Instructions
- Prepare the oven and baking sheets:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Mix the dry ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar:
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the wet ingredients:
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until well combined.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together.
- Shape the cookies:
- Roll the dough into small balls, about 1-inch in diameter. (If the dough feels too sticky, chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before rolling.)
- Place the cookie balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Gently press each cookie ball down with the bottom of a glass or your fingers to flatten slightly.
- Shape the cookies:
- Gently press the sprinkles into the tops of the cookies. You can either use colorful sprinkles to coat the whole top of the cookie or just add a few on top for a fun pop of color.
- Shape the cookies:
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden but the centers are still soft. Don’t over bake—they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Shape the cookies:
- Once cooled, enjoy your delicious, sprinkle-topped sugar cookies! They’re perfect for parties, holidays, or just a fun treat anytime.
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional, but adds great flavor)
- ¼ tsp salt
- Sprinkles (rainbow, nonpareils, or any variety you like)
Tips
- If you prefer a more textured or crunchy sugar cookie, you can roll the dough balls in sugar before baking them.
- Experiment with different types of sprinkles, from classic rainbow jimmies to seasonal themed sprinkles for holidays like Christmas or Halloween!
- For a festive touch, consider adding a little zest of lemon or orange to the dough for a citrusy kick.
