High Altitude Cutout Sugar Cookie with Icing Recipe
Chewy and soft sugar cookies that taste delicious. This is the best sugar cookie recipe for high-altitude baking. These cutout cookies will keep their shape and produce a perfect golden brown cookie every time. These fluffy sugar cookies paired with the included icing recipe make great cookies with the perfect balance of sweetness.
The first time I made my cutout sugar cookie recipe in Colorado the cookies turned into unrecognizable shapes. There is a huge difference in making cookies at sea level versus high altitude areas due to the atmospheric pressure changes. Typically cookie recipes for lower altitudes have increased sugar, so recipe adjustments have to be made from the original recipe for high altitude cookies.
I have made the changes for you and now this is the perfect sugar cookie recipe for baking at a higher altitude. These delicious soft and chewy sugar cookies are perfect for any holiday baking: Valentine’s Day cookies, birthday sugar cookies, and of course Christmas cookies.
See below for lots of tips for the perfect soft and chewy sugar cookie that doesn’t spread.
I bake these high altitude sugar cookies at 8,000 feet of elevation.
Try out these other high altitude desserts!
Strawberry Fluff Recipe with Jell-O and Cool Whip
Rich and Fudgy Chocolate Espresso Brownies
Flaky Pie Crust – 4 Ingredients
Easy Strawberry Shortcake – Perfect for High Altitude
Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Sugar Topping
High Altitude Moist Sour Cream Banana Bread
Recommended tools:
Large bowl or stand up mixer – I prefer to use my stand up mixer for this cookie recipe because I find it is the fastest way to cream the butter and sugar
Measuring cups and spoons
Airtight container or plastic wrap – the cookie dough will need to be covered and chilled in the refrigerator
Rolling pin – I use my trusty wood rolling pin for anything that requires rolling out. If you have little helpers like I do, then check out the awesome kid-size rolling pins below.
Cookie cutters – there are amazing cookie cutters for every occasion
Baking sheet – I love my extra large baking sheets for baking lots of cookies at one time! They cook evenly for all the baked goods I make
Silicone baking mat or parchment paper – these are OPTIONAL but I find it the easiest way to bake cookies evenly and remove them from the cookie sheet pan
Medium bowl – to mix up the icing. I love my set of mixing bowls, it has every size that you will ever need for baking and cooking.
Find all of my favorite kitchen tools here and check them out on Amazon.
Ingredients:
High Altitude Sugar Cookies
Butter – use unsalted butter that is room temperature
White sugar – the perfect amount for a kiss of sweetness
Egg – one large egg to help hold the dough together
Flour – use all purpose flour
Salt – helps balance the sweetness
Baking powder – just the right amount of leavening for a fluffy cookie
Milk – I always use whole milk for my baking to add a little extra richness
Vanilla extract – in my humble opinion, you can never have too much vanilla
Frosting
Butter – use unsalted butter that is room temperature
Salt – helps balance the sweetness
Powdered sugar – the base for the perfect icing
Milk – I always use whole milk for an extra richness and creaminess
Vanilla extract – for the perfect kiss of flavor
Food coloring – add food coloring for extra fun
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.
How to make sugar cookies:
1. Mix the ingredients together
Add the butter and sugar and mix.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low speed until the dough is combined.
2. Chill the dough
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours in an airtight container or tightly covered in plastic wrap.
3. Roll out the cookie dough
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the chilled cookie dough on a clean surface that is lightly floured. Roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Use your cookie cutters to make the shapes. Place the cookies on a cooled baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
4. Bake and cool
Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. Place the baked cookies on a cooling rack.
5. Mix the icing
Mix all the ingredients together except the milk. Slowly add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add just enough milk to make the icing the right consistency. Add a few drops of food coloring.
Tip: use a muffin tin to divide the icing for several different colors
6. Frost the cookies & enjoy
Allow the cookies to cool completely. Have fun and frost the cookies. Enjoy!
Happy baking!
Tips for the perfect sugar cookie:
The right amount of flour – the right amount of flour can differ based on humidity, the temperature, and the way you scoop or measure it. Sugar cookies need the right amount of flour to prevent the cookies from spreading. After mixing and chilling the dough, add a small amount of flour while rolling the dough to prevent it from sticking to your hands, the rolling pin, and counter.
Room temperature butter – butter that is at room temperature will mix with the sugar easier. Leave the butter out overnight or pour boiling water in a glass, dump the water out, then place the glass over the stick of butter for room temperature butter. Hot, melted butter will make the dough too sticky.
Chill the dough – Chilling the dough is a crucial step for cutout sugar cookies. Sugar cookie dough needs to be chilled for 1-2 hours to allow the butter to chill and the flour to fully hydrate. Firm, chilled dough helps the cookies to hold their shape and not spread.
Don’t grease the baking sheets – don’t use cooking spray or butter on a baking sheet. This creates a slippery surface that can cause the sugar cookies to spread. Use a piece of parchment paper or silicone baking mat on the baking sheet to help prevent the cookie from spreading.
Don’t use warm baking sheets – always allow the cookie sheets to cool down before placing cooking dough on it. Warm baking sheets can cause the sugar cookies to spread.
FAQs:
What thickness should sugar cookies be?
Roll the chilled sugar cookie dough to 1/4″ thick for the perfect soft and chewy cookie.
How long can you freeze sugar cookie dough?
Place the sugar cookie dough in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the cookie dough to thaw overnight then roll out and bake as directed.
How long does sugar cookie dough last in the refrigerator?
Place the sugar cookie dough in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How long does sugar cookie dough need to chill?
Sugar cookie dough should be chilled in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours in an airtight container or tightly covered in plastic wrap.
How long do sugar cookies last?
Sugar cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Cookies should be eaten within 7 days or placed in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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Try out these other delicious high altitude cookies!
Best High Altitude Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Delicious Fudgy Chocolate Cookies with 3 Ingredients
High Altitude Cutout Sugar Cookie with Icing Recipe
Ingredients
High Altitude Sugar Cookie
- 1/2 cup butter – room temperature
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Icing
- 1/4 cup butter – room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 cup powdered sugar
- 4-6 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the butter and sugar and mix.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low speed until the dough is combined.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours in an airtight container or tightly covered in plastic wrap.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the chilled cookie dough on a clean surface that is lightly floured. Roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Use your cookie cutters to make the shapes. Place the cookies on a cooled baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. Place the baked cookies on a cooling rack.
- Mix all the ingredients together except the milk. Slowly add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. Add just enough milk to make the frosting the right consistency.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely. Have fun and frost the cookies. Enjoy!
Notes
If you make these delicious High Altitude Sugar Cookies, leave a comment below and let me know how they turned out.
