Sugar Cookies Without Baking Powder

One of the biggest challenges home bakers face when making sugar cookies—especially cut-out cookies—is spread. Baking powder, while helpful in many recipes, can cause sugar cookies to puff, distort, or lose their crisp, clean shapes. That’s why sugar cookies without baking powder have become incredibly popular for decorators, holiday bakers, and anyone who wants perfectly smooth surfaces for icing.

This recipe is designed for bakers who want cookies that:

• Stay flat

• Hold their shape

• Bake with smooth tops

• Create sharp edges for decorating

• Maintain a soft, delicious texture

Whether you’re preparing Christmas trees, snowflakes, stars, letters, or intricate shapes, these cookies remain reliable and beautiful. They’re ideal for holiday cookie decorating parties, professional-style cookie sets, and gift boxes where presentation matters just as much as flavor.

This long-form guide will walk you through everything you need to know about making no-baking-powder sugar cookies—including the science, expert tips, troubleshooting, FAQs, and decorating ideas to help you achieve flawless results every time.

---

Why Make Sugar Cookies Without Baking Powder?

No Spread

Baking powder introduces lift, which can cause cookies to puff or expand. Without it, they bake in place.

Smooth Tops

No leavening means no bubbling or uneven surfaces—perfect for icing.

Sharp Edges

Cut-out shapes hold crisp edges and look clean after baking.

Ideal for Decorating

Royal icing, glaze, buttercream, and edible paint all apply more easily to flat, smooth cookies.

Soft, Tender Texture

Contrary to what some assume, removing baking powder does not make cookies hard. When the recipe is properly balanced, the cookies stay soft with a delicate crumb.

---

Ingredients for No-Baking-Powder Sugar Cookies

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Optional: ¼ teaspoon almond extract for added flavor

Dry Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon salt

These simple pantry ingredients create a dependable dough perfect for rolling and cutting.

---

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugar

Beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
This step determines softness, structure, and flavor.

Step 2: Add Egg and Extracts

Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract.
The mixture should be creamy and aromatic.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk flour and salt.

Step 4: Mix Wet and Dry

Add half the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix.
Add the remaining flour until a dough forms.
Stop mixing when the flour disappears—overmixing leads to tough cookies.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Wrap the dough and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes.
Chilled dough:

• Rolls more easily

• Holds shape better

• Helps prevent spread

Step 6: Roll Out the Dough

Roll the dough to about ¼ inch thickness for soft cookies.
Use your favorite cookie cutters to create shapes.

Step 7: Bake

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–11 minutes.
Cookies should remain pale and flat.
Remove before they start browning around the edges.

Step 8: Cool

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.

---

The Science: Why These Cookies Don’t Need Baking Powder

Baking powder creates gas within the dough during baking. This causes puffing, rising, and spreading—great for soft cakes, not for detailed holiday cookies.

This recipe avoids spread thanks to:

Controlled Butter Temperature

Creamed but not melted butter creates structure.

Enough Flour

Flour absorbs moisture and creates stability without leavening.

No Leavening Agent

Cookies bake flat and smooth.

Proper Chilling

Chilled dough prevents butter from melting too quickly in the oven.

Egg for Binding

The egg provides moisture and binding, eliminating the need for rise.

---

Texture Breakdown

These no-baking-powder sugar cookies bake with:

• Flat tops perfect for icing

• Soft, tender centers

• Slightly crisp edges

• Clean, professional-looking shapes

• Smooth surfaces with no bubbles

This is the ideal texture for detailed decorating.

---

Decorating Ideas for No-Baking-Powder Sugar Cookies

These cookies are incredibly versatile and take icing beautifully.

Royal Icing

Perfect for detailed designs, outlining, flooding, and piping.

Glaze Icing

Thinner and glossier, ideal for minimalist decorating.

Buttercream

Soft, sweet, and great for celebrations or kids’ decorating parties.

Sanding Sugar

Add before baking for a sparkly finish.

Edible Paint

Use food coloring mixed with a drop of water or glaze.

Elegant Designs:

• Snowflakes with white icing

• Neutral-toned stars

• Gold-accented ornaments

• Minimalist tree shapes

• Simple white outlines for a rustic winter look

---

Flavor Variations

Vanilla-Almond

Add ¼ teaspoon almond extract for aroma and warmth.

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Add lemon zest and a splash of lemon juice.

Chocolate Drizzle

Dip or drizzle with white or dark chocolate.

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle lightly before baking.

Brown Sugar Version

Replace ¼ cup granulated sugar with brown sugar for a deeper flavor.

Sprinkle Cookies

Mix sprinkles into the dough for a fun holiday twist.

---

Tips for Perfect No-Baking-Powder Sugar Cookies

Use Room-Temperature Butter

Not melted, not cold—soft enough to press a finger into easily.

Cream Properly

Under-creaming leads to dense cookies; over-creaming can create air pockets.

Chill the Dough

Especially important for shape-holding.

Roll Evenly

Uneven dough leads to uneven baking.

Don’t Overbake

The cookies should stay pale to keep them soft.

Dust the Surface Lightly

Use just enough flour on the rolling surface to prevent sticking.

Use Sharp Cookie Cutters

Dull cutters cause frayed edges.

---

Holiday-Themed Ideas

Christmas

Use shapes like:

• Trees

• Snowflakes

• Gingerbread men (without spices)

• Stars

• Ornaments
  Decorate in soft colors like white, sage, beige, or gold for an elegant aesthetic.

New Year

Add silver or gold accents using metallic sprinkles.

Gifting

Stack cookies in clear bags tied with ribbon.
Include a small card with the flavor description.

Kids’ Decorating Party

Set up bowls of colorful icing and sprinkles.

---

Storage Instructions

Room Temperature

Keeps for 1 week in an airtight container.

Refrigeration

Not needed unless decorated with cream-based frosting.

Freezer Storage (Dough)

Freeze raw dough for up to 2 months.
Thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling.

Freezer Storage (Baked Cookies)

Freeze undecorated cookies for 2–3 months.
Thaw at room temp before decorating.

---

Make-Ahead Guide

Make Dough Ahead

Refrigerate for 2–3 days.
Let soften slightly before rolling.

Bake Ahead

Bake cookies up to 4 days ahead before decorating.

Decorate Ahead

Decorated cookies can be stored for 3–4 days in a cool, dry place.

---

Troubleshooting

Cookies Spread

• Dough too warm

• Butter too soft

• Oven too hot

• Not enough flour

Solution: Chill dough longer or add 2 tablespoons extra flour.

Dough Crumbles

Add 1 teaspoon milk until dough comes together.

Cookies Too Hard

They were overbaked. Remove cookies when still pale.

Uneven Baking

Dough may be uneven—use rolling guides.

Sticky Dough

Chill or add a tablespoon of flour.

Rough Edges

Use sharp cookie cutters and clean them between cuts.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Do sugar cookies need baking powder?
Not for decorating styles. Removing baking powder helps them stay flat and keep their shape.

Will the cookies taste different without baking powder?
No—flavor stays the same. Texture simply becomes smoother and more stable.

Are these cookies soft or crunchy?
Soft in the center with a tender bite.

Can I double the recipe?
Yes. It scales beautifully.

Is chilling required?
Highly recommended for clean shapes and no spread.

Can I make these dairy-free?
Use plant-based butter substitutes—it works well in this recipe.

Why do some cookies bubble?
Under-creaming or warm dough can cause bubbling.

Can I use these cookies for royal icing floods?
Absolutely—they’re one of the best for flooding because of their flat surface.

---

Expert Tips for Professional-Looking Cookies

• Use parchment paper or silicone mats for even baking

• Roll dough between two sheets of parchment for perfect smoothness

• Freeze cut shapes for 10 minutes before baking

• Bake on the middle rack for most consistent results

• Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating

• Use gel food coloring for bright, stable icing colors

These techniques produce bakery-quality cookies every time.

---

Conclusion

Sugar Cookies Without Baking Powder are the ultimate choice for decorators, holiday bakers, and anyone who wants smooth, flat, no-spread cookies that look as beautiful as they taste. These cookies bake up soft, tender, and perfectly shaped, making them ideal for Christmas cookie decorating parties, elegant winter dessert boards, and detailed royal icing designs.

With simple ingredients, reliable structure, and endless decorating possibilities, this recipe is an essential addition to your holiday baking routine. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, you’ll love how easy it is to create cookies that look truly professional—without the need for baking powder.