Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (2024)

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Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (1)

by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

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Want an easy sugar cookie recipe? One that can be used for Christmas cookies? Learn how to make Oma’s Zuckerkekse that are perfect any time of the year. Lecker!

The recipe is super easy. Super fun to have your kids join in, both in the cutting out and the decorating.

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (4)

It's aneasy recipeI loved using when our boys were young.They enjoyed using the cookie cutters, and anything else that would work, to create something special.

When I say anything, I mean anything. They would go and rummage through their toy box to find items they could use as cutout tools. Hmmmm ... I wish I had taken photos of some of what they thought would work!

That's exactly what myFacebook Fan, Melissa McInnes, did.

Her Christmas cookies,shown below, were made using this recipe. Delicious and easy!

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (5)

Then would come the decorating.

Icing and sprinkles and chocolate chips and raisins and nuts andM & M's and lots of LOVE ... that's what makes these German cookies so special.

Get ready for Christmas! Grab your copy of Oma's collection of her favorites inChristmas Cookies e-Cookbook.

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (6)

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

Decorating Ideas:

  • Melt some chocolate chips and drizzle over cookies. Or, dip half of cookie into melted chocolate.
  • Simple dust with powdered (icing) sugar
  • Make an icing by mixing together1½ cups powdered sugar with 1 - 2 tablespoons milk. Add food coloring and stir till well mixed. Brush on cookies.
  • Put either melted chocolate or icing into a small baggie. Snip off the corner and pipe decoration on cookies.
  • Sandwich two cookies together with marmalade.

I particularly like them with the almond flavoring. It’s like having a little taste of marzipan! And when dipped in dark chocolate and topped with nuts … wunderbar! It’s the perfect combo for adult taste buds, especially when enjoyed with a cup of coffee.

That's what I did in the photo at the top. Dark chocolate and 'marzipan' ... Lecker!

Ready to make these sugar cookies?

Is the recipe below locked?Here'swhy.

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (8)

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse

Want an easy sugar cookie recipe? One that can be used for Christmas cookies? Learn how to make Oma’s Zuckerkekse that are perfect any time of the year. Lecker!

Prep Time

30 minutes + chill time

Bake Time

8 min. each cookie sheet

Total Time

38 minutes + chill time

Servings:

Makes 3 - 4 dozen, depending on size

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (260 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp (6 g) baking powder
  • ¼ tsp (1.5 g) salt
  • ⅓ cup (64 g) shortening (see hints below)
  • 6 tbsp (84 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) almond extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening and butter. Add sugar and beat till fluffy.
  4. Add egg, milk, and almond extract and beat well. Add flour mixture and beat till well mixed. Cover and chill for about 3 hours.
  5. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured counter, roll out one half to about ⅛ to ¼-inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Repeat with remaining dough. Excess dough can be rerolled. Place at least 1-inch apart on cookie sheets.
  6. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
  7. Let the cookie sheets cool before reusing for the next batch of cookies.
  8. Decorate as desired.

Notes/Hints:

  • Don't want to use shortening? You can substitute butter for shortening, but the cookies will be crispier, flatter, and, well, butterier in flavor, not necessarily a bad thing ;) You may want to omit the milk or only use a teaspoon or two when you are making the dough, since the butter has more water content than shortening.
  • Melt some chocolate chips and drizzle over cookies. Or, dip half of cookie into melted chocolate.
  • Simply dust with powdered sugar.
  • Make an icing by mixing together 1½ cups powdered sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons milk. Add food coloring and stir till well mixed. Brush on cookies.
  • Put either melted chocolate or icing into a small baggie. Snip off the corner and pipe designs on cookies.
  • Sandwich two cookies together with jam or jelly.

* * * * *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

11.17.2021 revision update

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Leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question?

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods.

Meet with us around Oma's table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

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Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (20)

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe ~ Oma's Zuckerkekse



By Oma Gerhild Fulson


Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (21)


Want an easy sugar cookie recipe? One that can be used for Christmas cookies? Learn how to make Oma’s Zuckerkekse that are perfect any time of the year. Lecker!


Ingredients: shortening,butter,all-purpose flour,sugar,baking powder,butter,egg,milk,almond extract,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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Romans 5:17 (NLT)

Top of Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe – Oma's Zuckerkekse (2024)

FAQs

How to improve Pillsbury sugar cookies? ›

Here's how you can improve premade cookie dough or dough from a mix.
  1. Add spice to your dough. ...
  2. Punch up the flavor of your cookies by adding extracts. ...
  3. Before baking, roll the dough in a garnish of your choice. ...
  4. Stir nuts right into the dough for an added crunch. ...
  5. Add in your favorite savory snacks, like chips or pretzels.
Aug 3, 2020

What makes sugar cookies too hard? ›

Over-working the dough yields a tough cookie, which is not at all what you want. The very best sugar cookies are soft and tender. → Follow this tip: One of the keys to great sugar cookies is mixing the dry ingredients only until they're just incorporated, and not a second longer.

Do you put sugar crystals on sugar cookies before baking? ›

If you're don't plan on frosting them you can apply small Nonpareils or colored sugar crystals before you bake them. My aunt always mixed Nonpareils into her sugar cookie batter, baked them then frosted 1/2 of each cookie with chocolate. Note: As ways do a test batch because, some sprinkles don't bake very well.

What makes sugar cookies puffy? ›

That fluffy texture you want in a cake results from beating a lot of air into the room temperature butter and sugar, and it does the same for cookies. So don't overdo it when you're creaming together the butter and sugar.

How do you doctor up Pillsbury cookie dough? ›

Add a few drops of extract to flavor your cookies

If you're making cookies from a boxed mix, an easy way to add your own spin to the cookies is to add a tinge of almond, rum, or citrus extract from your spice cabinet. These extracts are made by concentrating flavors in an alcohol solution.

How do you make Pillsbury cookies taste better? ›

My two tricks:
  1. I always let the dough sit and soften/warm up before putting it into the oven -- about 15 minutes.
  2. I sprinkle sea salt and brown sugar on the cookies just after they come out of the oven. Makes them toasty and brings out the delicious, sweet flavor!
Feb 12, 2023

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

What happens if you don't chill cookie dough? ›

Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies. Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.

How long should you chill cookie dough? ›

Anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. The longer you chill the dough, the more flavor will develop. The flour will also absorb more of the moisture so the thicker and chewier the final texture will be.

Is it better to use powdered sugar or granulated sugar in sugar cookies? ›

All levels of powdered sugar grind can be used interchangeably with each other in cookie recipes. But take note: powdered sugar is not to be substituted for granulated sugar or brown sugar, since the added cornstarch in powdered sugar changes cookie chemistry and texture.

Why use powdered sugar instead of granulated in cookies? ›

The powdered sugar in the recipe helps absorb moisture from other ingredients, giving the cookies a unique bumpy looking appearance and an extra tender and chewy texture.

What is the glass bottom method? ›

What is this? Wet a paper towel, wipe the bottom of a glass, dip in colored sugar, then press on cookie dough ball and flatten. Fun to do with kids! Bake until edges are golden brown.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

How do you keep sugar cookie cutouts from spreading? ›

  1. The Rules for Making Sure Your Sugar Cookies Don't Spread.
  2. Rule No. 1: Bake at the Right Temperature.
  3. Rule No. 2: Don't Over or Under Cream Your Butter.
  4. Rule No. 3: Don't Over-Soften Your Butter.
  5. Rule No. 4: Don't Overcrowd the Baking Sheet.
  6. Rule No. 5: Make Sure Your Ingredients Have Not Expired.
  7. Rule No.
Jul 23, 2022

How do you make store bought sugar cookie dough taste better? ›

Almond Extract: For a twist on the traditional sugar cookie flavor, try adding a small amount of almond extract. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust according to your preference. Citrus Zest: Incorporate the zest of citrus fruits like lemon, orange, or lime into the dough. The zest adds a bright and refreshing flavor.

How do you upgrade store bought sugar cookie dough? ›

Yes, you can make your store-bought sugar cookies more indulgent by adding decadent ingredients. Try mixing in chunks of chocolate, white chocolate chips, or peanut butter chips for a rich and gooey texture. You can also swirl in caramel or dulce de leche for an extra burst of sweetness.

How do you make packaged sugar cookies taste better? ›

How To Make Boxed Cookies Better
  1. Use butter instead of margarine or oil.
  2. Add powdered milk. Sprinkling about 2 to 3 tablespoons of powdered milk per cup of cookie mix may seem kind of unconventional, but it is the best hack! ...
  3. Add brown sugar. ...
  4. Add vanilla extract. ...
  5. Brown the butter. ...
  6. Include an extra egg yolk.
Jan 3, 2024

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