It’s not always easy to make a sugar cookie that holds its shape and tastes (and looks) good. I made these amazing state shaped cookies and just had to share with you. These cookies are perfect if you have an intricate cookie cutter or a shape you want to hold up, they’re also perfect for holding up and being frosted. 

If you’ve been following this blog for while, you know that I have a recipe for sugar cookies that actually hold shape and it is quite tasty if I do say so myself!  And if you haven’t been following SweetPhi for long, these cookies will quickly become your go-to sugar cookie recipe!

How many times have you spent a whole lot of time making the perfect recipe, just for the cookies to come out of the oven looking like one giant blob?  I can’t even count how many times I’ve done that and ruined the whole batch.  Well, it never happens with this recipe!

I’m not one to shy away from a sweet treat, so I like to have fun with my desserts.  Sugar cookies are the perfect dessert to do just that because they can be so fun to decorate. I have a thing for cookie cutters and have a collection that is far too big!  My latest cookie cutter discovery is this State of Wisconsin cutter.  I knew I had to have it when I saw it, but wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with it.  

I made a batch and it dawned on me that there are actually so many uses for this cutter (check out below for some of my favorite uses!).  I mean, look how adorable these cookies turned out!  

Simply put this cookie in a cellophane bag and you have a great gift for just about anyone.  I love using them for any number of occasions:

• Wedding Showers
• Birthdays
• Housewarming/welcome baskets 
• And even as a wedding favor!

To make them even more personal, mark a little heart over the city where you live or where the person you’re giving the gift to lives and viola, fabulous gift idea!

To make the heart where the city goes on these state shaped cookies I just cut a little heart out of a piece of paper and held it over the frosted cookie and then used it as a stencil and poured some colored sugar over the stencil.

If you’re looking to make state shaped or state love or city love themed cookies (or any sugar cookies that hold their shape) this recipe is for you!! Just use a fun cookie cutter, and bake and decorate away!

Yield: 3 dozen

Sugar Cut Out Cookies {that actually hold their shape}

Print

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Butter (2 sticks) at room temperature
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1-2 tsp lemon zest (zest from 1/2 the lemon)
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 3 Cups Flour (plus more for rolling cookies out)
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Instructions

In the bowl of stand mixer add the butter sticks and the sugar and "cream together" (cream together refers to the process of vigorously mixing/beating the butter and sugar together so that they incorporate very well, there is no cream added) about 3 minutes, then scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg, lemon zest, baking powder and vanilla extract, then beat again for 2 minutes until a creamy yellow color.

Next add 3 cups flour and 1/2 tsp salt and mix on low speed to combine (about 2 minutes). Cookie dough will be almost crumbly, but that's ok, press it together with your hands and form it into two balls. If it doesn't come together with your hands add in a teaspoon of water and then try pressing it together.

On a floured surface or board roll out one of the cookie dough balls to desired thickness level (they won't rise much) then cut out shapes and place on a parchment paper or silicone baking mat lined baking sheet.

Put baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

After 10 minutes take the baking sheets out of the freezer and bake for 10 minutes (or until edges start to turn golden brown.)

Remove cookies from oven, allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling wrack for them to cool completely before frosting, or enjoy without frosting!

Notes

These sugar cookies are a more European sugar cookie,the're subtly sweet, but the cookie itself is not overly sweet. The cookies are perfect for a sweet frosting. If you like a sweeter cookie, add a little extra sugar.
If the dough is too crumbly add a teaspoon of water, and if still too crumbly add another teaspoon and knead it.