Best Dutch Sugar Cookies Recipes

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH SOFT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375; line cookie sheets with baking parchment paper for best results, but you can grease or use non-stick spray if necessar-- I use the non-stick spray all the time.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• Cream together sugar and butter.
• Add eggs one at a time and beat; then add the vanilla and beat.
• Stir the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, into the sugar mixture, stirring until smooth.
• Drop by tablespoons or a small scoop (about 1 tablespoon capacity) onto the prepared cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with additional granulated sugar (I will flatten the tops just very slightly to hold more sugar) and bake for 7-10 minutes, until just firm.
• Wait just a minute and then remove from the cookie sheets and cool on a rack.
• *Asa substitute for the buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup and add milk to make 1 cup; let stand for 10 minutes before using.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH SOFT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Will need 3 or 4 cookie sheets covered with parchment or foil; position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat oven to 375°.
• In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well.
• In the bowl of a stand electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until combined, then beat in the vanilla.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating smooth after each addition.
• Decrease speed and beat in a third of the flour mixture, then half of the buttermilk, and another third of the flour mixture; scrape the bowl and beater often.
• Beat in the remaining buttermilk, then the remaining flour mixture; scrape the bowl/beater, then remove the bowl from the mixer and give the dough one final mixing with a large rubber spatula.
• Drop tablespoons of the dough 3 or 4 inches apart onto the prepared pans.
• Bake cookies for about 15 minutes or until they spread and rise-they should be lightly golden.
• Slide the papers off the pans onto racks; after the cookies have cooled, detach them from the paper and store them between layers of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with tight-fitting lid.

DUTCH SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix just to combine. Divide dough in half. Gather each piece into ball; flatten into disks. Wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Roll out 1 dough disk on floured work surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using assorted cookie cutters, cut out cookies. Transfer cookies to ungreased baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Gather dough scraps; re-roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out more cookies.
• Bake cookies until pale golden, about 13 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks; cool. Repeat with remaining dough disk.
• Spoon melted chocolate into pastry bag fitted with 1/16-inch plain tip. Pipe chocolate onto cookies. Let cookies stand until chocolate sets. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week, or freeze up to 1 month.)

COOKIE-CUTTER DUTCH SUGAR COOKIES WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• In a large bowl using an electric mixer beat sugar and butter until light (about 5 minutes).
• Beat in egg and vanilla.
• In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture JUST to combine.
• Divide the dough in half and gather each pieces into a ball, then flatten into a disc.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 2 hours or more, or freeze.
• Set oven to 325°F (second-lowest rack).
• Roll out one disc on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness.
• Using assorted cookie cutter cut out cookies and transfer to a ungreased cookie sheet, leaving 1-inch between cookies.
• Gather dough scraps and re-roll.
• Repeat with remaining dough disc.
• Bake cookies until pale golden (about 13 minutes).
• Transfer to racks and cool.
• Melt the white chocolate and spoon into a pastry bag (1/16-inch tip size) or just drizzle with a small spoon.
• Pipe the chocolate onto the cookies in a decorative pattern.
• Sprinkle lightly with very finely chopped almonds if desired, then let stand until the chocolate sets.

DUTCH SUGAR COOKIES (ARNHEMSE MEISJES)

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment; sprinkle evenly with sugar to cover. Set aside.
• In a liquid-measuring cup, combine milk and yeast. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flour, salt, and vanilla. Beat in milk mixture on medium-high speed until thoroughly combined, about 2 minutes. With mixer running, add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, making sure it is fully incorporated before adding the next one. Once all butter has been added, increase speed to high and beat 5 minutes. Turn out dough, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously sprinkle sugar on work surface. Place dough on sugared surface; sprinkle with sugar to cover. Top with a piece of parchment, then roll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Using a 3-inch oval cutter, cut out cookies. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spaced 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with additional sugar. Bake until deeply golden all over, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool on sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.