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

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.

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No-Carve Family Halloween Pumpkins

Family Halloween Pumpkins

Do you want some pumpkin decorating ideas that do not require you to carve them up first? I have the best no carve pumpkin decorating ideas the whole family will love! 

At our home, we don’t really “do” spooky Halloween. We have fun, dress-up, and eat lots of sweets on Halloween. So this year, I thought it would be fun to make a pumpkin representing each member of our family that we could bring back out year after year – in addition to carving Jack-O-Lanterns in real pumpkins, of course.

THE BEST NO CARVE PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS

Frozen (or cinderella?) no-carve pumpkin

For this pumpkin, you will need:

5 No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas that don't suck! This Cinderella / Frozen pumpkin is super easy to make!

You will want to paint the pumpkin with the aqua matte spray, and allow it to dry.

Then, spray a light coat of the diamond dust spray, and allow it to dry. 

To make it, I used Krylon aqua matte spray paint to painT a white craft pumpkin.

I then layered  Krylon opulent opal glitter spray paint on top.  I was super bummed with this though. It was gorgeous going on, but within moments it stopped working. I figured the glitter was clogging the nozzle and I tried multiple solutions to no avail. What a waste!

Frozen Cinderella Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

I went back and purchased Krylon glitter blast diamond dust spray paint. It was also beautiful and the can worked much better.

Once completely dry, decorate as desired with self-stick rhinestone gems. Top with a fun princess tiara, if desired.

Hello Kitty no carve pumpkin

For this pumpkin, you will need:

  • Pinter
  • Clear contact paper
  • Black and pink acrylic paint
  • Hair bow

Simply print out a Hello Kitty face on the printer, and place it over the clear contact paper as a stencil. 

Paint the stencil in with the paint and allow it to dry. Add a fun hair bow to complete this look.

Hello Kitty Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

Minecraft Creeper NO CARVE pumpkin

For this pumpkin you will need:

  • Black craft pumpkin
  • Krylon emerald green spray paint
  • Printer
  • Clear contact paper
  • Black acrylic paint
  • Black craft pumpkin

To make this painted pumpkin, cut out a square in the black craft pumpkin, and paint the inside green with the green spray paint. Print out the Creeper face, and place it over the contact paper to use as a stencil. Place the stencil inside the dry pumpkin and paint on the Creeper face with the black acrylic paint.

Minecraft Creeper Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

Stud NO CARVE Pumpkin

For my pumpkin, I just picked up this black studded pumpkin from JoAnn’s I just love it!

Black Stud Halloween Pumpkin | Five Marigolds

For my husband, well…

Decorating Family Pumpkins | Five Marigolds

He’s a long-suffering Chicago Bears fan (as am I). Da Bears!

What do you think of our no-carve Family Halloween Pumpkins? Looking for more easy Halloween ideas? Check out my Lazy Mom’s Guide to a Halloween theme dinner.

Lazy Mom's Guide to Spooky Halloween Theme DInner | Five Marigolds

Then, check out my free printable Halloween emoji nail decals here.

What a neat idea! Use tattoo paper to make nail art. Halloween Emoji nails.