Delight in the simple yet irresistible charm of these traditional South African sugar cookies, a recipe that pairs buttery richness with a hint of vanilla for a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfectly crisp on the outside and tender within, these cookies come together effortlessly in just over 30 minutes, making them an ideal treat for tea-time gatherings or festive occasions. With pantry staples like all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and unsalted butter, these sugar cookies boast a universal appeal, while customizable shapes and sizes add a fun, personal touch. Whether you enjoy them plain or dressed up with icing, this easy recipe guarantees a crowd-pleasing batch of classic cookies that can be stored for up to a week—if they last that long!
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-4 minutes using a hand or stand mixer.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a smooth dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add 1 tablespoon of milk to bring it together.
Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about 0.5 cm (1/4 inch) thickness.
Use cookie cutters in your desired shapes to cut the dough, and carefully transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve with tea or coffee and enjoy! Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Calories |
113 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 5.4 g | 7% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.3 g | 16% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 21 mg | 7% | |
| Sodium | 67 mg | 3% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 14.6 g | 5% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.3 g | 1% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.4 g | ||
| Protein | 1.4 g | 3% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 4 mg | 0% | |
| Iron | 0.4 mg | 2% | |
| Potassium | 14 mg | 0% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.