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4.16 stars (322 ratings)

Vanilla Cutout Cookies that Don't Spread

Learn the secrets to baking cutout cookies with neat edges, that won’t spread as they bake! You’ll fall in love with baking and decorating cutout cookies.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie cutter, Cookies, cut out, roll out, sugar cookies, vanilla
Servings: 30 cookies, approx.***
Calories: 146kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, and line baking sheets with parchment.
  • Cream the butter and sugar, just until smooth and combined (try not to whip in any air).
  • Mix in the eggs until incorporated.
  • Add the flour**, cornstarch, and salt, and mix on medium low speed.  The mixture will seem very dry and sandy at first, but after 3 to 5 minutes in the mixer it should gather itself into a ball and pull away cleanly from the sides of the bowl.
  • Stir in the vanilla. (If you do not have an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, you may have to knead the dough by hand to fully bring it together.)
  • Working with a managable amount at a time, roll the dough out between 2 sheets of parchment paper, to a thickness of 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch.*
  • Cut into shapes, peel away from the bottom sheet of parchment carefully (see the video below), flip onto the prepared baking sheets, and bake until set around the edges but still a bit soft in the centers (approx. 9 to 12 minutes for 2 1/2-inch, 3/8-inch thick cookies).
  • Cool completely, then decorate with royal icing.

Video

Notes

*Rolling pin rings will help you get an even thickness.
**If you live in a very dry environment, or if you don't have a very powerful mixer, you may not need all the flour. Add about 1/2 cup at a time, and stop adding when the dough gathers itself into a ball and pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
***Yield varies depending on the size of your cookie cutters.
©Baking a Moment

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg