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Baked sugar cookie on sheet pan next to cookies with sprinkles.

Soft and Chewy Drop Sugar Cookies

Yield: 36 Cookies (2-3 dozen depending on size)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (227 g) salted butter, softened to cool room temperature
  • 1 ⅓ cups (283 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (355 g) all-purpose flour (see note!)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Additional granulated sugar or sprinkles, for rolling

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (see note). Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until lightly and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Add the egg and vanilla and mix again for 1-2 minutes until the batter lightens in color. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
  • Scoop the cookie dough into rounded balls (about 2 tablespoons in size; I use my #40 cookie scoop), roll in granulated sugar or sprinkles and place on the prepared baking sheets a couple inches apart (about 12 cookies per baking sheet).
  • Bake for 11-13 minutes until slightly crackly on top (but not much color around the edges or bottom to keep them soft and chewy).
  • Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

Flour: for a slightly thicker/puffier cookie, add 2-4 extra tablespoons flour. 
Cookies Spreading: if the cookies spread and flatten too much while baking, try adding more flour per the note above or increase the baking temperature to 375 degrees F or use convection bake (if you have that function on your oven - see my Instagram experiment here to come to this conclusion).