Small Batch Sugar Cookies

These small batch sugar cookies are so delicious and so easy to make. They're perfectly sweetened, the edges are perfectly crisp, and they're melt-in-your-mouth delicious. What more could you ask for?! Best of all though, 4 simple steps and 10 minutes are all it takes to make 'em. Plus, this sugar cookie recipe even includes an optional powdered sugar glaze for decorating and an elevated sweet flavor!

The Best Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe

Most sugar cookie recipes make a dozen or more cookies. But, sometimes, a small batch of the perfect cookies is all you need. That's why I love this small batch sugar cookie recipe so much!

It's perfect if you're short on ingredients, or just want enough cookies to treat yourself and a few close friends or family. By the way, if you're really looking to get into the holiday spirit, you have to make this gingerbread cookie recipe. It's another quick, easy, and delicious cookie recipe everyone will love.

Why You'll Love This  Recipe

Easy to make. This recipe takes just minutes to prepare. No hard-to-work-with dough, or out-of-the-ordinary ingredients here. 

Best texture. These perfect sugar cookies are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with a chewy texture, and they have a rich vanilla sugar aroma that just makes you want to dive in. 

Amazing icing included. This small batch sugar cookie recipe also comes with an easy powdered sugar icing recipe that you can use for glazing and decorating your cookies as you please. That means that you and the kiddos can each decorate a cookie - or two - during the holidays without having to worry about having too many cookies left over!

Ingredients Needed

These small batch sugar cookies are made with classic pantry baking ingredients. Honestly, if you've made basically any sugar cookie recipe before, there's a good chance you have all of these in stock already!

Anyway, to make the sugar cookie dough, you'll need:

• ⅓ cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Egg Yolk
• ½ tsp. Vanilla Extract
• ⅛ tsp. Almond Extract
• ¾ cup All-Purpose Flour
• ¼ tsp. Baking soda
• ⅛ tsp. Salt

And for the small batch sugar cookies glaze:

• 1 cup Powdered Sugar 
• 1-2 tbsp. Milk
• 1 tsp. Lemon Juice (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles for topping

Simple stuff, right? Oh, and you can use a lot of the ingredients from this small batch cookie recipe to make this no chill sugar cookie dough, so definitely give that a try too!

By the way, you can use all of these same ingredients to make this edible sugar cookie dough recipe and these crumbl cookies. So, if you have some ingredients leftover after making these sugar cookies you can put them to good use by making those.

How To Make Small Batch Sugar Cookies

As I've mentioned, the process of making these small batch sugar cookies could not be any easier. Just 4 simple steps - and 10 minutes of prep work - are all you need to follow to whip these vanilla cookies up.

Also, since this is a recipe for small batch sugar cookies, it will make just 6 cookies. Of course, if you fall in love with the recipe and want to make more, you can easily double or triple the ingredients for a bigger batch.

Anyway, now let's jump right into the steps you'll need to follow to make this small batch sugar cookie recipe!

Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough

First, cream your butter and granulated sugar together in a medium-sized bowl with an electric mixer.

Once the butter and granulated sugar mixture is smooth, add the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract and mix until well combined.

Next, add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the same bowl. Then, continue mixing everything together with the electric mixer until it all comes together.

Oh, and just so you know, it will start off looking crumbly at first, but if you just continue to mix everything together a dough will form. With that said, if, for whatever reason, it has a hard time coming together, just get in there with your hands and use them to form the dough.

Step 2: Scoop the Cookies

Now, once the dough has taken shape, you can scoop the dough into 6 cookie dough balls, about 2 tablespoons each in size. Then, you'll want to arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and make sure to leave enough space between each dough ball. The cookies will spread as they cook.

So, once you've got the cookies set up on the prepared baking sheet, you can slide them into the fridge and let them chill for 45 minutes. Make sure not to skip this step since the cookies will flatten in the oven if you don't chill them first.

Step 3: Bake the Cookies

When your cookies are almost done chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (180ºC).

Then, once the cookies have chilled, you can put the baking sheet with the cookies on it in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges start to turn lightly golden.

By the way, after the cookies are done baking you'll want to let them cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes. When they first come out of the oven they can be quite soft, so allowing them to cool for 5 minutes will help them set.

Then, once the classic sugar cookies have set and cooled completely, you can transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 4: Make The Glaze

As the cookies are cooling, you'll want to prepare your powdered sugar glaze.

In a medium bowl, stir the powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice together until well combined. Then, once the sugar cookies are cool, spoon the glaze over them and add some sprinkles on top. 

Let the glaze set for a few minutes, then serve and enjoy!

How To Store Sugar Cookies

As you know, this recipe for small batch sugar cookies only makes about a handful of cookies, so you probably won't have any leftovers!

But, if you happen to have extras - or want to store your cookies for later - you can keep the unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. And if you're storing the frosted cookies, you can keep them in an airtight container for about 3-4 days at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I double this small batch recipe?

Yes! If you want to make more cookies, you can easily double this recipe. Just grab a few more baking sheets!

Should you chill sugar cookie dough?

Although it's not always necessary, I think chilling the sugar cookie dough gives the cookies the best texture, especially in this recipe!

What thickness is best for rolling sugar cookies?

The best thickness for cut out sugar cookies is about ¼" inch thick. At that level of thickness the cookies will have the perfect balance of soft and chewiness, and they'll also be thick enough not to fall apart while decorating.

With that said, you can really make sugar cookies as thick as you want. You'll just have to adjust the baking time depending on how thick you make 'em.

What is the difference between shortbread cookies and sugar cookies?

Sugar cookies are lighter than shortbread cookies because of the addition of baking soda - which is a leavening agent - to the dough. Sugar cookies are also softer and chewier, whereas shortbread cookies are crispy and crunchy. 

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