Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (2024)

Shelly 153 Comments

★★★★★5 from 14 reviews

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These Soft Amish Sugar Cookies are hands-down my new favorite sugar cookies recipe. They’re so simple and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, you have to stop what you’re doing right now and make these!

Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Easy Amish Sugar Cookies
  • What Makes these Cookies Unique?
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How to Make Amish Sugar Cookies
  • Tips for the Best Cookies
  • How to Store Extras
  • Can I Freeze These?
  • More Sugar Cookie Recipe to Try
  • Get the Recipe

Easy Amish Sugar Cookies

I’ve developed quite the sugar cookie collection over the years. Looking for a foolproof Cut Out Sugar Cookie recipe? Covered! Or Easy Soft Sugar Cookies WIth Frosting? I gotcha. And if you’re looking for the BEST soft, no fuss sugar cookie recipe, allow me to introduce you to my new favorite: Amish Sugar Cookies!

This easy sugar cookie recipe is all kinds of old-fashioned and nostalgic, and I love it. The texture of these cookies quite literally melts in your mouth. It’s unreal! They’re thick and soft without being cakey, perfectly buttery and sweet – everything you want a sugar cookie recipe to be!

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What Makes these Cookies Unique?

Rumor has it that versions of these sugar cookies have been circulating since the 1700s, when they originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch. This old-timey cookie recipe includes vegetable oil and powdered sugar in addition to butter and granulated sugar.

Healthy? Maybe not. However, this unusual combination is what makes Amish sugar cookies uniquely melt-in-your-mouth and oh-so-amazing!

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Recipe Ingredients

  • Butter: Salted or unsalted, at room temperature.
  • Vegetable Oil: Or another neutral oil, such as canola.
  • Sugar: Both granulated sugar as well as powdered sugar is what gives these cookies a particularly tender texture.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract, and not the imitation kind.
  • Cream of Tartar: Almost every Amish cookie recipe features cream of tartar, which reacts with baking soda to provide the leavening. This gives these cookies a light and fluffy rise.
  • Baking Soda
  • Eggs
  • Flour
  • Salt
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How to Make Amish Sugar Cookies

Make the Dough: Cream together the butter, oil, and sugars. Next beat in the eggs and vanilla, followed by the baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Slowly add in the flour, continuing to mix the dough until just combined.

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Scoop the Dough: Use a cookie scoop to scoop dough balls out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

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Bake: Bake the cookies in a preheated 350°F oven, until the edges are just golden. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

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Tips for the Best Cookies

  • Use a Cookie Scoop: I used my large cookie scoop to make these the perfect size and height. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, here’s the link to my favorite!
  • Don’t Over-Bake the Cookies: These cookies will only be slightly golden when they leave the oven. They may even appear under-baked – and that’s fine! Whatever you do, make sure to not over-bake these sugar cookies. You can bake out the magic. It’s a fact. Besides, they’ll continue to bake as they rest on the sheet!
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How to Store Extras

Store these Amish sugar cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze These?

You can freeze both the unbaked cookie dough as well as the baked cookies for up to 3 months.

To Freeze Cookie Dough: Scoop the dough balls out onto a baking sheet, and then place the whole sheet into the freezer to flash-freeze. Once solid, transfer the dough to an airtight, freezer-safe bag or container to store them. Bake the cookie dough directly from frozen, adding an extra couple of minutes to the baking time.

To Freeze Baked Cookies: Store the baked cookies airtight once they’re completely cooled. Use pieces of parchment paper to separate the layers as needed. Freeze the cookies, and let them thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to serve them.

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More Sugar Cookie Recipe to Try

  • Amish Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cookies
  • Pressed Frosted Sugar Cookies Recipe
  • Easy Soft Sugar Cookies
  • The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
  • Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Print

    Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (10)

    Soft Amish Sugar Cookies

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 14 reviews

    • Author: Shelly
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 24 large cookies 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Amish

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    Description

    These Soft Amish Sugar Cookies are hands-down my new favorite sugar cookies recipe. They’re so simple and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, you have to stop what you’re doing right now and make these!

    Ingredients

    Scale

    • 1 cup butter, room temperature
    • 1 cup vegetable oil
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 tsp vanilla
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp cream of tartar
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 4 1/2 cups flour
    • *optional sprinkles to garnish

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°
    2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
    3. In your mixing bowl cream together butter, oil and both sugars until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
    4. Add in baking soda, cream of tartar and salt and mix in.
    5. Turn mixer to low and add in flour, mixing until combined.
    6. Using a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoons) dough onto lined baking sheet. Add sprinkles now if desired. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges just start to golden.
    7. Allow to cool for 3 minutes on baking sheet and transfer to wire rack to finish cooling.

    Notes

    recipe adapted from Taste of Home Magazine

    store airtight for up to 3 days

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 249
    • Sugar: 12.5 g
    • Sodium: 158.7 mg
    • Fat: 12.9 g
    • Carbohydrates: 30.5 g
    • Protein: 3 g
    • Cholesterol: 40.5 mg

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    **NOTE** When I first posted this recipe I left out the eggs on the printable recipe as an oversight. The recipe is corrected now. Thank you so much for the emails letting me know!!**

    Soft Amish Sugar Cookies - Simple Sugar Cookies Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    Why aren t my sugar cookies soft? ›

    Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says. About 1 minute should do the trick. Remove cookies from the baking sheet as soon as they set. Most recipes tell you to leave them on for three to five minutes after taking them out of the oven.

    Should sugar cookies be hard or soft? ›

    For sugar cookies, if you take them out just before the outside starts to brown. and while the edge offers no resistance, you'll get a cookie that is soft and chewy all throughout. Bake a few more minutes until the edge turns a light golden brown. and springs back slightly when pressed.

    What ingredient will keep cookies soft? ›

    Eggs, particularly egg yolks. Eggs work to make your cookies soft in two ways: They add a ton of moisture, and the proteins add structure that prevents spreading. Cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. Low in protein and high in moisture, cake flour is used to leaven all sorts of baked goods.

    What makes cookies soft and fluffy? ›

    Baking soda

    When added to dough, baking soda releases a carbon dioxide gas which helps leaven the dough, creating a soft, fluffy cookie. Baking soda is generally used in recipes that contain an acidic ingredient such as vinegar, sour cream or citrus.

    How can I keep my sugar cookies soft? ›

    Store sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Store cookies with a tortilla, apple wedge, or piece of bread to keep them soft for longer.

    How can I soften my sugar cookies? ›

    Place a slice of bread on top of the cookies and cover the plate with plastic wrap. The moisture from the bread will be absorbed by the cookies and soften them. Reheat the cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Be careful not to overheat them, as this can cause them to become even more dry and hard.

    Should you refrigerate sugar cookie dough before baking? ›

    Chilling the dough is a key step in making sugar cookies, especially when you're making cut-outs. Even if you're tight on time, make sure to get the dough in the fridge, or even the freezer, even if it's only for a little while. Skip this step, and the dough will be sticky, and much harder to work with.

    What is Snoop Dogg cookies? ›

    Snoop Dogg's peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe - His original cookie features creamy peanut butter and semisweet chocolate morsels, making it the perfect indulgence this holiday season. #

    Why are they called cowboy cookies? ›

    Some claim cowboy cookies hail from Texas, a state many cowboys call home. Others say the treats were named for their ability to withstand long days in saddlebag. Whatever its origin, the combination of oats, chocolate, pecans, and coconut is undeniably delicious.

    What is the oldest cookie in the world? ›

    Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico”.

    How long should you chill sugar cookie dough? ›

    Bake cookies on parchment paper: Sometimes greasing a baking sheet can cause sugar cookies to spread. Instead, use parchment paper to prevent sticking and help the cookies keep their shape. Don't let the dough get warm. Notice the dough needs to be chilled for at least 2 hours.

    Can you over mix sugar cookie dough? ›

    Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

    Are sugar cookies better with butter or shortening? ›

    Which One Should I Use in Cookies? Basically, cookies made with butter spread more and are flatter and crisper if baked long enough. However, they are more flavorful than cookies made with shortening. Cookies made with shortening bake up taller and are more tender, but aren't as flavorful.

    What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

    Use Melted Butter

    If the goal is a chewy cookie, then you absolutely need to be using melted butter. The technique of creaming softened butter and sugar together is often used for making cakes. And for good reason! The process of creaming incorporates air into the butter which results in a more airy and cakey cookie.

    Why do my cookies get hard after they cool? ›

    Cookies begin losing moisture through evaporation from the moment that they come out of the oven. So it's totally normal for them to harden up a bit. Yet, this is why you need to store them in an airtight container once they completely cool or they will continue to lose moisture.

    How do you make cookies fluffy instead of flat? ›

    Try using baking powder instead of baking soda. Baking soda encourages spreading while baking powder puffs the cookies up. If your recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of baking soda, you would use 3 to 4 teaspoons of baking powder.

    What makes cookies soft and flat? ›

    WHY ARE MY COOKIES FLAT? HOW TO FIX FLAT COOKIES
    1. OVEN IS TOO HOT. Oven temperatures are a crucial factor in baking. ...
    2. INGREDIENTS MEASURED INCORRECTLY. ...
    3. BAKING SHEET IS TOO HOT. ...
    4. BUTTER IS TOO SOFT. ...
    5. BAKING SHEET IS OVER-GREASED. ...
    6. DOUGH WASN'T CHILLED BEFORE BAKING. ...
    7. DOUGH IS OVERMIXED. ...
    8. BAKING SHEET WAS OVERCROWDED.

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