3-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

These are simple, buttery cookies with a texture similar to shortbread. Because they don't contain any leavening, they hold their shape perfectly, which makes them ideal for cutouts. The dough is firm and easy to work with.
Published: September 23, 2025
by Maribelle Harper

Ingredients

  • 3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Make and Chill the Dough

In a large bowl, cream the room-temperature butter and sugar together with a mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will take a few minutes.

Add the flour and mix on low speed until the dough starts to form clumps. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it a few times to bring it together into a smooth ball.

Roll the dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out your desired shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Chill the cut-out cookies on the baking sheet for at least 30 minutes. This step is key to preventing the cookies from spreading.

Bake the Cookies at 325F

Preheat your oven to 325°F.

Bake the chilled cookies for ~13-16 minutes. The edges should be just beginning to turn a light golden brown, but the centers should still be pale.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

3-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

These are simple, buttery cookies with a texture similar to shortbread. Because they don’t contain any leavening, they hold their shape perfectly, which makes them ideal for cutouts. The dough is firm and easy to work with.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill + Cool Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 sticks unsalted butter 1 1/2 cups, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Cream butter and sugar with mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • Mix in flour on low speed until dough forms clumps.
  • Knead dough briefly on floured surface to form smooth ball.
  • Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut desired shapes.
  • Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheet and chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Bake chilled cookies 13-16 minutes until edges are light golden but centers remain pale.
  • Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Room temperature butter is essential for proper dough consistency.

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