Spiced Sugar Cookies

5 from 1 vote

These spiced sugar cookies are as simple as they look, with a deep wintery flavor that’ll have your house smelling like Christmas all day.

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Total Time30

Servings: 30

Author: Maria Corcuera

Ingredients

Cookie dough

1 Cup granulated sugar
2 3/4 Cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoons baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 Cup unsalted butter cold and cut into 1.5 cm cubes
1 large egg room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, until well combined.
1 Cup (200 g) granulated sugar, 2 3/4 Cups (343.8 g) all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon (0.3 teaspoon) ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoons (0.3 teaspoons) baking powder, 1/8 teaspoons (0.1 teaspoons) baking soda, 1/8 teaspoon (0.1 teaspoon) salt
Add the butter, egg, and vanilla, and mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
3/4 Cup (170.3 g) unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface, then transfer the sugar cookie dough onto it. Flour your rolling pin and roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness.
Bake on 350 f for 8-10 min or until edges turn lightly golden. Let cool completely on wire rack before decorating

Notes

Add-ons and Substitutions

Add-ons

Sprinkles: Add festive sprinkles before baking or on top of the icing for a fun touch.
Chopped nuts: Mix in chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for added crunch.
Chocolate chips: Fold in mini chocolate chips for a bit of chocolatey goodness.
Orange zest: Add some freshly grated orange zest to the dough for a hint of citrus flavor.

Substitutions

Salted butter instead of unsalted: If using salted butter, skip the added salt in the recipe.
Almond extract for vanilla extract: Swap some or all of the vanilla extract for almond extract for a different flavor.
Pumpkin pie spice in place of individual spices: Use 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, or just feel free to make your own spice mix

Expert Tips for the Best Spiced Sugar Cookies

Chill the dough if it’s too soft: If the dough feels sticky or hard to work with, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before rolling. This helps keep the shapes intact while cutting.
Use cold butter: Start with cold butter instead of room temperature for a chewier texture and soft cookies. It slows down the spreading while baking.
Flour the cookie cutters: Lightly dust the cookie cutters with flour to prevent sticking and ensure clean edges.
Avoid overmixing: Mix the dough just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make the cookies tough.
Rotate the baking sheets halfway through: To ensure even baking, turn the sheets around halfway through the baking time.
Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for a few minutes: Let the cookies cool for 2-3 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to the wire rack. This prevents breakage and allows them to set slightly.
Store the cookies with a slice of bread: Keep a slice of bread in the container with the cookies to help retain their softness longer. The bread will absorb any excess moisture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I spice up Sugar Cookies?

For this recipe I used my go-to sugar cookie recipe, the only difference is that I spiced them up with cinnamon, ginger, and ground cloves.

The personality of these cookies changed completely with the addition of these spices! while you can use normal sugar cookies all year round, when spiced up, they become a more seasonal cookie.

Should Sugar Cookies be soft or crispy?

Generally speaking, sugar cookies should be soft and tender. The best way to achieve this is by not over-beating the batter when the flour is added, once the flour is in, you should mix until just incorporated.

What happens is that you end up aerating the batter too much, and introducing too many air bubbles to it. This causes gluten development, which will end up in cakey and gummy cookies.

Can I use different spices in this recipe?

Yes! Feel free to experiment with other spices like nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom to customize the flavor profile to your liking.

How should I store the cookies?

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, you can freeze them in a freezer-safe bag for up to three months.

Can I decorate these cookies?

Absolutely! Once the cookies are completely cooled, you can decorate them with royal icing, sprinkles, or even dip them in chocolate for a fun twist.

Why are my cookies spreading too much?

Cookies may spread too much if the dough is too warm or if you didn't use enough flour. Make sure to chill the dough if it feels sticky and measure your ingredients accurately.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. Just allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before rolling it out.

What should I do if my cookies come out too hard?

If your cookies are hard, it could be due to overbaking. Make sure to keep an eye on them while baking and take them out when the edges are lightly golden for a softer texture.

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