Sugar cookie

Traditional sugar cookies

A sugar cookie is a type of cookie that is made from the basic ingredients of sugar, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, and either baking powder or baking soda. Sugar cookies may be formed by hand, dropped, or rolled and cut into shapes. They are commonly decorated with additional sugar, icing, sprinkles, or a combination of these.

History

The sugar cookie is believed to have originated in the mid-1700s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where German Protestant settlers created a round, crumbly, and buttery cookie that came to be known as the Nazareth Sugar Cookie.

Ingredients

The basic ingredients of a sugar cookie include:

Christmas-themed sugar cookies

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Baking powder or baking soda

These ingredients are mixed to form a dough, which is then shaped and baked.

Preparation

Simple sugar cookies

Sugar cookies can be prepared in various ways:

• Drop cookies: The dough is dropped by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.
• Rolled cookies: The dough is rolled out and cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
• Molded cookies: The dough is shaped by hand or with molds.

Decoration

Decorated sugar cookies

Sugar cookies are often decorated with:

• Icing
• Sprinkles
• Colored sugar

Decorations can be applied before or after baking, depending on the desired effect.

Variations

Sugar cookies with sprinkles

There are many variations of sugar cookies, including:

• Chocolate sugar cookies: Made with cocoa powder for a chocolate flavor.
• Buttercream filled sugar cookies: Two cookies sandwiched with buttercream filling.

Buttercream filled sugar cookies

Cultural Significance

Sugar cookies are a popular treat during holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, and Easter. They are often used in cookie decorating activities and are a staple in many holiday celebrations.

Related Pages

• Cookie
• Biscuit
• Shortbread
• Snickerdoodle