How to Make Sugar Cookies | Bake It Up a Notch with Erin McDowell

Join Food52’s Resident Baking BFF, Erin McDowell, as she explores the world of sugar cookies. From all the cookie equipment needed to making different doughs, baking tips, decoration techniques, fixing mistakes, and more, this is an episode of #BakeItUpaNotch not to be missed! READ MORE ►► f52.co/3uJbiwZ
Recipes featured in this video
Great-Great-Grandma McCracken's Sugar Cookies: f52.co/3tTKbjL
Sprinkle-Splosion Sugar Cookies: f52.co/3LvcJpv
Also featured/mentioned in this video
How to Make Chewy Gingerbread Cookies: • How to Make Chewy Ging...
How to Make and Use Royal Icing: ​​ • How to Make and Use Ro...
Five Two Adjustable Rolling Pin with Measuring Rings: f52.co/36Zwq9U
KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt Head Stand Mixer, 5QT: f52.co/3tOvsGG
Five Two Scrape & Go Spatula: f52.co/3LtMyQ0
Looking for something specific?
VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:51 All Your Cookie Equipment
00:06:23 Rolling the Dough
00:10:55 Baking Your Best Cookies
00:11:58 Mistakes Happen
00:14:03 Cookie Special Effects
00:16:48 Giving Your Cookies the Royal Treatment
00:19:32 Beautiful Buttercream Frosted Cookies
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ABOUT FOOD52
As a one-stop shop for joyful living, Food52 connects discerning home cooks with the interests they're passionate about via award-winning food and lifestyle content across platforms. We provide our audience with the recipes and solutions they crave to eat thoughtfully, live joyfully, entertain beautifully, and travel differently.
#sugarcookies #cookies #chocolatesugarcookies

[@food52]

Check out the recipes featured in this video Great-Great-Grandma McCracken's Sugar Cookies: f52.co/3tTKbjL Sprinkle-Splosion Sugar Cookies: f52.co/3LvcJpv

[@mamaksstorytime]

Erin, you look great in pastels!

[@Golfer-js3xl]

Thought same thing as soon as I clicked on this video. LUV LUV Erin! Every recipe my sister and I have made has been OUTSTANDING. And she has the best personality! GO ERIN!

[@mamaksstorytime]

@@Golfer-js3xl 💯 %!

[@emkn1479]

Yes! First thing that crossed my mind when the video started!

[@saram421]

My thought exactly! Love them on her👍🏼

[@anblesduke6360]

Oh Erin, I had a really tough week as did the world and I just so appreciate a video from you. You put me in a better mood and helped me immerse myself in the moment of you banging your dough with your rolling pin. Plus the lovely crispy cookies with frosting are just the thing for a first day of April! Please keep these videos coming as you are keeping so many people sane (even if they never cook a thing!)

[@kaiju_k5042]

These videos are such a sweet escape, hope you're doing good today, hugs.

[@DessertGeek]

Sugar cookies are so underrated! I'm always surprised at how versatile sugar cookie dough can be, especially for adding mix ins and making slice and bake cookies!

[@nataliemscrzysxycoolharris]

Erin looking like an Easter Queen ❤️. Sugar cookies are one of my fave cookies. I can eat them plain, iced or with a dip like Nutella or chocolate hummus 😋.

[@jayysii]

Just hearing the theme song of bake it up a notch instantly puts me in a better happy mood!!

[@robinsidwell6241]

When my kids were little, we used to make “paint” with food coloring and egg yolk to decorate unbaked sugar cookie dough. The colors really popped once they were baked and you didn’t have all the hassle of little kids and pastry bags of icing. Thanks for the marbling idea of blending doughs. I’ll use that.

[@MinaF99]

Cool idea

[@olivemartini69]

This channel brings me so much joy 😍😄🦄

[@alaneisenberg4203]

Thank you for sharing the joy!

[@kaylaj4417]

sooooo cute!!! 💗💗

[@gloriashaeffer9117]

Thank you Erin ! I absolutely love your channel , Bake it up a notch! I ALWAYS learn so much and you are so much fun to watch. You take the fear out of baking and make me want to bake Thank you !!!

[@Romi_Zii]

Coooooookies! Nom nom nom nom! Just channelling my not so inner Cookie Monster. 💗❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🤎

[@LuliLulu]

These are just delightful, we love Erin! 😃

[@drdem00]

You never ever disappoint! thanks again;wonderful ideas!!

[@victoriasimpson7782]

Love watching you. You’re so knowledgeable.

[@pattithompsett9540]

how fun and festive! love your enthusiasm!

[@sunshinebakery_melinda]

Love all your episodes! There so informative and fun! ❤️👩🏼‍🍳

[@gloriachamarro]

Every episode is my next favorite!! I love everything you create, Erin & Food52.

[@yummylulu5210]

This looks and sounds so delicious! Thank you, I’m gonna try to make it soon!😍

[@DuyNguyen-yx2vd]

I think Sohla has permanently burned "SCRAPE THE BOWL" into my brain.

[@lemonadeslices]

the part about shaking the cookies so the icing's even is so smart! thank you.

[@gizelegionet7771]

I put my butter in the oven over night with only with the light on. Perfect butter.

[@jasminelopez5842]

Can't wait to try these out!!!

[@burbie1342]

❤️❤️❤️All your video’s Great recipes 👍🏻

[@Thefun-cousins523]

These look so good! I love how Erin teaches these techniques. Bet she is hilarious to work with in person. I love the spring pastel outfit. Looks great on you!!

[@Candyicsma]

I was supposed to make sugar cookies today for my little cousin but my grandma decided to use the entire kitchen to make lasagna for Sunday’s lunch! 😡. Will try this video another day when I have free reign.

[@JPKoutloud]

I’ve made a ton of sugar cookies and this episode is just fun and informative and Erin is awesome.

[@jeanettebromilow5105]

I love you in those colours. Great tips as usual Erin.

[@bgrainger3477]

Thank you. I have been wanting homemade sugar for a long time now. 👍👏💕

[@leewallace2218]

Trying these out!

[@debrariley2057]

Totally loving the demo outfit, pinks def your colour.. cookies are fabbbbbb as always.

[@kaiju_k5042]

Those are some absolutely gorgeous cookies, Erin is such an artist

[@nataliemscrzysxycoolharris]

The marbled cookies are really pretty 😍.

[@jilllang]

You’re a great teacher and your Fearless Baker book is so good. Crank out some more!

[@falconcara]

So inspiring!! And luckily I have sugar cookie dough in the freezing from the holidays💗🤍💜

[@carolynvanderhoof2256]

I love all your cooking videos

[@teriscallon]

everything was so adorable, the cookies and the outfit!

[@jaimed3890]

Oh man that joke had me giggling so much! You are so awesome and love your videos.

[@ellencoffey4431]

I like to roll out using a light dusting of powdered sugar rather than flour. The surface of the cookie is a little glossy and crisp when baked. In conjunction with a patterned rolling pin, the cookies are beautiful even without icing (i chill the cut cookies before baking to retain as much texture as possible). And yeah, I'm a fan of the crispier bake. The butter and sugar have a more pronounced caramelized flavor and I love the snap.

[@becky5611]

Thank you!

[@ilyas-fan619]

Erin you are a baking academy reaaaalllly Thank you soooooo much..please make acooki recipe i mean NYC cookies..that will be so great..love you

[@oliviaboyer6494]

Absolutely love you & your videos! I’m making these in Halloween shapes with my 2 year old later today ❤

[@DayByeDayChristine]

Thank you!! 😊

[@debbiebuttars5598]

Gosh I love you. 💗 You’re the very best teacher. And every video I watch I find myself thinking, “Gosh I love Erin! I’m so happy she’s my friend.” Oh how I wish. 💗 You have a way of making others feel so wonderful. And … you look so pretty in your springy pink! 💗

[@rosamelselvaggi7936]

Erin you look great thanks for all your fantastic info. A fan from Australia. How long she's had that kitchen looks so good

[@cecibettyboo]

Erin is so lovely! I can watch her videos all day, and i learn so much every time :o Deffy gonna use some cinnamon in my cookies :D

[@melaniemueller8350]

I love your videos Erin! What about cake pops, cakesicles, cake push pops shooters, truffles, etc?? I'd LOVE to see these!

[@rlt7980]

I am addicted to Erin and not looking for a cure.

[@subterraneancatalyst]

Just saw this video, you have such a great personality! And I'm definitely going to make these I'm looking for my holy grail sugar cookie recipe lol

[@saraatppkdotpt8140]

Nice video!

[@cici_julja]

she looks like a Disney character with Disneyish voice and manners typically favorite character of almost everybody

[@jarmac7420]

I have found it so much easier to roll out between handi-wrap (you will have to remove the top sheet a couple of times), chill it, then cut it out. No need to add additional flour and saves time!!

[@mafkrimnra8084]

I love this is episode is so beautiful 😍 your outfit so cute 🥰 and the cookies 🍪 are beautiful 🤩

[@lilycourgette]

New Vid ❤😆 let’s gooo

[@kathiyu7007]

To bring my butter and eggs to room temperature without fear of melting, I raise the temperature of my microwave by heating a cup of water. Then I place my items that I should have taken out of the frig hours earlier into the microwave while I gather the other ingredients.

[@barblanglois2441]

Love this episode. That blouse….where can I purchase?

[@MaliceInCandyland]

Maybe you could do a video on making cookies and brownies with different consistencies (cakes, crisp, fudgy, etc.).

[@robyniaea5172]

Erin! You look so pretty 😍

[@laurafrancis-bohr5755]

What tool are you using to scrape the bowl?

[@TheIntrovertKitchen]

❤️❤️❤️

[@lynlijalysbalderdottir4563]

Missing your home kitchen! Nice set though. Are the items on the shelves behind you from Food52 merchandise?

[@janetmercury83]

There use to be a cookie called a brown edge wafer do you have a way to dupe that?

[@carlosgonzalez9475]

So how much butter and flour and sugar do we add

[@danikeebler1662]

In my mom's sugar cookies, that pop of flavor was a dash of lemon. Mommy We we dump a little extra called "and a bonus"

[@mrs.tiggywinkle3950]

Can you tell me the maker or brand of Erin's adorable strawberry shirt? ❤❤

[@lynnchristenson9710]

I like wet on wet royal icing on cutout cookies

[@user-ml8ku9zq6e]

🤙🍍🏝 0:16

[@soniaportalatin]

How long could you leave this dough wrapped in the freezer?

[@janetthorne7081]

Wish I could hug you! 🤟

[@evewhittaker7987]

I love a little nutmeg in my sugar cookies

[@maryannkline7361]

Erin, does using caster sugar vs granulated sugar make any difference to the recipe?

[@TheIntrovertKitchen]

Not really. The only difference is that granulated sugar will take some time to incorporate nicely to the butter during creaming method for example as the granules are more bigger compared to caster sugar which is basically has finer texture :)

[@soniaportalatin]

I don’t know what I did wrong but my dough came out like silly putty, very sticky and not firm. I also noticed the recipe calls for milk and l didn’t see her use any milk here.

[@lauraezeanishealthyliving9644]

Yes I found my favourite lady right here 😜😜😜

[@matthewedey]

Erin's gotta dirty mind and I'm here for it.

[@Magdalena287]

cat cookies!

[@rachelpowers3975]

Ok why would anyone wait five minutes until the dough is "unchilled" a bit when they can hit it with a rolling pin? This sounds like the perfect job for a kid, or for me when I'm stressed but only a little

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@@mortenbolin7481 ‌that's why you need the help of a professional like Mr Dave Jevans who trade and understand the market more to earn good income, these professionals understand the market like it's there own farm and make s maximum profit for investors.

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‌He has really made a good name for himself.

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I invested $2,500 and I made $7,450 weekly trading with him, I only trust Mr Dave Jevans With my investment. I am now able to send my kids to a great school in LA, all thanks to Mr Dave Jevans Good man ❤️

[@leahness3588]

I just gained 10 lbs just watching all these yummy cookies.

[@drdem00]

LOL!!!

[@laurieallen8040]

It’s driving me mad: what is the tattoo on your right forearm???

[@jaimed3890]

It is a vanilla bean

[@rosamelselvaggi7936]

Erin you look great thanks for all your fantastic info. A fan from Australia. How long she's had that kitchen looks so good