For the perfect tea time snack, try this Amish sugar cookies recipe.
They’re crisp around the edges and ultra-soft and chewy in the middle. The perfect blend of sweet and buttery, they’re impossible to resist.
Plus, look how pretty they are!
Easy Amish Sugar Cookies
Amish sugar cookies are melt-in-your-mouth, chewy cookies that originated in Pennsylvania all the way back in the 1700s.
Their first documentation came from an old Amish cookbook, hence the name.
With a light golden hue, these classic cookies look simple, yet elegant. What makes them extra special, though, is the undeniably soft consistency.
The secret? A combination of granulated and powdered sugars!
The recipe is so simple, you can make an entire batch in just 15 minutes. It’s perfect for holidays, but easy enough to whip up whenever a craving strikes.
Ingredients
All set for baking? Here’s your Amish sugar cookie checklist.
- Butter — For rich and flavorful sugar cookies.
- Vegetable Oil — You can also use canola or melted coconut oil
- Granulated and Powdered Sugar — You’ll need both, not just for the sweetness, but for the texture, too.
- Eggs — To bind the ingredients together and to give the cookies their structure. Be sure to use room-temperature eggs.
- Vanilla Extract — To further enhance the flavors of the ingredients.
- All-Purpose Flour — Bread flour works, too.
- Baking Soda — The leavening agent that makes the cookies rise.
- Cream of Tartar — Two teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar can be used in place of 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar.
How To Make Amish Sugar Cookies
Here’s the step-by-step guide to this easy sugar cookie recipe.
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cream the butter, oil, and sugars. Use an electric mixer for a creamy blend. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
3. Sift the dry ingredients – your flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
4. Combine the wet and dry mixtures gently until a smooth dough is formed.
5. Drop mounds of dough on ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks before serving.
7. Serve and enjoy your delicious homemade sugar cookies!
Do I Need a Mixer for This Recipe?
I highly recommend using an electric mixer for this recipe.
It’s definitely not how the Amish do it. But it does make mixing so much faster – and more thorough.
Trust me, it’ll make them insanely soft and chewy.
Tips for the Best Cookies
Make these delicious Christmas cookies on the first try with these tips!
- Use brown sugar for a deeper flavor. Brown sugar also contains molasses, making your cookies extra moist.
- Melt the butter for extra chewy cookies. Just be sure to chill the dough first before baking to prevent overspreading.
- Add an extra egg yolk. Egg yolks are high in fat, giving your cookies a richer flavor.
- Be sure the baking soda isn’t expired. Drop a teaspoon of baking soda in hot water. It should bubble right up. If nothing happens, it’s expired.
- Try bread flour. It’s higher in protein than all-purpose, making chewier cookies.
- Don’t over-bake the cookies. Stick to 8 to 10 minutes. They’ll look under-cooked, but they’ll continue to cook as they cool.
Recipe Variations and Add-Ins
There are tons of ways to decorate these dainty cookies. Here are some ideas on how to make them more fun and festive:
- Vanilla Glaze: A quick drizzle over the top adds a sweet, smooth finish that complements the buttery taste.
- Chocolate Chips: They’ll be gooey and decadent after baking.
- Buttercream Icing: Perfect for custom decorations to suit any occasion.
- Sprinkles: They bring a festive, colorful touch, making the cookies perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Colored Sugar: Easy to match with any party theme, adding a fun, sparkly vibe.
How to Store
Keep your Amish sugar cookies fresh with these storage and freezing tips.
To Store Baked Cookies: Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 weeks.
Place a slice of bread in the container to keep the cookies soft.
To Freeze Cookie Dough: Shape the dough into balls and freeze for an hour until frozen.
Transfer the balls into a freezer-safe bag and bake when needed.
To Freeze Baked Cookies: Freeze leftover sugar cookies in a freezer-safe container. Place a sheet of parchment paper in between layers.
Freeze leftover cookies for up to 30 days.
To Bake Frozen Dough: You can bake the dough balls straight from the freezer. Just add 1 to 3 minutes to the baking time.
More Must Try Cookie Recipes
Easy Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Banana Pudding Cookies
Samoa Cookies
Amish Sugar Cookies
48
servings10
minutes10
minutes145
kcalThese Amish sugar cookies have a soft, chewy enter and crispy edges! This old-fashioned recipe is so easy to make and comes together in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, oil, and sugars with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the eggs and beat until well combined. Stir in the vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, sift in the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Gently mix until combined.
- Drop teaspoonfuls of cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies have slightly browned.
- Transfer the cookies to wire racks and allow them to cool. Enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t over-bake the cookies. They’ll look under-cooked after baking, but they’ll continue to cook as they cool.
Nutrition
- Calories: 145kcal
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Cholesterol: 18mg
- Sodium: 58mg
- Potassium: 27mg
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 7g
- Protein: 2g
- Calcium: 4mg
- Iron: 1mg
Hi Kim
Thanks for the recipe. It is very similar to the one I have used for years except the recipe I have calls for both almond extract and vanilla extract. The recipe I am referring to you is called Noel Sugar Cookies and was a recipe that my mother had.
Do you have a macaroni and cheese recipe to share?
Or fettuccine Alfredo sauce recipe?
Or tuna casserole?
Hey, Tara! There are several mac n cheese recipes on the site, but this one for old-fashioned macaroni and cheese is my favorite. There’s also a fettuccine alfredo recipe and a tuna casserole one! 🙂 Enjoy!
I read your cookie recipes. They sound absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to eat them. Thanks for sharing!!!
Hi Gwen, I hope you enjoy any of the ones you try!
Definitely wrote this recipe down!! I can’t wait to make these this weekend!
This is a great sugar cookie! They are melt in your mouth delicious! The recipe makes a lot. Maybe I’ll share! lol
I promise no one here will judge if you don’t. 😉 Sharing is overrated when it comes to baked goods.
Kim,
I am 74 years young, my grandmother gave me a recipe for these cookies years ago. I could never make them because the instructions called for ” a handful of this and a pinch of this..a three finger pinch of that… thanks for figuring out the conversion and bringing back very fond memories my childhood.