Everybody needs a go-to recipe for a classic sugar cookie. While these Chewy Sugar Cookies will never trump my grandma’s melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies, this is the ultimate chewy sugar cookie recipe. The texture is chewy (obviously), the flavor is unbeatable, they have that perfect crackly top, and they’re easy to make. Can’t beat that! The key to making these chewy is to be sure to flatten to no bigger than 2-inch diameter and not to overbake. Otherwise you may end up with a crispier sugar cookie, which frankly is really not a bad thing. The flavor of these cookies is so incredible, they are good chewy or crispy.
Chewy Sugar Cookies
Yields: 24 cookies
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups sugar, plus ⅓ cup for rolling
- 2 ounces cream cheese, cut into 12 pieces (I used ⅓ less fat cream cheese)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and hot
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk (I used skim)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place ⅓ cup sugar in a shallow bowl and set aside (this will be used for rolling).
- In a medium bowl, whick the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add 1½ cups sugar and cream cheese. Pour butter over sugar and cream cheese and whisk to combine (some small lumps may remain). Whisk in oil until incorporated. Add egg, milk and vanilla; continue to whisk until smooth. Add flour mixture and mix with rubber spatula until dough forms.
- Divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Using hands, roll dough into balls. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat and place on prepared baking sheets, 12 balls per sheet. Using bottom of drinking glass, flatten balls until 2 inches in diameter. Sprinkle tops evenly with sugar remaining in shallow dish (discard any remaining sugar).
- Bake 1 tray at a time until edges are set and beginning to brown, about 11 to 13 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire rack and let cool completely before serving.
Source: The Best of America’s Test Kitchen: Best Recipes and Reviews 2012
I bet the cream cheese in these cookies gave this the PERFECT texture! 😀
These sound heavenly! Everyone needs a solid sugar cookie recipe 🙂
I love a soft and chewy cookie.
These look just perfect.
I loove a chewy cookie 🙂 So these sound perfect for me. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you for posting this recipe! I am constantly looking for a good chewy cookie recipe – I am adding this one to my to-bake list. 🙂
What a great cookie!! I hate when you go to eat a sugar cookie and it’s as hard as a rock. I’m all about the chew!! These look great!
I agree… you need a good basic sugar recipe and this one sounds great. Nothing worse than crispy crumbly sugar cookies 🙂
My family loves sugar cookies, these look perfect! Great pictures!
Mmmm I love a good sugar cookie. Will have to try these ones out. Thanks for sharing!
Okay – this is going to sound weird, but I LOVE when cookies are uniform sized! They look amazing! I would also make half cripsy and half chewy. I like crispy, honey bunny likes chewy! A really great recipe and photo!
So, I’m on this cookie-making jag. I’m hording cookie recipes like they’re going out of style. THIS is the sugar cookie recipe I’m missing! Thanks!
These are gorgeous. I just want to reach in there and grab one or ten.
Those cookies sure look very tasty! Congrats on making it to the top 9!!!
These look amazing!! A family pleaser for sure!
Plain sugar cookies are the best! I much prefer them without frosting!
Agree with u, nothing can beat a easy to make and great taste cookies! Love to have this on my dessert breakfast! 😀
congratz on the top 9 today and tq for sharing! 😉
I love sugar cookies, especially chewy ones! Great idea for tying them up in a ribbon!
These sound perfect! Bookmarking your recipe! 🙂
I just made these cookies and they were delicious and chewy….This is now my go to sugar cookie….yummy thanks for sharing!!