Easy to make homemade sugar cookies that are only 51 calories each. This simple recipe makes light and airy sugar cookies, perfect for dessert and Christmas cookies!
Homemade Sugar Cookies
These light and airy Homemade Sugar Cookies are going to hit the spot just right. You guys know I have a thing for super soft cookies and these ones definitely fit that category. This is a classic sugar cookie recipe, but these are so light and moist inside. And even better, they’re only 51 calories each. That means you can eat 10 of them, right? Ha! Just kidding. (maybe).
Homemade sugar cookies are a classic recipe that never goes out of style! They are great year round, but I especially crave them around the holidays.
What Makes These The Best Sugar Cookies?
The holidays are a super busy time, but I ALWAYS make time for baking tons of festive cookies and at the top of my list are these Homemade Sugar Cookies! I can remember every year baking with my mom, and I really look forward to this special time with my daughter too.
This sugar cookie is the best because not only are these absolutely irresistible, they are also so easy. Everything gets mixed in one bowl, these don’t require any chill time and the ingredients are basic and ones that you probably have on hand. These also turn out fabulous every time I make them! So, let’s get to baking!
Ingredients For Soft Sugar Cookies:
Nothing too fancy or complicated here! This is a basic sugar cookie recipe with the typical ingredients including butter, sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla. However, these cookies include two ingredients you often don’t see in sugar cookie recipes – vegetable oil and confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar). Both ingredients work together to give these cookies that perfect light and airy bite.
How Do You Make Homemade Sugar Cookies?
To make the best sugar cookies you need to have the perfect dough. Start this recipe by using a hand mixer to cream together sugars, butter and oil until smooth. Beat in egg, vanilla, salt and baking powder. Next, mix in the flour until it is just combined.
With the dough complete, scoop it out and roll it into 1-inch balls with your hands. Place each ball on a cookie sheet that has been greased or lined with silicone baking mats. Use the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar to flatten the balls to ¼-inch thickness. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the cookie edges are lightly browned. Remove and allow cookies to cool.
You can leave the cookies as-is or make them a little more festive by adding frosting or just some colorful sprinkles.
Tips For Homemade Sugar Cookies:
- When rolling the balls of dough, try to keep the balls completely smooth to get minimal cracking during baking.
- Sugar cookies stay fresh for a good amount of time. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to about 2 weeks.
- Use a cookie dough scoop or measuring spoon to scoop the dough. This will ensure that the cookies are all the same size and they will bake more evenly.
- You can add your favorite flavor extracts for a fun twist on the classic recipe. Try lemon, almond, maple or orange!
How Do You Keep These Sugar Cookies Light & Airy?
The best way to ensure that these cookies are soft, light and airy is to be very careful to not over-bake them. When they are done cooking, they will be just a tiny bit golden brown around the edges. Bake them too long and you’ll end up with crispy sugar cookies. Once cookies have cooled, be sure to store them in a covered container to keep their light texture.
I couldn’t let the holidays go by without sharing this family favorite recipe with you! If you have baking plans, you definitely need to give this recipe a try!
You’re going to LOVE these homemade sugar cookies! They’re simple, delicious, and perfectly tender with just the right amount of sweetness. They are definitely my go-to for cookie exchanges, bake sales and homemade gifting!
More Holiday Cookies To Try:
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bites
Ricotta Cookies
Christmas Donut Cookies
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Chow Mein Cookies
Chocolate Pretzel Cookies
Easy Sugar Cookies
Pin for later:
Homemade Sugar Cookies
PrintIngredients
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- additional sugar to coat
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two baking sheets or put down nonstick silicone baking mats.
- In a large bowl cream together sugars, butter and oil until smooth. Beat in egg, vanilla, salt and baking powder.
- Mix in flour and continue to mix until combined.
- Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheet.
- Using the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar to flatten the balls to 1/4 inch thick.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until very light brown.
- Remove and cool.
Jane Smith says
These are so east to make & taste great,
Pamela says
I’m so happy you liked them! Thanks for commenting!
Whitney M says
These are just perfect, AND they freeze and thaw beautifully! I will admit..I use a lofthouse style sugar cookie recipe that uses sour cream and involves chilling and rolling out a lot of dough. Everyone loves those cookies, but it’s a lot of work. So I recently needed a quick recipe, and I may now forget about those lofthouse cookies. These have a texture between a sugar cookie and shortbread and just go perfectly with a tad of brown butter icing. I’m definitely making more for the holidays. Btw, I didn’t have vegetable oil so I used coconut oil with no problems!
Daisy says
I just finished making these cookies and they are DELICIOUS!! I doubled the recipe and made them a little smaller so they ended up coming out to 28 cal a cookie! Since I’m on a low cal diet these are going to be my go to treat! They are AWESOME
Daisy says
Oh and THANK YOU:)
Pamela says
Hey Daisy, thanks for commenting and letting me know you liked these cookies! How awesome is it that they are delicious and low calorie? Keep on enjoying!
Debbie says
Don’t really understand how they’re fifty-one calories each.
I converted the measurements into metric, and calculated the calories per gram of each ingredient.
65g Powdered Sugar = 253
100g Sugar = 387
112g Butter = 803
109g Oil = 981
55g Egg = 80
6g Vanilla = 17
3g Tsp Salt
8g Tsp Powder = 5
315g Flour = 1147
3673 (calories) ÷ 773 (grams) = about 4.8 calories per gram
If this recipe makes twenty-four cookies, then each one should weigh about thirty-two grams.
32 x 4.8 = 153.6 per cookie.
That’s what I come up with, anyway.
Sadie says
I agree. I ate four of them thinking they were low calorie but thought it sounded off after thinking and checked and that’s what I came up with as well.
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
The cookie dance gif I’m soBBING OH MY.
You always crack me up, girlie. How do you do it???
Also, I want a cookie. And by “one” I mean “three hundreds of them” and I’m not kiddinfg here hmmm
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
What a really cool video! Thanks so much for sharing some of your work with us… super awesome to see! And these cookies… I’d easily eat a dozen right now, haha
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
pretty sure I won’t have the will-power to even stop at 10! Snickerdoods are my fav cookie!
MyMansBelly says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE simple sugar cookies. I never seem to make them though because I have no self control around them. Chocolate chip cookies can turn moldy, they sit so long…but never sugar cookies. These look really light too. 🙂
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Good luck on your new business. Your ad campaign is really cool.
I haven’t made sugar cookies in a long time. These look deliciously tender. Adding to my must make list 😀
Sasha says
This video is so cool, Pamela! I’ve never seen an ad campaign like it before. Great job 🙂
These cookies look yum. I feel like they would be great if made with coconut oil too.
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
Love the cookie dance. You are so creative… I wish I had 5% of your creativity. These airy cookies look perfect. Yum!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Most weeks require cookies, I find. 😉 Sounds like you’re busy busy busy with loads of good stuff. Good luck with all of your ventures! While you’re out there being busy, I think I’ll just stay here and enjoy these cookies. Really nice! Thanks so much.
Debra says
Ore the 3-D stuff. (Pardon my ignorance of the correct terms.). It was definitely cookie night here last night, too.
Mary Frances says
The new business sounds really cool. Good luck!
ela@GrayApron says
How exciting! I watched that 3D video with the blonde…beautiful, Pamela. Ah, the cookies…nice too! 🙂 ela
Suzanne says
Congratulations and best of luck in your venture. I think you are off to a really good start the video is great. The cookies are a work of art, melt in your mouth goodness!
Laurie says
I adore all things cookie!!! and really good sugar cookies are hard to come by! Say HI to the kitty children!! (We have five dogs and three cats so we’re all about the fuzzy people!)
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
Best of luck with all the exciting stuff in your future! That 3d video made me feel like I was in Oz. So dreamy.
Low cal light & airy cookies? Count me in! They also look so dreamy. 🙂
Ashley says
haha I definitely have a cookie dance when I make one and first taste it and it’s delicious : ) These sugar cookies look perfect!
Michelle says
Those cookies look awesome! One of these days I will try making cookies again…not the best baker. Oat bars and your monkeybread muffins have been about it for me and baking.
I checked out your Reed + Rader page and watched the “I Hate Kitties” video…all of our cats stopped what they were doing (eating, walking away from being finished eating) and turned their attention towards the computer screen. :p
Your work is really unique and fun…hope your “big dream” works out for you two. 🙂
Pamela says
Hahaha, love to hear it caught your kitties attention. 😉 <3
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
Good luck on your new venture! These cookies look like just the thing to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee during a busy day!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Those are some seriously gorgeous cookies! They look absolutely perfect!
marcie says
These sugar cookies look fantastic, Pamela! Congrats on the new business venture and best of luck!