New Year Celebration Vanilla Cloud (Print Version)
Soft, pillowy sugar cookies infused with vanilla and ideal for festive decorating with sprinkles or icing.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 2 tablespoons whole milk
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Decorations
10 - Sprinkles or colored sugar for topping
11 - Vanilla icing or royal icing for piping
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly distributed.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
04 - Incorporate eggs one at a time, then mix in milk and vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until flour streaks disappear. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches of space between each cookie.
07 - Gently flatten dough tops and press sprinkles or colored sugar into surface if desired.
08 - Bake for 9–11 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Do not overbake.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Pipe or spread icing over cooled cookies and add additional sprinkles as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The texture is impossibly soft, like biting into a sweet vanilla cloud
- They stay fresh for days, making them perfect for make ahead holiday prep
- The dough is incredibly forgiving, even if you are new to baking
02 -
- Underbaking slightly is better than overbaking, the centers continue cooking on the hot pan
- Room temperature ingredients combine smoothly and prevent curdling or dense spots
- Chilling dough for 30 minutes helps cookies hold their shape if you are doing detailed shapes
03 -
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking every single time
- Rotate baking sheets halfway through for perfectly golden cookies