Sugar Spiced Cookies (Printable)

Buttery cookies flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, offering a crisp and warm treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Sugar Spice Coating

11 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
04 - Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture, beating until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring just until fully incorporated without overmixing.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon designated for the coating.
07 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, shape into balls, then roll them in the sugar-cinnamon mixture until thoroughly coated.
08 - Place the coated dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
09 - Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are golden while centers remain soft.
10 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • They're buttery and crisp on the edges while staying tender in the middle, which sounds impossible until you nail the baking time.
  • The sugar-spice coating gives you that satisfying crunch and makes them look fancy without any real effort.
  • They come together in under 30 minutes start to finish, making them perfect for unexpected guests or last-minute gifting.
02 -
  • Don't overbake them—the centers really do need to look slightly soft when you pull them from the oven, because they continue to firm up on the cooling rack and that's what gives you that perfect crispy-chewy texture.
  • If your butter is too cold or too warm, the dough won't cream properly and your cookies will either be dense or spread too thin; aim for the texture of soft butter that holds an indent when you poke it.
03 -
  • Use an ice cream scoop to portion dough evenly—it saves time and ensures every cookie bakes at the same rate.
  • If you want extra spice depth, add a small pinch of ground cloves or cardamom to the coating mixture, but taste as you go because a little goes a long way.

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