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The title says it all! Tender and buttery sugar cookies iced a fluffy buttercream. Butter Dream Sugar Cookies hold their shape when baked and don’t require refrigeration.
Stock your refrigerator with plenty of butter and bring out your favorite holiday cookie cutters for butter dream sugar cookies
Christmas sugar cookies aren’t complete without a few sprinkles, sanding sugars, and dragees.
Measure and prep all of the cookie dough ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until very fluffy and creamy, about 7-8 minutes.
Mix in eggs one at a time.
Mixture will be very creamy.
Add milk and vanilla. The mixture will look very curdled, but don’t worry.
Mix in 6 cups of the flour with salt and baking powder that have been sifted together. Add remaining cup of flour a little at a time until the sugar cookie dough is manageable but not too sticky.
roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. I rolled my dough out to just a bit over 1/4-inch thick because I like a thick sugar cookie…yum.
Place each cut cookie onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Brush with an egg that has been beaten with 2 teaspoons water. The egg I used had an extremely bright yellow yolk (go chicken!), but I’d prefer it not to be so golden to be honest. It is what it is. Bake in a 350F degree preheated oven for 8-12 minutes or just until the bottoms are beginning to brown lightly.
Cool completely.
Gather and prep all ingredients for fluffy buttercream icing.
Begin by creaming the butter. I let the butter mix for 3-4 minutes on low speed. Gradually add 3 1/2 cups of the powdered sugar. Scrape down sides of the bowl. Add vanilla and cream and mix until smooth and creamy.
Add remaining 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Mixing and scraping between each addition.
Pipe or spread icing on each cookie.
Add a few little holiday sprinkles and share the joy. This recipe calls for 1 1/2 pounds of butter! This is the joy you want to share. Makes 2-4 dozen cookies depending on the shape and size of the cookie cutters you use.
Share the joy this holiday season 25 days in 25 ways doing daily acts of service. For great service ideas, check out the awesome videos at#Lighttheworld
4.06 from 112 votes
Butter Dream Sugar Cookies
Tender and buttery sugar cookies are topped with a fluffy homemade buttercream icing for the most delicious and festive sweet treats. This frosted butter dream sugar cookies recipe does not require refrigeration and bakes up perfectly formed Christmas cookies that hold their shape!
CourseDessert, Snack
CuisineAmerican
KeywordButter Dream Sugar Cookies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
icing cookies 30 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings 48 cookies
Calories 208 kcal
Ingredients
- 1cupunsalted buttersoftened
- 2cupsgranulated sugar
- 2eggs
- 1cupmilk
- 2teaspoonsvanilla
- 1teaspoonssalt
- 2tablespoonsbaking powder
- 7cupsflourapproximately
- 1whole egg
- 2teaspoonswater
- egg wash: optional
Fluffy Buttercream Icing:
- 1lbof buttersoftened
- 7cupspowdered sugarsifted if lumpy
- 3-4tablespoonsheavy cream or milk
- 2teaspoonsvanilla
- pinchof saltoptional
Instructions
Sugar Cookies:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 7-8 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time until combined.
Add milk and vanilla. The mixture will look curdled.
Sift 6 cups flour, salt and baking powder together. Add to butter mixture. Add remaining flour a little at a time to make a manageable dough.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. I rolled my out a little over 1/4-inch thick. Cut with desired shapes and sizes of cookie cutters. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
In a small bowl, mix together egg and water for the glaze. Light brush the glaze over tops of cookies.
Bake for 8-12 minutes or until the bottoms are beginning to slightly brown.
Cool completely. Ice with Fluffy Buttercream icing
Fluffy Buttercream Icing:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, softened butter until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.
Gradually add 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.
Mix in milk and vanilla. Mix until creamy.
Add remaining powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Mix for an additional 2-3 minutes until creamy and fluffy.
Ice cooled sugar cookies.
Recipe Notes
Buttercream frosting is made with butter and therefore needs to be refrigerated. Place the cookies in a container with a lid and keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
To freeze: For the best taste I recommend freezing the cookies before frosting. Cool them completely, then wrap each cookie in plastic wrap. Place them together in a plastic ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for 20-30 minutes before frosting the Christmas cookies with freshly made buttercream icing.
Nutrition Facts
Butter Dream Sugar Cookies
Amount Per Serving (48 cookies)
Calories 208Calories from Fat 107
% Daily Value*
Fat 11.9g18%
Saturated Fat 7.4g37%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 38mg13%
Sodium 138mg6%
Potassium 0mg0%
Carbohydrates 26.4g9%
Fiber 0g0%
Sugar 25.8g29%
Protein 0.5g1%
Vitamin A 0IU0%
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 0mg0%
Iron 0mg0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
SUZANNE saysThis looks so good! What a great treat to make with kids!
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- Amy Briggs says
Could the frostIng been made in a kitchen Aid mixer vs and ELECTRIC mixer?
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- Janet Barton says
Absolutely!
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- Melissa says
What piping tip do you use for the tree?
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- Janet Barton says
The tip I used to pipe the sugar cookie tres is an Ateco #824. A Wilton 1M can also be used. I hope this helps.
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- Beatrice R says
Im so excited to try this, can I saran wrap and put them in room temperature gift bags for a day or two or will the frosting crumble/smoosh? Also, how long do these keep at room temperature?
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- Janet Barton says
I hope you receive my direct message. If not, I would definitely freeze the cookies. When you are ready to deliver the gift bags remove them from the freezer and place them in the gift. They will be so much fresher and won’t smoosh in the gift bag.
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- Kylie says
I see that you have a couple sugar cookie recipes.,,,which would you reccomend is the most melt in your mouth and soft cookie that would still hold a good fluffy thick buttercream?
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- Janet Barton says
Fabulous question. The sour cream sugar cookie is very buttery and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The Butter dream sugar cookie is a close second. I think the butter dream would hold a lot of thick buttercream without any trouble. The sour cream sugar cookie doesn’t hold its shape as well as the butter dream but would be heavenly. It doesn’t hold its shape as well. It will spread a bit. I hope this answers your question. I’d love to hear which your choose.
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- Kylie says
I went with the Sour Cream Sugar Cookie. It was very soft! It held the buttercream with no trouble. They were eaten with enjoyment by my family. thank you!
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- Janet Barton says
Wahoo!!! The sour cream sugar cookie is a family favorite. Thank you so much for following up!
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- Cindy says
What tip did you use on the round cookies?
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- Janet Barton says
I used a Wilton 1M star tip.
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- Loraine says
Does the icing harden and if so how long do you have them sit out?
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- Janet Barton says
So sorry I didn’t see your question earlier. I took a few days off for the holidays. The icing doesn’t harden much. It will get a thin dried crust on the icing, but soft inside. It will start to crust a bit after sitting out for 4-5 hours. I put the iced cookies on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer until hardened. Once frozen the cookies can be stacked inbetween sheets of parchment or waxed paper then returned to the freezer until ready to thaw.
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- KMF says
Given the amount of butter, should you store these in the REFRIGERATOR?
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- Janet Barton says
Refrigeration isn’t necessary. If I make them ahead, then I freeze them. Keeping them at room temperature makes them softer to eat.
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- Taray Goodman-Phillips says
Are these high altitude? I’m at 5000ft
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- Janet Barton says
Yes, they are. I’m at almost 5,000 ft and they work every time. You shouldn’t have any trouble. Please let me know if you do.
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- Taray says
Is this buttery sugar cookie recipe for high altitudes? I am at 5000ft (I also inquired a moment ago regarding another of your sugar cookie recipes) I just need a recipe that will work for me here in the AZ mountains. Hope to hear back soon, thanks!
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- Janet Barton says
I hope you haven’t had to wait long for a response. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you immediately. I’ve been up to my elbows dipping chocolates. Yes, again on the sugar cookie recipes. I bake them all at 5,000 ft elevation. I live in the foothills in Sandy, UT. Altitude baking is my life. 😉
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- Taray Goodman-Phillips says
You responded so quickly, thank you so very much! I’m really excited to try your recipe. I want to decorate some cookies with royal icing. Does it matter if I use your ‘Sugar Cookie’ recipe or the ‘Buttery Sugar Cookie’ recipe do you think? Or with the icing lay the same on top of either? I’m new to baking, so I genuinely don’t know if it would make a difference. Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it
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- Taray says
My above comment I meant “Buttery” recipe VS “cut out” recipe
I also wanted to ask, so that means all your recipes here on this site are high altitude then? That’s wonderful!Reply
- Jennifer Helton says
Where did you get your christmas tree cookie cutter?
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- Janet Barton says
Oh my goodness I don’t remember. I have had it for so many years. I’m pretty sure it’s from a local baking store. Sorry I’m not much help.
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- Jennifer Helton says
I found one that looks just like this one on amazon
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- Lynn says
Why the egg wash?
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- Janet Barton says
The egg wash is optional. It just gives the cookie a bit of a shine.
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- Lisa says
Is there 3 eggs mixed in? Or just 2? It says 2 eggs, 1 whole egg and then egg wash? Is the 1 whole for the wash? Thank you ♥️♥️
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- Janet Barton says
I’m sorry for the confusion. The recipe only has two eggs mixed into the batter. The egg wash for the top of the cookies would require another egg and is completely optional.
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- Tann says
The perfect sugar cookie! This is the recipe i have been searching for!!!Reply
- Janet Barton says
Thank you so much. It’s such a delicious buttery cookie.
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- Jennifer says
How long can they be stored if they’re frozen?
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- Janet Barton says
They can be frozen for 2-3 weeks.
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- Cari says
Just wondering about making ahead and storage? The fro is so fluffy, do you haVe to store single level and in frig? Im assuming theyre not really staCkable.
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- Janet Barton says
I generally freeze the cookies on a baking sheet in one layer. After frozen, then they can be stacked between sheets of waxed or parchment paper.
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- Cheryl George says
How much vanilla in the frosting?
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- Janet Barton says
So sorry I left that out of the recipe. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla in the recipe. I have corrected the error on the printable and post. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
Reply
4.06 from 112 votes (111 ratings without comment)
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