which will "glue" them to the cookie so they don't slide off.

[@amydawson1279]

Like the food processor idea. Looks so easy. Will try making these.

[@AlvaSudden]

This is exactly what I wanted to know. I really like Julia because she asks all the questions I would ask, and she's cut-the-fluff and get-the-job-done person. I do always wonder, however, how they always have perfect baking pans with no burned-on specks of grease. 😀

[@Passionforfoodrecipes]

I was trying to come up with a sweet sugar cookie joke, but in the end I just *crumbled!*

[@camillewing656]

😂 LOL

[@denisenilsson1366]

Boo! Hiss! 🤣

[@susanuribe5479]

😅

[@cathymacgregor9246]

That was so "sweet" of you!!

[@jacquelineburt7051]

OMG! That's hilarious!😂

[@reneecassidy7279]

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and more great recipes in the new year!

[@wam0357]

Can be re rolled? This was music to my ears and a dream come true. I made these and was amazed at the food processor method and simple parchment paper roll out. Merry Christmas to my friends at ATK.

[@hecate235]

To all the commenters bitchin' about having to subscribe to get the recipe -- just take notes! All the info is in the video. Have any of you picked up copies of Cook's Illustrated or Cook's Country? Have you noticed there is NO ADVERTISING!! That's how the shows can do food reviews and equipment tests without bias. They don't have advertisers breathing down their necks. ATK makes its money on the magazine subscriptions and memberships. Support them if you can!

[@jcm4923]

But it's on PBS...supported by our tax dollar...they are stingy, face it. The recipes should be free, like on every other you tube channel

[@jcm4923]

No advertising? Just watch PBS...cook ware....stoves....viking tours...looks like advertising to me

[@hecate235]

@@jcm4923 Learn to read. I said the magazines do not take advertising. Where do you think the recipes come from?

[@hecate235]

​@@jcm4923 You obviously don't watch a lot of PBS, otherwise you'd know our "tax dollars" barely fund PBS -- or haven't you seen a pledge drive lately? Viewers support PBS. All PBS shows depend on donors and supporters for funding. Or do you think research, scripts, camera tech, cast, supplies, editors, and broadcasts are free? So, you want "free" recipes? Get a pencil and paper and take notes. Or is that small effort beyond you?

[@jcm4923]

@@hecate235 according to their own website, half of their funding is from the government, to the tune of half a billion dollars...is that enough to cover a sugar cookie recipe, which is FREE on EVERY OTHER YOU TUBE CHANNEL? If they printed the recipe as a courtesy to their viewers like they do on EVERY OTHER YOU TUBE CHANNEL, would their walls come tumbling down? Or maybe they could be gracious enough to say, "For this and all our recipes go to our website to obtain a paid membership to our channel..."

[@catherineconklin2667]

Love this show! So helpful ❤️🥰

[@joyceschneider8377]

can't wit to try this tonight. Thank you.

[@patriciacurran3989]

Hello there. You never fail to interest me. I remember my Saturday mornings and PBS. Also my sister use to receive a magazine that we made recipes from.... Thank you for encouraging me to grow

[@bettymartinez3144]

This the BEST RECIPE - awesome buttery cookies that everyone will love

[@mariacasella979]

These would be so cute for Mother's Day as well,will be saving this for the holidays❣️Thank you💕

[@makesomejoy]

Yep and don't forget Easter 😉

[@ediefrasier2932]

The holiday sugar cookie looks easy to do. Thank you!

[@mellowe5]

I've been try cookie redipes and finally I have it. Thank you

[@joanparsley2332]

I finally made these cookies and they came out really good/delicious.

[@bethharper3900]

The sugar cookie recipe looks great!

[@staceya9580]

Omg best sugar cookie ever!

[@sassysandie2865]

I use powdered sugar and mine come out flat and delicious. I also use cream of tartar in addition to baking soda.

[@user-fv7qy2qm9y]

Hello. Thanks for the lesson

[@lindseyhetu1109]

This is great!

[@estebanlopez9236]

Ah ha....now I know how my aunt made her cookies....this was so insightful...

[@ma.corazonsantosllarves1413]

So yummy thanks to sharing God bless you all

[@LindaKing-lf8nk]

Love it

[@RosemaryN]

I made these cookies today and they are incredible. The method is foolproof!! I have always avoided cutout sugar cookies in the past - the dough would be rock hard and then stick to the board and rolling pin. I would add more flour and have a tough, ugly cookie. But not anymore with this magical recipe! (I did the recipe exactly.)

[@pennyf9886]

Would you be willing to share the recipe? I'm not able to access it on their website.

[@xeniadrobot2535]

Can you tell me how many cookies one batch makes? Thank you!!

[@judymorgan319]

@@pennyf9886 I can send this sugar cookie recipe to your email address if you'd like to give me your email address. Judy

[@cgirl111]

@@xeniadrobot2535 Hard to answer as it depends on the size of your shape cutters.

[@pennyf9886]

@@judymorgan319 thank you so much!

[@pinkskitchen]

They all look so cute my friend. TFS. Stay connected 🙂

[@superdupertm]

Ich liebe die Methoden und Vorschläge, die Sie dabei machen. Es ist viel einfacher, Ihre hervorragenden Techniken nachzuahmen, wenn Sie sie erst einmal auf Video gesehen haben! Vielen Dank für deine fröhliche Backinspiration!

[@maria.s1326]

Thanks for sharing. ❤

[@ObservationStation_77]

brilliant!!!! thank you!

[@squidproquo1130]

These were pretty good! definitely take them out even if they look not quite done.

[@mark91345]

This looks like the perfect Christmas cookie recipe. I love the idea of making the granulated sugar into superfine in the food processor.

[@ewtam24]

Thank you so much!

[@vickifinch6721]

Thank you for the "flooding" recipe!!!!

[@jiveturkeylegs8692]

I have these in the oven right now!

[@sebeckley]

You can also dip the cookie tops in the flooding consistency icing instead of doing the two steps. Pipe the thicker icing on the dried icing for designs that sit on top.

[@MrsIda]

Awesome!

[@nhungcrosbie8750]

They are so beautiful ! Thank you for the lessons on how to make them.

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

I used to have the perfect iced sugar cookie recipe, but I lost it somehow and could never duplicate it. This seems like a winner to replace it for holiday cookies.

[@lighten851]

Thankyou!!!

[@caroc4327]

Made these just as the recipe described. I might have rolled them a little too thin cause the slightly thicker ones were more delicious. Perfect cookie to cut, decorate and eat.

[@aaronmohammed6998]

GREAT SERVICE RECIPES COOKIES GREAT RECIPE SERVICE 😀

[@angelwilsn1]

What a great cookie recipe. I don’t care for almond extract, but this gave it just enough without overpowering the recipe.

[@renelopez4302]

I love Dan 😍 so sweet 🥰

[@charlenemack7040]

I’ll fight you for him lol! ☃️🎄❤️🦌

[@friendo760]

Score!...Thanks ATK😃

[@aj529]

I love the pure white icing with the snowflake design.

[@stefaniestaniak4329]

Yum!

[@fifi2154]

Great thanks

[@claudetteshock5830]

Oh my GOD! All these years I tried for these cookies the different recipes! They never came out nice! Always mediocre cookies! I'm saving this recipe!

[@irenebielanski431]

If they don't come out soft...try using less flour. He says 2.5 cups of flour...but doesn't tell us how much in grams. And that is where most go wrong...by using more flour than needed.

[@lyndaslocum7575]

Like the all white decorations. I have a sugar cookies recipe that is wonderful. It uses lemon peel. Just the kind you are talking about, crispy soft easy to decorate.

[@jmichel70]

Thank you

[@rosalynfayemartin4027]

Love watching you all cook and bring new ways🙌

[@olgabartolini7894]

Wonderful, will try doing them. It’s the first time 👍💋♥️Olga

[@stevensonlushbaugh]

cookie yumm yumm

[@ginarodriguez7576]

Hello love watching your show

[@sylviar549]

This is a good recipe but I don't have a processor, so I guess I'll have to stick to my regular recipe, which I like. I'm glad I have this alternative now.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

The tempo of that video was perfect. Dan is a real pro.

[@jasonking4096]

I love Dan!! Such a cutie!!! 🥰🥰

[@amandahugginkiss61]

This just changed the game for myself and how I teach my daughters. I’m going to seem like such a pro! Thanks, guys! I’ll credit you after I soak up all of their admiration.

[@soniaadams6849]

I made these last night, they are fabulous! Now I have to finish decorating, I did type the recipe from watching the video

[@kelliemendez9072]

What is leavener?

[@25lamorenamichoa]

@@kelliemendez9072 baking soda, and baking powder

[@BillPritchard]

Just like you, Dan! 9:43

[@joanparsley2332]

I LOVE your recipes; they are always terrific. And for Christmas a couple of years ago I was gifted: THE PERFECT COOKIE! Love the recipes in that book.

[@debbiebotha4678]

Can't wait to try them, been looking forever for a quick, simple, good tasty cookie. Thank you

[@YSLRD]

Darn. I was hoping to find a recipe for Christmas cookies.

[@semco72057]

Those cookies does look great and I can only imagine how delicious they are to eat. I would love to be there helping you all eat them, but instead I will be looking forward to making some myself one day.

[@roger12393]

I would love to see a Copycat of LoftHouse soft sugar cookies. Everyone loves those cookies and I know ATK will actually get it right.( I'll be waiting!).Thanks.

[@1prozzak6616]

Any recipes for those I've tried always seem to be off by a bit, some even tasting solely like the sour cream that they include : /. I, too, would love for ATK to perfect a recipe for them.

[@emilyvickery8081]

In Australia we use castor sugar to cream with butter. USA doesn't have it, from mem. It is slightly more refined than regular sugar but not icing sugar/powder sugar.

[@mrsgme3027]

You can get it at some U.S. stores. It is called super fine sugar.

[@emilyvickery8081]

@@mrsgme3027 good to know :) as I couldn't find any and was told I was looking for the non-existent.

[@michellelinhoff3736]

Great video!!! What food processor do you recommend???

[@jocelyneapril-hovde1992]

to make icing can you use splenda that has been processed to a powder?

[@kathyabeauty]

Fabulous! Was curious if making the superfine sugar from the granulated actually increases the volume? Do you remeasure? Like with sifting flour. I remembered flour after sifting.

[@francostacy7675]

So did you find out? How much of the fine sugar is needed?

[@kathyabeauty]

Never got an answer on that. Oh well... ​@@francostacy7675

[@busterbrown446]

I would've added some color. The all white are very pretty but a little color is nice.

[@LivelyPaint]

I wonder where they got those great fluted square, triangle and star cookie cutters

[@joannefreeman7799]

Are there adjustments for high altitude?

[@lorihill2948]

Luv it, made sugar cookies this Dec. morn & I did too many things by hand, as I used the CHsugar bag recipe. Greatly appreciated your tips on using my blender more efficiently for mixing. Next time, I'll add 1/8 tsp. of almond extract for sure. I used a colored sugar topping prior to baking, & they came out great (no burning).

[@haydenlloyd3377]

I don’t like looking at cookies of such perfection. They look like a toy shelf at a department store. Make me hungry? Nah.

[@sandegeorge542]

These cookies are delicious and so easy to make. Made them with my grandkids and they were perfect. The decorating? well... but they had fun :)

[@ShivalinyNaidu]

Bro you have 4 baking oven there, you only can use 1?

[@pamrussell1]

Beautiful... Does it alter the recipe if you double it? Or, should I make two separate batches?

[@kirsten07734]

Doubling a cookie recipe should not be a problem. Quadrupling may begin to be a problem for some recipes.

[@hecate235]

It depends on how big your food processor is, and how much dough it can handle. Do two batches. All the friction from processing a bigger batch will start to melt the butter, and that would ruin the texture and "roll out."

[@marketerbabe2035]

I just recently bought America's Test Kitchen cook book! That is a big heavy book! I hope that recipe is in that book =)

[@RitaThreesix5247]

❤

[@evabothwell5983]

Oh looks great, but what could I use instead of food processor? Good mixer,blender,I do even have a ninja mixer?? Thanks I don't know if I would use a processor if I go out and buy 😊

[@rebeccas9766]

A coffee bean grinder would be able to grind the sugar into a finer consistency!

[@davidthomas1138]

I Don't have a Food Processor Can I Plastisize using myb stand mixer

[@jimmyholloway8527]

Ha! I loved the non-specific geometric shapes for traditional decorating.

[@jcm4923]

If they called it a Christmas cookie, I guess they'd choke on the spot

[@sandrahodsdon7346]

Does it harm the cookie to make the dough ahead and freeze it?

[@samuelmuldoon4839]

There is an alternative to wax-paper and parchment paper for preventing tortilla dough from sticking to a tortilla press. I imagine that a similar technique could be applied to prevent cookie dough from adhering to the cutting board. I have a friend who cuts disposable plastic bags into almost-perfect flat circles (much nicer than the original bags). It is a bit like pushing a cloth napkin through a wooden napkin ring and cutting parallel to the napkin ring with scissors. My friend does not use a napkin ring, she uses only her hands and some scissors and the bags. The disposable plastic grocery bags can be re-used in an environmentally friendly way by cutting them into very flat almost perfect circles. Then the plastic grocery bag circle is placed above the cutting board and dough is made flat. The plastic grocery bag peels off of the dough easily and the dough does not stick to the wooden cutting board ("wooden tablet" or "tabla de Madera" in the language from her childhood.

[@quakerwildcat]

Aaaak -- can't find my almond extract! Do these work without it? Would another extract be good?

[@madioberholster4873]

Can i use mu smoothie maker to mix everything

[@jessyckazaldivar9867]

Can I leave out the almond extract. Should I replace it with more vanilla extract or just leave it out all together? Nut allergies

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

I have nut allergies, too, so I just use imitation almond extract. It really does give it a great flavor.

[@devikasingh5351]

Do you need to rechill the leftover dough for another 90 minutes after the first round of cookie cutting?

[@maryjojouwstra3860]

Well I know what recipe I’m using for my cut out cookies.

[@SunButterfly80]

It's funny how he puts the cookies in the oven one batch at a time, but there are 3 other ovens to use. He could've just used 2 ovens at the same time. Lol! Nice looking cookies though, I'll have to try them.

[@miguelmelendez3354]

Dan👏👏👏👏👏😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@gingerhargraves2121]

Is there an alternate method of bringing all the ingredients together? I don’t have a food processor and use a stand mixer. Thank you for the tips.

[@kyliesbubbie]

A big spoon and an arm?

[@irenebielanski431]

Use a pastry blender to cut in butter and sugar. Using a fork will take longer, but will work. Once creamed together you can use your stand mixer to mix egg & extracts. When you add flour mixture...only do for a brief moment and finish incorporating with a spatula. Then put on a mat to knead a bit. This recipe is focusing on using cold butter, super fine sugar, and rolling out prior to chill and rest. Be sure to let it rest for the flavors to develop before baking. You can make the cookies thicker than the 1/8 he's doing...just stay by your oven to not over bake. Best to have an oven thermometer. Happy baking!

[@gizmo7877]

Nothing like a sugar cookie for simple ingredients, however, so much butter for so few cookies is not so economical for me these days. But Dan always does a great job teaching.

[@pollytiks3885]

What if you don’t have a food processor?

[@313girl5]

Can you use a stand mixer instead of a food processor for this recipe?

[@jemsmom97]

I believe they explained why this recipe works better with the cutting action of a food processor. It better incorporates the butter without totally blending it as a mixer would.