As promised…here’s your sugar cookies!
I’ve always loved the taste of a good sugar cookie.
I can remember when I was little, my Mom would often take me to Bradlees (an old local department store…does anyone else remember it??) where they would have some of the most gigantic M&M sugar cookies in their little bakery counter.
Yep, they had a bakery counter. And anytime Mom said we were going to Bradlees, I would immediately think “COOKIES.”
Apparently, I already had my priorities straight at my ripe old age of three. 
Growing up, sugar cookies still remained a favorite of mine for when I was craving something without chocolate. Believe it or not, I do still have those moments!
The one thing, however, that has always prevented me from making them more often is because I really dislike rolling out dough. It’s such a daunting, tedious task, isn’t it?
If you don’t think so, then I’ll be happy to give ya a call the next time I need some dough rollin’ done.
So yesterday, when my mom requested a batch of sugar cookies, I happily obliged but under one condition: no cut-outs! She agreed, and thus, my quest for the best no-roll sugar cookie was on.
The winning batch came courtesy of this recipe on Savory Sweet Life. I only made one slight adaptation, substituting half of the vanilla extract for almond extract. I am a huge fan of almond extract in my sugar cookies AND my buttercream frosting so I found this to be completely necessary.
The result was my now-favorite, no-roll sugar cookie. They are definitely a must-try!
Crackled Sugar Cookies
Makes 32 medium sized cookies
(Adapted from Savory Sweet Life)
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups white sugar
- 1 cup salted butter
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- coarse sugar crystals or regular granulated sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream together butter and sugar until creamy. Mix in 1 egg yolk at a time and vanilla and almond extracts. Add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt until dough is completely mixed.
Using a medium scoop (or heaping tablespoon), form dough balls and roll them in sugar crystals. Place cookie balls on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper 2 inches apart. Do not flatten dough!
Bake for 12 minutes until the surface of cookies has a cracked texture. The cookies should still look puffy and slightly undercooked. Remove from oven and allow cookies to remain on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. ENJOY! 
Even after being cooled, these cookies still retain their chewy middles, along with a slightly crunchy edge. Perfect, if you ask me!
So perfect, in fact, it was quite hard to resist “testing” a few while snapping these photos…
Hey, there’s no judging around here.
Question for the Morning:
How would you rank the following…?
- Sugar Cookie
- Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
For me, I think it varies from day to day, but I’d have to say Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar, Chocolate Chip.
Welcome to Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life! I'm Courtney, a 28-year old personal trainer living in Upstate, NY. I enjoy all things related to food, fitness, and fashion, as well as feeding my huge sweet tooth. To find out a little bit more about the girl behind the blog, check out my 
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Sugar (if it has frosting on top), choc chip, and then oatmeal raisin. Otherwise, Choc chip, sugar, and then oatmeal raisin.
I know poor oatmeal comes in last both times, but let it be known that I love oatmeal raisin and would never do anything to make an oatmeal raisin cookie feel unwanted.
Paula @ Eat: Watch: Run recently posted..Hot to Trot
Hahaha, I’m sure the oats appreciate that, Paula!
Wow that sugar cookie looks amazing! I can’t remember the last time I had one, it was more of a childhood cookie than an adult cookie. I would rank at Oatmeal, chocolate chip, sugar cookie. Can I throw a pb cookie in too? ;D
Jenny (Fit Girl Foodie) recently posted..Party Weekend!
Oh HECK YES!
yumm! I’m always looking for sugar cookie recipes, because its the one cookie that I get sick of the same recipe if I use it too much. I don’t mind rolling out and decorating them when I have the time, but I definitely avoid making them if I’m in a hurry.
my cookie ranking is probably chocolate chip cookie (chocolate will always be my soulmate, I’m pretty sure it can solve the world’s problems), sugar cookie, then oatmeal raisin
Emily recently posted..Workout Playlists and Fantastical Cupcakes
They look great! I remember Bradlees! I used to go there with my grandma all the time when I was little and she would always let me pick out a toy so I associated Bradlees with new toys growing up. By the way I decided to try putting PB in my yogurt for the first time and OMG it was delicious! I added it to some vanilla greek yogurt and then added chocolate chips and dipped apples in it it was a great dessert last night. Thanks for the inspiration I had never added anything besides granola to my yogurt before now, maybe I’ll try jelly today!
Jelly is AMAZING in yogurt! DO IT!
I totally remember Bradlees! We would go there all the time growing up! Those cookies look so yummy!
Let’s see..my order is Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Chip and Sugar Cookie
Hope recently posted..Healthier Chicken Pot Pie…
I’d have to go chcoolate chip > oatmeal > sugar. I like my cookies loaded!
Faith @ lovelyascharged recently posted..Sautéed Dandelion Greens with Sweet Onions and Sherry
Those look so good! I love the crackled sugar on top! Perfect
They remind me of Publix cookies- which is a local supermarket- probably similar to Bradlees. YUM! I want one..like right now
Hope you are having a good day..and a good week. I constantly think about you & the job situation- I hope it has not been too hard on you.
xoxo
Holly recently posted..Single Cookie Recipe
Mmmmm I love a good sugar cookie! SO simple, yet SO good!
Didn’t you give up sweets for Lent though??
Lisa @ Healthy Diaries recently posted..I get to eat what I want!
Only after dinner!
I typically don’t like sugar cookies, but these look really good! My favorite cookie is chocolate chip with peanut butter!! Selma cookies…. Sooo good!
Tara @ The Game Of Life recently posted..Inspiration
These look great – especially the sugar crystals on top!
wow those came out perfect!! so professional!
Jen recently posted..The Cherry Blossoms
Definitely…oatmeal raisin, sugar, chocolate chip. I am not a big chocolate lover in my cookies.
Kelly recently posted..winner winner chicken dinner
I LOVE a good sugar cookie and these look fantastic!
I’d say Sugar, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip
I’m not usually a big sugar cookie person, but those look delicious! My hierarchy of cookies would be Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal (but with chocolate chips or dried cranberries instead of raisins), and then sugar. But your sugar cookies might pull ahead of oatmeal–they look too good!
Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar!
PS – Confession: I have never made cookies from scratch by myself. I think this will have to be a goal for my new blog. I will most definitely be using one of your recipes!
Jamie aka “Sometimes Healthy” Girl recently posted..Meeting My Foodie “Idol”
Oh my gosh, you MUST!!
Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, sugar! But I am equal opportunity
Jess@atasteofconfidence recently posted..media schmedia
How can I rank sugar over chocolate chip?! It depends on whether or not I’m in a chocolaty mood – otherwise, they’re so tied. Sorry, oatmeal raisin
Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries recently posted..If Money Grew on Trees
Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and then sugar cookies! But after seeing all these sugar cookies I think they might be moving up a spot! They look fabulous!!
those look PERFECT!
courtney @ cupcakedynamite recently posted..when life hands you lemons
That’s like asking a mother who her favourite child is! It’s very mood-dependent but right now, it would be choc chip, sugar cookie& then oatmeal raisin. Mmmm
Khushboo recently posted..Back to reality
I remember Bradlees! Sadly ours didn’t have a bakery counter… or maybe it did… I just remember the pretzels
Those cookies look delicious! Sugar cookies are definitely my favorite, followed by chocolate chip. I’m not a fan of oatmeal raisin though.
Lyss recently posted..Twenty-Three
I love sugar cookies and can’t wait to make these! I had never heard of Bradlees until I started working at Kohl’s corporate. There are quite a few former Bradlees that are now Kohl’s stores…makes me wish Kohl’s kept the cookie part of the business
Karis’ Kitchen recently posted..Stromboli & Cranberry-Oatmeal Bars
I love cookies and sweets of any kind really! These look so good. I’m a chocoholic so chocolate chip cookies are my fave, but a good oatmeal raisin gets me everytime!
These are picture perfect – I can never get my sugar cookies
To look this good
Ally (oatsandspice) recently posted..Sweet Potato Burgers
I couldn’t either, until I tried this recipe!
Ooh this one is easy! Oatmeal raisin, sugar, and then chocolate chip. I could take or leave chocolate so that almost always drops to the bottom of my dessert ranking lists.
P.S. You sugar cookies have just shot to the top of my “recipes to try” list. They look yummy!
Ashley @ Healthy Heroine recently posted..Kitchen Fail
YAY!
I remember Bradlees!! That was soooo long ago!! My cookie order would have to be choc. chip – oatmeal raisin – sugar cookie
These sugar cookies are absolutely the BEST sugar cookies I’ve ever had! I have never been a big sugar cookie fan, but these………….yummy!!! I would have to go for chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and then sugar. Thanks for helping out your mom today!!!!! : )
You’re welcome!
Three words: Oh.My.Gosh.
Two words: Must.Try.
Oh, and my order would be..
Oatmeal (w/out raisins!) — Choc.Chip — Sugar (unless it’s these..and they may end up coming in FIRST!)
Just made these! THEY ARE DANGEROUS DELICIOUS!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Courtney I just made these cookies and they were amazing! i saw them on the blog when you first posted and just made them…What was i thinking?? While re reading the recipe I saw Bradlee’s. That was my first job….I loved Bradlee’s!! I think of it almost like a target…miss Bradlees days. Thanks for your awesome recipes!!
Amy recently posted..Well Hello 1,000
Oh GOOD! They’re definitely a favorite of mine too! And I LOVE that you also know what I’m talking about with Bradlees…haha, definitely goes wayyyy back!
Oh my WORD. These are sooo good!!!! I just had a batch and they are perfect! Thank you so much.
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