Winter Spice Cinnamon Drift Sugar Cookies (Print Version)

Crispy sugar cookies with warming cinnamon and winter spices, coated in cinnamon sugar for a festive twist on the classic treat.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
08 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 large egg
12 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Sugar Topping

13 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
14 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# Step-by-step Instructions:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat softened butter and 1 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, beating until fully blended and smooth.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
05 - Cover dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up for easier handling.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Mix 3 tablespoons granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small bowl until evenly distributed.
08 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll into balls, and toss each ball in cinnamon sugar mixture until thoroughly coated.
09 - Place dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
10 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are set and cookies appear pale golden. Centers should remain slightly soft.
11 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before storing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The edges get perfectly crisp while the centers stay tender and chewy
  • The spice blend hits that cozy sweet spot without being overwhelming
  • They come together in under an hour with most of that time being hands-off chilling
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is mandatory otherwise you will end up with flat sad cookies
  • The cookies might look slightly underbaked when you pull them out but they will firm up as they cool
  • Room temperature ingredients make or break this recipe cold butter will not cream properly
03 -
  • Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizing so they all bake at the same rate
  • Let your butter soften on the counter for 30 minutes never microwave it or you will change the chemistry

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