Soft Sugar Cookies are a timeless classic, pillowy, sweet, and delicately crisp on the edges while tender inside. This traditional American treat captures the nostalgia of homemade baking, often gracing holiday tables, bake sales, and family gatherings. Its simple ingredients, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and flour, blend into a dough that bakes into light, melt-in-your-mouth cookies with a soft crumb. The use of buttermilk and cream of tartar gives these cookies a pleasant tang and perfect rise. Sprinkled with sugar before baking, each cookie develops a glistening top and comforting aroma that embodies homemade warmth. Whether enjoyed plain, frosted, or with tea, these cookies remain an enduring favorite for all ages.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar as substitute)
- 1 ½ tsp soda
- ½ tsp cream of tartar
- 4 ½ cups flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Step 1: Mix Sugar and Shortening
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and shortening until light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
Step 4: Add Buttermilk and Dry Mix
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Mix until smooth and well combined.
Step 5: Shape the Cookies
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a greased cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Step 6: Add Finishing Touches
- Sprinkle sugar lightly on top of each cookie for extra sweetness and sparkle.
Step 7: Bake
- Bake at 370°F (190°C) for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are just golden and centers are set.
Step 8: Cool
- Let cookies cool on a wire rack before serving.
Tips
- Add a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon for a cozy twist.
- Substitute butter for shortening for a richer flavor.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking for thicker cookies.
- Frost with vanilla or lemon icing for extra sweetness.
- Replace part of the flour with whole wheat for added texture.
Transcription of the Original Recipe
Read or copy the transcription
Soft Sugar Cookies "2 Cups Sugar 1 Cup Shorting 1 Cup Buttermilk 1 cup milk 1½ tsp Soda 1 Tbsp vinegar ½ tsp Cream of Tartar 4 - 4½ Cups of Flour 3 Eggs 1 tsp Vanilla Mix sugar and shorting . Add remaining ingredients. Drop on greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle sugar on top. Bake at 370 10 to 12 minutes
From Transcription to Instructions
We love these original directions, but they are pretty short , “Mix sugar and shorting. Add remaining ingredients.” Our instructions break that out so you can follow along: they have you cream the sugar and shortening, beat in the eggs, and whisk the dry mix before adding it alternately with the buttermilk (they also note the milk+vinegar substitute). The instructions also spell out dropping spoonfuls about 2 inches apart, sprinkling sugar, and letting the cookies cool on a rack, so the order and timing feel easier to manage.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookieCalories: 140kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 60mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 45IUCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.6mg
