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    Home » Recipes » Baking

    Modified: Mar 9, 2023 · Published: Aug 1, 2020 by Melinda O'Malley Keckler · This post may contain affiliate links · this blog generates income from ads.

    No-Chill Sugar Cookie Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    No-Chill Sugar Cookies are just like Mom used to make and taste exactly like the beautiful sugar cookies from fancy cookie bouquet stores, maybe even better. The best part about this recipe is there's no need to refrigerate the dough.

    These cookies are ready to roll, bake and decorate right away with my Best Buttercream Frosting.

    I originally published this recipe back in 2020 and have since adjusted it to include a few more tips.

    Sugar cookies shaped like Christmas trees on a plate.
    No-Chill Sugar Cookies! Frosted to celebrate any holiday or season.
    Jump to:
    • 🥣 Ingredients to Have on Hand
    • ⏲️ No Need to Chill the Cookie Dough
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 How to Roll and Shape No-Chill Sugar Cookies
    • ⭐ Perfect Cookies for Decorating
    • 🍰 More Dessert Ideas
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    🥣 Ingredients to Have on Hand

    No-Chill Sugar Cookies are one of those treats where you really can't skimp on the ingredients. Use real vanilla and almond extracts, not imitation flavorings.

    • Flour
    • Sugar
    • Shortening
    • Butter
    • Vanilla extract
    • Almond extract
    • White vinegar
    • Baking powder

    Scroll to the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    This recipe does include shortening, which helps the cookie have a distinctive soft texture but I don't recommend swapping the shortening for added butter.

    Pro Tip: Use real butter, not a butter substitute or margarine and check the expiration dates on ingredients like baking powder. Better yet, buy a fresh container of it for holiday baking!

    Raw cookie dough in a mound.

    ⏲️ No Need to Chill the Cookie Dough

    This sugar cookie dough is ready to roll as soon as you mix it up. There's no need to refrigerate it, it's good to go and a great time saver!

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What's the best thickness for sugar cookies?

    How you roll out the dough is the most important part of the sugar cookie-making process.

    Although it's very tempting to roll the dough quite thin, that will result in a crunchy cookie that will likely brown around the edges while baking. I recommend you roll the dough out to about ½ inch.

    There's no need to go thicker than that, otherwise, the cookies won't bake properly.

    These cookies will turn out just like the fancy ones you see created for special cookie bouquets.

    If you prefer a thinner cookie, be sure to be consistent with each roll of the dough and adjust the baking time.

    A thinner cookie will finish baking faster.

    👩🏻‍🍳 How to Roll and Shape No-Chill Sugar Cookies

    Once the sugar cookie dough is blended, you are ready to roll it out and cut it into shapes. This is a great recipe any time of year and for any season!

    Cookie dough rolled out.

    Step #1: Sprinkle flour on a cutting board, parchment paper or a pie crust mat. Spread the flour around then place the dough on top and use a rolling pin to create a large, flat layer that's about one-half inch thick. (Photo above.)

    You'll want this dough to be thick. Thicker than most other sugar cookies so avoid the temptation to overdo it with the rolling pin.

    Raw cookies shaped like pumpkins.

    Step #2: Use a cookie cutter to create whatever shapes of cookies you'd like. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 9-10 minutes.

    Sugar cookies shaped like Christmas trees stacked and arranged on a plate.

    ⭐ Perfect Cookies for Decorating

    Once the cookies are finished baking, place them on baking racks or on paper towels on the counter to cool. Next, they are ready to decorate!

    One of the things I love best about this no-chill sugar cookie recipe is the cookies are sturdy enough to allow for any decorating design, sprinkles or additional treats you want to place on top.

    These sugar cookies also maintain their size and shape after baking.

    Two sugar cookies on a plate

    🍰 More Dessert Ideas

    Here are other treats to make and share. I love how simple Fancy Rice Krispy Treats are to prepare and they are absolutely delicious.

    For the December holidays, Mini-Gingerbread Houses are a big hit every single time. Perfect for a party! Here are more dessert ideas:

    • A serving of tiramisu cake on a plate with a fork.
      Tiramisu Cake for Dessert
    • A frosted cookie on a spatula with more cookies on a plate.
      Old Fashioned Sour Cream Cookies
    • An collage of recipes using pumpkin and apple.
      15 Best Apple & Pumpkin Desserts
    • A slice of vanilla cheesecake on a plate with a fork and a lemon in the background.
      Baked Vanilla Cheesecake

    If you tried my No-Chill Sugar Cookie Recipe or any other recipe on the website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below.

    Recipe

    Sugar cookies shaped like Christmas trees on a plate.

    No-Chill Sugar Cookie Recipe

    Just like Mom used to make. This is a recipe that tastes exactly like the beautiful sugar cookies from those fancy cookie bouquet stores, maybe even better. The cookies are ready to roll and bake right away. No need to chill the dough. For a drop sugar cookie, try my Old Fashioned Sour Cream Cookie recipe!
    5 from 39 votes
    Print Rate Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 18 cookies
    Calories: 248kcal
    Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

    Ingredients 

    • ½ cup shortening
    • ½ cup butter - softened
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 egg
    • ½ cup milk
    • ½ teaspoon white vinegar
    • 4 cups flour
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375°

    Cream Together

    • In a medium sized bowl or mixer, cream together shortening, butter, sugar and egg.

    Make Sour Milk

    • Combine milk with vinegar in a small bowl and allow to sit for about 15 minutes. This will create a sour milk, which is perfect for this recipe

    Combine Ingredients

    • In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder, soured milk, almond and vanilla extracts.
    • Combine creamed butter and sugar mixture with the flour mixture. The dough will be sturdy and ready to roll out.

    Roll Dough

    • Roll dough out quite thick, about ½ inch. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
    • Bake for 9-10 minutes on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
    • Frost with your favorite vanilla frosting.

    Notes

    This recipe does include shortening, which helps the cookie have a distinctive soft texture but I don't recommend swapping the shortening for added butter. Does your family love cookies? Next time try my Chewy Peanut Butter recipe, it's delicious!
    Calories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 111mgPotassium: 42mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 182IUCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg

    Please note, the nutrition details are estimated using a food database, so they’re just a rough estimate not an exact science.

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment below or @crinkledcookbook on Instagram, snap a photo and tag it #crinkledcookbook

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