Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookies

The best ever Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookies

Moms who want to get in and out of the kitchen quickly, you’re going to love these vanilla almond sugar cookies! The texture of soft almond sugar cookies just can’t be beat and they are so simple to make.

As you may or may not know, I am not the girl who will make a recipe twice if it’s complicated. Not only that, but I tend to ruin sugar cookies. Yes, it’s true. They came out dry, thin, and don’t even get me started on the way my cut out cookies would look when they didn’t hold their shape!

Let’s just say the kids were not impressed. If you have a history of sugar cookie Pinterest fails like me – there is hope. These sugar cookies with almond extract are here to save your baking reputation.

Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie Cut Out Recipe

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Why I Love These Soft Almond Sugar Cookies

Recently I attended a holiday party at my friend’s house and she kindly passed the recipe to me when she noticed I couldn’t. stop. eating. them. Oh my gosh, the flavor!

They were perfect vanilla almond sugar cookies. Soft, thick, and just a little chewy. There are so many creative ways to decorate them too!

My favorite part of this recipe is that this dough doesn’t have to be refrigerated before cutting out cookie shapes – it’s perfect for impatient bakers like me! Or, you know, your kids. Ahem.

As soon as I got my hands on that recipe, I had to try making them myself. So easy. The kids loved making the different Christmas shapes and decorating them and the time spent together in the kitchen was a total mom win.

Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie Cut Out Recipe

Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie Cut Out Recipe

How to Make Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookies

As I said before, the recipe was easy enough to make and we had a great time in the kitchen, but a little something was missing… it needed a touch of my favorite flavor to add to all of my homemade pastries, cookies and cakes.

That new secret ingredient? Almond extract. Mmmm… You just can’t beat that distinct flavor.

Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie Cut Out Recipe

What is Almond Extract?

Almond extract is a flavoring that is most often used in baking. It is made from bitter almonds (the same kind that are found in the grocery store’s marzipan) and has a strong, sweet almond flavor which works well in cakes, cookies, pies and other desserts.

It pairs well with cherries, vanilla, coffee flavor, and of course makes an amazing almond extract cookie! You might also want to try it in your next batch of chocolate chip cookies!

Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie Cut Out Recipe | Five Marigolds

How to Make Cut Out Sugar Cookies

When you mix together all of the ingredients for these yummy cut out cookies, the result is a thick, slightly chewy sugar cookie that is just the right amount of sweet.

But what’s the trick to make sure the cut out cookies come out perfectly? You have to roll the dough into a 1-inch thickness on parchment paper or a floured surface.

Nothing is more annoying than half of your dough sticking to the counter and messing up a perfectly good cookie.

To make baking even easier, you can pre-bake your almond sugar cookies and they’ll store nicely in the fridge or freezer.

Be sure to make a double batch, though. If you take these to a Christmas party or even to a cookie exchange, they WILL be gone quickly!

Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie Cut Out Recipe | Five Marigolds

How to Use Royal Icing

And because all good cookies need a little icing, let’s talk about how to use royal icing. I know that the thought of figuring out how to flood royal icing can be overwhelming but I promised you easy cookies and I am here to walk you through all things icing related.

I found this great royal icing with meringue powder recipe that I used the first time I made these tasty cookies.  I was impressed with how simple it was to whip up a batch of homemade icing.

As it turns out, these cookies are so easy to decorate than you might think! I made easy work of it by edging the cookies with just one piping bag, tip, and fasteners using the saran wrap trick!

To flood the rest of the cookies, I slowly diluted the icing to get the right consistency, then I poured my colors into these squeeze bottles and frosted.

I love mixing my icing in silicone bowls, which makes it super easy to pour them into the squeeze bottles or my piping bag.

If you’d prefer something easier, try this super easy, dippable royal icing recipe. It’s a total game changer and a great job for the kids!

Dippable Royal Icing recipe frosts dozens of cookies in minutes

Decorating Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookies

This year I decided to try something different than the traditional Christmas red and greens, so I chose pastel pinks, blues and greens. I love how they turned out!

If piping decorations sounds cumbersome to you – you’re in luck. I’ve tried my hand at some recipe decorating ideas that take just minutes instead of hours! Because we all know that the goal is for everyone (including mom!) to leave the kitchen as happy as they came into it, right?

Dippable Royal Icing recipe frosts dozens of cookies in minutes

Watercolor Icing

Watercolor icing is super fast and easy, and isn’t as detailed piping frosting. It’s also easier on little hands or for bakers who have a hard time squeezing a piping bag.

Dippable Royal Icing recipe frosts dozens of cookies in minutes

Food-Safe Markers

What could be simpler than letting the kids draw on your icing? We did this for our extended family Christmas and the kids had a blast.

Even better? They were stress-free and totally adorable. Just make sure to use food-safe markers to decorate them!

After making these, I think you’ll agree that they are the best vanilla almond sugar cookie recipe out there!

What is your favorite Christmas cookie recipe? Tell me in the comments below –  I’m always looking for something new to try!

The Best Vanilla Almond Sugar Cut-Out Cookies

The Best Vanilla Almond Sugar Cut-Out Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes

This thick, slightly chewy sugar cookie is just the right amount of sweet and makes perfect cut-outs, every time.

Ingredients

  • 1 C. sugar
  • 2 sticks butter, cold & cut into chunks
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 t. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 t. pure almond extract
  • 3 C. all-purpose flour
  • 2 t. baking powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  1. Cream the sugar and butter. Mix in the egg and extracts.
  2. Combine the flour and baking powder, then add to sugar mixture and mix just until combined.
  3. Roll out onto a floured surface (I like to roll out my cookies nice and thick!), and cut into shapes.
  4. Place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes.

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dippable royal icing

Dippable Royal Icing recipe frosts dozens of cookies in minutes

 

15 thoughts on “Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookies

  1. lynn says:

    Hi Rochelle, this cookies not only look great, but must taste great also because of the addition of the almond extract. I look forward to baking them with my daughter when she returns home for school, so will pin them for then.
    Thanks for sharing, Lynn

  2. Ducks n a Row says:

    These cookies are so perfect! I want to learn how to do them like these 🙂 A true work of art.
    Pinning and yumming them — oh tweeting, too.
    Would love it if you’d stop by at my party this coming Tues eve 7pm ET to share this post. My readers will love it, too!
    Sinea from Ducks ‘n a Row

  3. My says:

    Made your cookies and royal icing dipping recipe today! It was amaaaazing! The flavor and texture of the cookies are perfect and it tastes soooo good it’s so addicting I can’t stop eating them! I don’t think there will be any left for Santa! Thanks for the recipe! My kids had so much fun decorating today! They really enjoyed making, baking, decorating and best of all eating the cookies!

  4. Karen says:

    These are awesome! I used 3/4 instead of a full cup of sugar, because I like things a little less sweet, but the almond was the secret to making the sugar cookie flavor I’ve always loved and didn’t know how to get – thank you! (and you were right about eating them like a wild animal – my first batch disappeared into my husband and son before the second batch made it into the oven, and that was without frosting!) I’m going to try the dip frosting next, because, well, let’s admit it – I’m lazy and it sounds like a great way to speed things up!

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