These Easter Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet—ideal for cutting into festive Easter shapes and decorating with colorful icing and sprinkles. Designed with kids in mind, this classic sugar cookie recipe is easy to make, fun to decorate, and holds its shape beautifully in the oven. Whether you’re baking with little helpers or preparing an Easter dessert platter, these cookies are a joyful tradition that brings everyone together.
Prep & Cook Time
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 8–10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Yield: About 2 dozen cut-out cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, but adds classic bakery flavor)
Simple Decorating Icing (Optional)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (pastel colors recommended for Easter)
Directions
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until well combined.
- Combine dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
- Chill the dough: Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Tip: Chilled dough is easier to roll and helps cookies keep their shape. - Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll and cut: Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into Easter shapes (bunnies, eggs, chicks, flowers).
- Bake: Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are just set and bottoms are lightly golden.
Warning: Do not overbake—cookies should stay pale for a soft texture. - Cool: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Decorate (optional): Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Divide icing and tint with food coloring. Spread or pipe onto cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) — Estimated values
- Calories: 170
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Sugar: 12g
- Protein: 2g
- Sodium: 85mg
Conclusion
These Easter Sugar Cookies are a timeless holiday treat that combines simple ingredients with endless creativity. Soft, flavorful, and easy to decorate, they’re perfect for Easter Day desserts, classroom parties, or a fun baking activity with kids. Customize the shapes, colors, and decorations to make them your own—and enjoy creating sweet Easter memories one cookie at a time.
