If you’ve ever dreamed of the perfect, effortless homemade cookie, this 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe is your ticket to sweet happiness. Imagine gloriously tender, buttery rounds that taste just like childhood, with crisp edges and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth center — all with less fuss and more fun. Whether you need a quick batch for a last-minute gathering or an afternoon pick-me-up with tea, these simple sugar cookies check every box. Let’s dive into cozy baking at its absolute easiest.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how only three pantry staples can create cookies so delightful! Each ingredient plays a starring role in the taste, texture, and color of this 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe, so grab your favorites — it makes all the difference.
- Butter: Use real, unsalted butter at room temperature for the richest flavor and soft, tender crumb.
- Granulated sugar: Adds the perfect sweetness and lightly crisp finish, especially when you roll the dough balls in sugar before baking.
- All-purpose flour: The structure-maker, keeping your cookies thick and soft without getting crumbly.
- Vanilla extract (optional): A splash adds warm, aromatic depth and classic sugar cookie aroma, but the recipe shines even without it.
- Rainbow sprinkles or nonpareils (optional): For a pop of color and a hint of crunch, sprinkle these on before baking.
How to Make 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Equipment
Set your oven to 325°F and give two large baking sheets a parchment or silicone mat lining — this ensures your cookies release easily and bake evenly. Prepping your tools in advance makes the rest of this 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe smooth sailing.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat your room-temperature butter together with 2/3 cup granulated sugar until light, fluffy, and smooth. This step is crucial, as properly creamed butter ensures your cookies turn out soft and tender every time.
Step 3: Add Flour and Mix
Pour in the all-purpose flour (and vanilla extract, if you love a hint of classic aroma). Mix everything together on low speed until the dough comes together. If your dough seems crumbly, knead it gently by hand a few times until it feels smooth and holds together easily.
Step 4: Shape and Sugar-Coat
Scoop out tablespoon-sized balls of dough, rolling each in your palms until smooth. Now, roll every dough ball in the reserved three tablespoons of sugar for that signature gorgeous, sparkly sugar cookie rim. Arrange them with a little space in between on your prepared baking sheets.
Step 5: Flatten and Decorate
Use a flat-bottomed glass to gently press each dough ball down to about 3/16 inch thick. If you’re feeling playful, add rainbow sprinkles or nonpareils right now, pressing them ever-so-lightly into the dough so they’ll stick as the cookies bake.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Slide your sheets into the oven and bake for 14 to 16 minutes. You’re watching for barely golden edges — that’s your cue for a perfectly soft center with crisp, delicate edges. Overbaking will dry them out, so resist the urge to leave them in for longer!
Step 7: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. This helps them set up and makes them easier to transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Once cool, grab a cookie (or three) and experience the magic of this ultra-simple, ultra-satisfying 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe!
How to Serve 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe
Garnishes
Dust your finished cookies with a bit of extra granulated sugar for sparkle, or drizzle with melted white chocolate for an elegant sheen. Sprinkles, colored sugars, or a pinch of cinnamon can add a fun twist — let your mood or the occasion guide you!
Side Dishes
Serve these sugar cookies alongside a tall glass of cold milk, a mug of hot cocoa, or your favorite herbal tea. They also make a fabulous base for ice cream sandwiches or can be paired with fresh berries for a light dessert spread.
Creative Ways to Present
Showcase your cookies in a vintage tin, wrap stacks in clear bags for an easy, heartfelt gift, or arrange them on a platter with festive ribbon for a holiday dessert table. You can even use small cookie cutters to shape puddles of dough before baking for a playful, personalized touch. With this 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe, the creative possibilities are endless!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. They’ll stay delightfully soft at the center with just the right hint of crispness at the edge — perfect for grabbing as a quick treat whenever the craving hits.
Freezing
To stash cookies for longer, cool them completely, then freeze in a single layer until solid. Transfer to a zip-top bag or airtight container and keep frozen for up to two months. You can also freeze unbaked dough balls (un-sugared) and bake later for instant fresh cookies straight from the freezer!
Reheating
If you prefer cookies warm, simply reheat them on a baking sheet in a 300°F oven for 3–5 minutes. They’ll regain that bakery-fresh taste and lovely edge-y crispness in no time.
FAQs
Can I make these without a mixer?
Absolutely! As long as your butter is truly soft, you can cream it together with the sugar using a sturdy wooden spoon and a bit of elbow grease. Mixing by hand is a fun way to get the kids involved, too.
Is it okay to add other flavor extracts?
Definitely! Almond extract, lemon zest, or even a dash of spice, like cinnamon or cardamom, all play beautifully with the simple base of the 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe. Just keep any additions light, so the buttery flavor still shines through.
Why did my cookies turn out dry or crumbly?
Usually, this is a sign of too much flour or overbaking. Be sure to spoon and level your flour for accurate measuring, and watch for those just-barely golden edges as your bake signal.
Can I double the recipe for a party?
Yes! The 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe multiplies easily. Just make sure to cream the butter and sugar thoroughly for each batch, and bake in batches for the best texture.
What if my dough feels too soft to roll?
If your kitchen is warm, or the butter was extra soft, simply pop the dough in the fridge for 10–15 minutes to firm up. Chilled dough shapes and bakes up beautifully.
Final Thoughts
There’s something magical about a treat as effortless as this 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe — every baker deserves an easy, go-to crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re sharing with family, assembling a dessert tray, or just indulging your own sweet tooth, these cookies always deliver. Ready to treat yourself? Preheat that oven and let’s get baking!
Print
3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These 3 ingredient sugar cookies are the ultimate quick and cozy treat. With real butter, sugar, and flour, they bake up soft in the center and lightly crisp at the edges. Perfect for holiday trays, tea time, or anytime you crave a simple, buttery cookie that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
1 cup butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar, plus 3 tablespoons for rolling
- 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Rainbow sprinkles or nonpareils (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat butter and 2⁄3 cup sugar with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.
- Add flour and vanilla if using. Mix until just combined.
- Check dough for smoothness and knead gently by hand if crumbly.
- Scoop 1-inch balls of dough, roll smooth, and coat in remaining sugar.
- Arrange on baking sheets and flatten each ball to about 3⁄16 inch thick with a flat-bottomed glass.
- Decorate with sprinkles if desired, pressing lightly to set.
- Bake 14–16 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack.
Notes
- For perfectly soft cookies, avoid overbaking. Pull them from the oven as soon as the edges are barely golden.
- If your dough is too soft, chill for 10–15 minutes before shaping.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 125 kcal
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 22mg
