Soft-Baked Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles: Your Go-To Recipe for Every Celebration
Get ready to add a burst of color and joy to your day with these incredibly delicious soft-baked sugar cookies with sprinkles! Whether you’re planning a lively birthday party, preparing thoughtful teacher gifts, or simply looking for a quick and fun treat to brighten any celebration, these cookies are an absolute winner. They boast a wonderfully soft, fluffy texture that literally melts in your mouth, leaving you craving another bite.
One of the best things about these funfetti-style sugar cookies is their adaptability. While rainbow sprinkles are a classic choice, don’t hesitate to get creative with different colored sprinkles to match various holidays and themes. Imagine vibrant red and green for Christmas festivities, spooky black and orange for Halloween treats, or pastels for Easter gatherings. The possibilities are endless, making these cookies a versatile staple for your baking repertoire!
Why These Sprinkled Sugar Cookies Are an Absolute Must-Make
If you’ve been following along, you’ll know my undeniable affection for sprinkles. From crafting my own custom-colored sprinkles to whipping up delightful sugar cookie dippers, there’s no limit to the sprinkle-infused creations I adore. So, it was only a matter of time before my beloved no-roll sugar cookie recipe got a vibrant sprinkle makeover.
The original no-roll sugar cookies were already a huge hit, celebrated for their ease and incredible softness. But I envisioned them with an extra touch of whimsy and joy. A simple tweak to the recipe – incorporating a generous helping of rainbow sprinkles directly into the dough – transformed them into these utterly charming and even more delicious celebration cookies. The result? Cookies that are not only soft and fluffy but also visually captivating, making them an instant favorite for anyone who tries them.
What You Need to Make Irresistible Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
Crafting these delectable homemade sugar cookies requires a few pantry staples and a couple of essential tools. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to gather:
- Softened Butter: The base of our rich and tender cookies. Using softened (but not melted, initially) butter helps achieve the right texture.
- Powdered Sugar & Granulated Sugar: A combination of both sugars contributes to the cookies’ unique softness and chewiness. Powdered sugar in particular lends a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
- Vanilla Extract & Almond Extract: These extracts provide the classic, comforting flavor profile of sugar cookies. The hint of almond extract elevates the taste beautifully.
- Eggs: Essential for binding the dough and adding richness. The recipe calls for one whole egg plus one egg yolk, which further enhances the cookie’s tenderness.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Our leavening agents, working together to give the cookies that perfect soft, slightly puffed texture.
- Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- All-Purpose Flour: The structural backbone of our cookies.
- Tub of Rainbow Sprinkles (Jimmies): These are the stars of our funfetti show! Opt for quality jimmie sprinkles that hold their color and shape during baking. Many craft stores like Michaels or large grocery stores sell them in generous tubs.
- 3 Tablespoon Cookie Scoop: While not strictly required, a cookie scoop is incredibly helpful for creating uniformly sized cookies, ensuring even baking and a professional appearance.
- Parchment Paper & Baking Sheet: Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, ensuring your cookies bake perfectly without burning on the bottom.
How to Make Soft-Baked Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles: A Step-by-Step Guide
Baking these delightful sprinkle sugar cookies is a straightforward process, designed for ease and delicious results. Follow these simple steps to achieve perfect, soft-baked goodness every time.
Step 1: Prepare Your Dough to Perfection
Begin by mixing your dough according to the detailed instructions provided in the recipe card below. The key to these soft cookies lies in the initial stages. You’ll start by melting the butter, then combining it with the sugars, eggs, and extracts. Once the wet ingredients are well-combined, gently incorporate the dry ingredients. The resulting dough should be wonderfully soft and pliable, yet firm enough to hold its shape. As soon as your dough reaches this perfect consistency, it’s time for the fun part: folding in the vibrant rainbow sprinkles to give your cookies that irresistible funfetti appearance.
Step 2: Scoop and Shape Your Cookies
This step is crucial for maintaining the dough’s ideal consistency. Immediately after mixing, without letting the dough sit, begin scooping it into uniform 3-tablespoon sized balls. A cookie scoop makes this process incredibly easy and ensures consistent cookie size. Once scooped, gently roll each portion between your palms until it forms a smooth, round ball. Lightly flatten each ball before carefully placing it onto your prepared baking sheet.
Important Note: Because this particular recipe uses melted butter, the dough can become dry and crumbly if left exposed to air for too long. To prevent this, it’s essential to scoop and roll all of your cookies at once. If you only have one baking tray, simply set the formed cookie balls aside on a plate lined with parchment paper while the first batch bakes. This ensures all your cookies maintain that perfect softness.
Step 3: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake your cookies in a preheated oven until they are lightly golden at the edges but still appear soft in the center. The baking time for these easy sugar cookies is typically short, around 8-10 minutes. Once removed from the oven, resist the urge to transfer them immediately! It’s crucial to allow the cookies to cool for at least 10 minutes directly on the hot baking sheet. This extended cooling period on the sheet allows them to finish baking gently, setting their edges while keeping their centers incredibly soft and chewy, achieving that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sprinkled Sugar Cookies
Absolutely! These soft sugar cookies freeze beautifully, making them perfect for meal prepping or having a stash of treats on hand. Once your cookies have completely cooled, simply place them in a gallon-sized freezer bag or an airtight plastic container. Layer them with parchment paper if stacking to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 1 month without losing their delightful texture or flavor. When you’re ready to enjoy, just let them thaw at room temperature for an hour or so. For more detailed tips on how to freeze sugar cookies (and even the dough!), check out my comprehensive guide to ensure maximum freshness.
For the best results in these funfetti sugar cookies, I highly recommend using jimmie sprinkles (the cylindrical ones). These tend to hold their shape and color better during baking compared to nonpareils (the tiny, round sprinkles) which can sometimes bleed color. Of course, feel free to experiment with different types if you like, but jimmies will give you that classic funfetti look!
While the recipe advises against letting the dough sit out for too long once the butter is melted, you can certainly prepare the dough and chill it for a short period if needed. If chilling, cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and aim to bake it within 30-60 minutes. For longer storage, it’s generally better to scoop and freeze the dough balls before baking (see the freezing tips for more details).
Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (i.e. 1 ½ sticks)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup rainbow jimmies sprinkles
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Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
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In a small, microwave-safe glass bowl, microwave the unsalted butter (¾ cup, or 1 ½ sticks) until it’s just melted. Pour the melted butter into a large mixing bowl.
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Add the granulated sugar (½ cup) and powdered sugar (½ cup) to the melted butter. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 10 seconds, just until combined.
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Next, add the eggs (1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk), almond extract (½ teaspoon), and vanilla extract (2 teaspoons). Continue mixing on medium speed for another 20 seconds, ensuring everything is well incorporated.
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Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add the baking powder (1 ½ teaspoons), baking soda (½ teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon). Mix for 10 seconds until these dry ingredients are just incorporated.
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Gradually add the all-purpose flour (2 ¼ cups), adding about half a cup at a time. Mix on low speed until the flour is just incorporated into the dough. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies (about 10-20 seconds of mixing after the last addition). Finally, gently fold in the rainbow jimmies sprinkles (¼ cup) by hand until evenly distributed.
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Immediately after mixing (this is important because of the melted butter content!), scoop the dough into 3-tablespoon sized balls. Roll each scoop in your hand to create a smooth ball, then lightly flatten each one before placing them on your prepared cookie sheet. If you let the dough sit out too long before shaping and baking, it can become dry and crumbly.
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Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes. In my oven, 9 minutes is the magic number for perfectly soft cookies. Don’t worry if they look slightly underdone in the center; they will continue to bake on the hot cookie sheet after you remove them from the oven. Ovens can vary, so use your best judgment; if they look severely under-baked, give them an extra minute or two.
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Once out of the oven, allow the cookies to cool on the hot baking sheet for a crucial 10 minutes. This step helps them set and contributes to their wonderfully soft, chewy texture. After 10 minutes, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Enjoy your delicious soft-baked sugar cookies with sprinkles as is, or for an extra special treat, spread or pipe some creamy cream cheese frosting on the cooled cookies and top with even more sprinkles!
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Nutrition
Making Them Party-Ready: DIY Cookie Birthday Party Favors
These sprinkled sugar cookies aren’t just a treat; they’re the perfect party favor! For a thoughtful and memorable takeaway, individually wrap each cooled cookie in plastic wrap to maintain freshness. Then, simply slip them into adorable printable cookie pouches. These personalized touches elevate a simple cookie into a charming gift that guests will adore. It’s a wonderful way to extend the celebration and send your loved ones home with a little piece of the joy!
Did You Make and Love This Recipe? Explore More Delicious Cookie Creations!
If you’ve fallen in love with the soft, chewy texture and incredible flavor of these soft-baked sugar cookies with sprinkles, then you’re in for a treat! I have a whole family of cookie recipes designed to bring joy to your kitchen. Be sure to try some of their delicious siblings:
- For a classic, unadorned experience, whip up my simple and satisfying no-roll sugar cookies. They’re just as easy to make and equally delightful.
- Craving a zesty twist? My thick and soft lemon sugar cookies offer a bright, citrusy flavor that’s perfect for spring and summer.
- If you enjoy shaping your cookies with cutters for themed events, my soft cut-out sugar cookie recipe is absolutely perfect. They hold their shape beautifully and are ideal for decorating with royal icing or buttercream.
Each recipe brings its own unique charm, but all promise that homemade goodness you’ve come to expect. Happy baking!
