Are you looking for a foolproof sugar cookie recipe that delivers perfect results every time? Look no further than the Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookie Recipe. This beloved recipe, known for its simple ingredients and delicious outcome, is ideal for any occasion, from holiday gatherings to a fun weekend baking project. Inspired by a spontaneous offer to host Easter brunch, this guide breaks down the Pioneer Woman’s roll-out sugar cookie recipe into easy-to-follow steps, ensuring your baking experience is as delightful as the cookies themselves.
This isn’t just another recipe; it’s your ticket to creating beautifully decorated, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies that will impress family and friends. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, this guide provides everything you need to master this classic treat. We’ll walk you through each stage, from mixing the dough to the final flourish of frosting and sprinkles, ensuring your Pioneer Woman sugar cookies are a resounding success.
Gather Your Ingredients for Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies
Before embarking on your baking adventure, ensure you have all the necessary ingredients. This Pioneer Woman sugar cookie recipe is straightforward, utilizing common pantry staples. Here’s what you’ll need for the cookies and the accompanying buttercream frosting:
Sugar Cookie Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 cups Shortening
- 1 1/2 cups Sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated Orange Zest
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 4 cups All-Purpose Flour, plus extra for rolling
- 3 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Whole Milk
Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:
- 2 sticks (1 cup) Butter, softened
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
- Cookie Sprinkles and Decorations (optional)
- Gel Food Coloring (optional)
Close-up of beautifully decorated sugar cookies
This recipe yields a generous batch of cookies, with the exact number depending on your cookie cutter sizes. Expect around 45 cookies, perfect for sharing or indulging!
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies
Let’s dive into the baking process. Follow these detailed instructions to create your own batch of Pioneer Woman sugar cookies.
1. Zesting the Orange
Begin by grating 1 teaspoon of fresh orange zest. This subtle citrus note elevates the flavor of the cookies, adding a unique twist to the classic sugar cookie.
Hands grating fresh orange zest into a small white bowl
2. Combining Wet Ingredients
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 1 1/3 cups of shortening and 1 1/2 cups of sugar. Cream these together until light and fluffy.
Mixing shortening and sugar in an electric mixer bowl
Add the freshly grated orange zest to the mixture and beat until well combined, infusing the citrus aroma into the base of your cookies.
Adding orange zest to the sugar and shortening mixture in a mixer
Beat the mixture until it is smooth and creamy. While a mixer is recommended for ease and consistency, you can mix the dough by hand if you’re feeling ambitious!
Smooth and creamy mixture of sugar, shortening, and orange zest in a mixing bowl
3. Adding Eggs and Vanilla
Next, incorporate 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, enriching the dough with its warm, classic flavor.
Cracking eggs into the mixing bowl for sugar cookie dough
Pouring vanilla extract into the cookie dough batter
Continue beating the mixture until everything is thoroughly combined.
Mixing eggs and vanilla extract into the sugar cookie dough
Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated. This step is crucial for a consistent dough.
Scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl during sugar cookie dough preparation
Resume mixing to fully incorporate any ingredients that were stuck to the sides.
Continuing to mix the sugar cookie dough after scraping the bowl
4. Incorporating Dry Ingredients
In a separate large bowl, sift together 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Sifting ensures a light and airy texture for your cookies.
Sifting flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl
Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the mixer bowl gradually, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough cookies.
Adding sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in a mixing bowl
Mix until just combined, ensuring no streaks of flour remain.
Mixing dry and wet ingredients until just combined for sugar cookie dough
5. Adding Milk to Finish the Dough
Pour in 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of whole milk and mix again until the dough comes together. The milk adds moisture and helps to create a cohesive dough.
Pouring milk into the mixing bowl to complete the sugar cookie dough
Mix until the milk is fully incorporated and you have a smooth, workable dough.
Finished sugar cookie dough in the mixing bowl
6. Chilling the Dough
Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, and place each disk in a plastic or ziplock bag. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This chilling process is essential as it firms up the dough, making it easier to roll out and preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Dividing sugar cookie dough into disks and placing them in plastic bags for chilling
Chilled sugar cookie dough disks in plastic bags ready for refrigeration
7. Rolling and Cutting the Cookies
After chilling for at least an hour, remove the dough from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to soften slightly. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Alt text: Removing chilled sugar cookie dough from the refrigerator, allowing it to soften slightly before rolling.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to approximately 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes.
Rolling out chilled sugar cookie dough on a floured surface
Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Cutting out sugar cookie shapes with cookie cutters
8. Baking to Perfection
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Keep a close watch; you want them to be just set and very lightly golden around the edges, not browned. Overbaking will make them dry.
Baking sugar cookies in the oven
Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Baked sugar cookies cooling on a baking sheet
9. Making the Buttercream Frosting
While the cookies are cooling, prepare the buttercream frosting. Ensure your butter is softened for a smooth frosting. Clean your mixing bowl before starting on the frosting.
Empty mixing bowl being cleaned in preparation for making buttercream frosting
In the clean mixing bowl, add 2 sticks of softened butter.
Softened butter in a mixing bowl for buttercream frosting
Add 4 cups of powdered sugar to the softened butter.
Adding powdered sugar to softened butter in a mixing bowl
Pour in 1/4 cup of heavy cream.
Pouring heavy cream into the mixing bowl for buttercream frosting
Beat all ingredients together until the frosting is light, fluffy, and smooth. For colored frosting, divide the buttercream into separate bowls and add gel food coloring to each, mixing until you achieve your desired shades.
Light and fluffy buttercream frosting in a mixing bowl
10. Decorating Your Sugar Cookies
Once the cookies are completely cooled, it’s time for the fun part – decorating! You can use a knife, spatula, or piping bag to frost your cookies.
Icing sugar cookies with a spatula
Get creative with sprinkles, candies, and colored frosting to personalize your Pioneer Woman sugar cookies.
Decorated sugar cookie with candy pearls
Star and bunny decorated sugar cookies for Easter
Colorful cross-shaped sugar cookies decorated for Easter brunch
For a fun activity at gatherings, set up a cookie decorating station with frosting, sprinkles, and candies, allowing your guests to decorate their own cookies!
Sugar cookie decorating station at Easter brunch
Enjoy Your Homemade Pioneer Woman Sugar Cookies
These Pioneer Woman sugar cookies are not only delicious but also a joy to make and decorate. Perfect for any celebration or a sweet treat any day of the week, they are sure to become a family favorite.
Sugar cookies and carrot cake on a dessert table
Whether you’re serving them at Easter brunch, a holiday party, or simply enjoying them with a cup of coffee, these cookies are guaranteed to bring smiles.
Three-tier serving tray with decorated sugar cookies
Close-up of decorated sugar cookies on a serving tray
Sugar cookies on the bottom tier of a serving tray
For those who prefer other flavors, consider exploring recipes like Chocolate Chip Coffee Cookies.
Recipe Source: Inspired by The Pioneer Woman’s A Year of Holidays! and Easter Cookies by The Pioneer Woman.
Bake long and prosper… with cookies!
