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The Easiest Soft Sugar Cookies

No fuss cookies prefect to bake up with kids. Lower in sugar and easy to make vegan and gluten free if needed.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter or dairy-free butter substitute
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract optional but recommended
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or additional all-purpose flour or use a total 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour blend
  • 1/2 cup sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or grease lightly with oil/oil spray.
  • Cut butter into 8 tablespoon pieces and place in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat butter until mostly melted. You want the butter to be soft but not too hot. If it does melt all the way, that ok. Just set it aside to let it cool until room temp. (I use the microwave, but you can also melt it in a small pot on the stove.)
  • Add the maple syrup to the butter and whisk to combine. (It's ok it if looks a little lumpy.) Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts, then the baking powder, salt, and baking soda until well combined.
  • Add the flour then use a rubber spatula or large spoon to stir until the flour is just incorporated.
  • Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Press one side of the balls into sprinkles then place the dough balls sprinkle side up on the baking sheet, placing them about an inch apart.
    (If the dough is too sticky/soft to roll, you can chill it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes and it will be easier to roll.)
  • Bake cookies until lightly golden brown around the edges and on the bottom, 12 to 14 minutes.
  • Allow the cookies to cool completely on the sheet pan or on a cooling rack. Once cool, store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Cookies can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
Keyword christmas cookies, cookies, cooking with kids, sprinkle cookies