Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Prepare to delight your taste buds and brighten any occasion with our truly beloved Sprinkle Sugar Cookies! These aren’t just any ordinary sugar cookies; they are an extraordinary celebration in every bite. We’ve taken the classic, comforting sugar drop cookie and elevated it with an abundance of vibrant, joyful funfetti sprinkles, creating a dessert that’s as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat. Soft, wonderfully thick, and rich with buttery vanilla flavor, these cookies are destined to become your go-to recipe for spreading happiness.

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a holiday, or simply craving a sweet treat that brings a smile, these sprinkle sugar cookies are the perfect choice. They are incredibly easy to make, require no chilling, and promise a burst of color and flavor that appeals to everyone. Get ready to bake some pure joy!

For more festive baking ideas, you might also enjoy our Birthday Cake Cookies or our stunning Rainbow Sprinkle Cake, perfect companions for any party!

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Easy Sprinkle Sugar Cookie Recipe

There are countless reasons to adore these homemade sprinkle sugar cookies, making them a standout recipe for any home baker. Here’s why they’re a consistent favorite:

• A Burst of Joy with Every Sprinkle! The number one reason has to be the glorious sprinkles! These cookies are absolutely loaded with vibrant, colorful funfetti sprinkles, ensuring that every single bite is an explosion of cheerful color and delightful texture. They transform a simple cookie into a festive masterpiece, making them irresistible for kids and adults alike.
• Effortlessly Easy to Make: This sprinkle sugar cookie recipe is designed for simplicity. You don’t need to be a seasoned baker to achieve perfect results. The steps are straightforward, making the baking process enjoyable and stress-free. But be warned: the ease of making them is only surpassed by the speed at which they disappear once they’re out of the oven!
• Irresistibly Soft and Thick Texture: Say goodbye to thin, dry sugar cookies. Our recipe delivers incredibly soft and wonderfully thick cookies with a delightful chewiness. They boast a rich, authentic vanilla and buttery flavor profile that melts in your mouth, leaving you craving just one more.
• No Rolling Pin Required – Hello, Drop Cookies! Forget the fuss of rolling out dough and cutting shapes. These are classic sugar drop cookies. All you need is a large cookie scoop to portion the dough, drop it onto parchment paper, and let your oven do the rest. This feature significantly cuts down on prep time and cleanup.
• No Chilling Necessary for Instant Gratification: This is a game-changer! Unlike many sugar cookie recipes that demand hours of chilling the dough, our recipe allows you to go from mixing bowl to oven almost immediately. This means you can satisfy your cookie cravings (or whip up a last-minute treat) much sooner. It’s a deal you can’t refuse, especially when those cookie urges strike!
• The Ultimate Celebration Cookie: With their festive appearance and delightful taste, these sprinkle sugar cookies are absolutely perfect for birthdays. Who wouldn’t want a plate full of these colorful treats to celebrate their special day? They add an instant party vibe to any gathering.
• Versatile for Every Holiday: Don’t limit these beauties to just birthdays! They are incredibly versatile for any holiday or special occasion. Simply swap out the rainbow sprinkles for color-themed sprinkles to match any event – red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, orange and black for Halloween, or red, white, and blue for patriotic holidays. The possibilities are endless!

Essential Ingredients for Homemade Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Crafting these delightful sprinkle sugar cookies requires a few basic pantry staples, combined to create a truly magical treat. Here’s what you’ll need:

• All-purpose flour: The foundation of our soft, tender cookies.
• Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly, contributing to their soft texture.
• Cream of tartar: This is the secret ingredient for exceptionally soft and chewy sugar cookies, also aiding in a delicate rise.
• Salt: A crucial flavor enhancer that balances the sweetness and brings out the buttery notes.
• Unsalted butter: Ensure it’s at room temperature for optimal creaming with sugar, leading to a lighter, airier dough.
• Granulated sugar: Provides the essential sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s delightful texture.
• Large eggs: Act as a binder and add moisture, helping to create a rich, chewy crumb.
• Vanilla extract: The star flavor of classic sugar cookies. Use a good quality pure vanilla for the best results.
• Sprinkles (or jimmies): The funfetti element! Use 1 to 2 cups of your favorite colorful jimmies to ensure plenty of sprinkles in every bite. Avoid nonpareils as they tend to bleed color into the dough.

Baking Perfect Sprinkle Sugar Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these delightful funfetti sugar cookies is simpler than you might imagine. Follow these easy steps to bake a batch of pure joy:

1. Prepare Your Baking Station: Start by preheating your oven to 350° F (175° C). Line 1-2 large cookie sheets with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup. Set the prepared sheets aside.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt until well combined. This ensures the leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Set this bowl aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl (preferably using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer), cream the room-temperature unsalted butter and granulated sugar together. Beat on medium speed for 1-3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This step incorporates air, making your cookies soft.
4. Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract until everything is thoroughly combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
5. Add Dry to Wet: Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Beat on medium-low speed just until the flour is almost fully combined and a soft dough begins to form. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
6. Fold in the Sprinkles: Once the flour is nearly incorporated, add your colorful sprinkles. Increase the mixer speed slightly and beat just until the dough comes together and the sprinkles are evenly distributed. Again, avoid overmixing to maintain the tender texture of the cookies.
7. Scoop and Space: Use a large cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons) to portion the dough. Drop the scoops onto your prepared baking sheets, ensuring they are about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
8. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are just set. The cookies may still look slightly soft in the middle, which is perfect for a chewy texture.
9. Cool and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set up and prevents them from breaking. Then, get ready to experience a truly delightful treat!

Storing Your Sprinkle Sugar Cookies for Lasting Freshness

Once you’ve baked a batch of these irresistible sprinkle sugar cookies, proper storage is key to maintaining their delightful texture and flavor. Here’s how to keep them fresh:

• Room Temperature: For optimal freshness and that classic soft chewiness, store your cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Make sure they are completely cool before storing to prevent condensation.
• Refrigeration: If you need them to last a bit longer, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The texture might become slightly firmer when cold, but they will still be delicious.
• Freezing for Later Enjoyment: These cookies freeze wonderfully! Place cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container or zip-top bag, separating layers with parchment paper. They will keep for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply let them thaw to room temperature.

Expert Tips for Perfect Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Every Time

Achieving the perfect batch of sprinkle sugar cookies is easy with a few insider tricks. These tips will help you bake cookies that are soft, chewy, and beautifully vibrant:

• Choose Your Sprinkles Wisely: We wholeheartedly recommend using “jimmies” (also known as strand sprinkles) for this recipe, and be generous with them! Avoid “nonpareils” (the tiny, ball-shaped sprinkles) because they tend to bleed their colors, especially if the dough is frozen or baked for too long. You want your sprinkles to maintain their distinct shape and color for that funfetti effect. For a deeper dive into sprinkle types, check out Sprinkles 101: Know Your Sprinkles.
• The Magic of Cream of Tartar: This ingredient plays a crucial role in these cookies! Cream of tartar helps cookies rise, giving them a lighter texture, and it also contributes significantly to that wonderfully soft and chewy consistency we all love in a classic sugar cookie. If you’re curious to learn more about its effects, explore Why Do You Use Cream of Tartar in Cookies?
• Don’t Overmix the Dough: Overmixing your cookie dough can lead to a tougher, denser cookie. Once you add the dry ingredients, mix only until the flour is just combined. Overdeveloping the gluten will prevent you from achieving that desired soft and tender texture.
• Consider a Hint of Almond Extract: For a subtle twist on the classic flavor profile, you can add a tiny amount of almond extract along with the vanilla. Almond extract is potent, so use sparingly—1/8 teaspoon or less is usually sufficient. Too much can quickly overpower the delicate vanilla and butter flavors.
• Slight Underbaking for Chewy Perfection: For the ultimate soft and chewy sugar cookies, it’s better to slightly underbake them rather than overbake. They should look just set at the edges and possibly a little soft in the center when you remove them from the oven. They will continue to cook slightly on the hot baking sheet. If you prefer a crisper cookie, simply add a few extra minutes to your baking time.
• The Speed Factor: Since this recipe doesn’t require chilling the dough, you can whip up a batch of these festive cookies and enjoy them much faster! This makes them perfect for spontaneous cravings or last-minute celebrations.
• Room Temperature Butter and Eggs: Ensure your butter is softened but not melted, and your eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together properly with the sugar, creating an emulsified mixture that traps air, leading to lighter, fluffier cookies.
• Measure Flour Correctly: For the best results, measure your flour using the spoon-and-level method. Spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. Scooping directly with the measuring cup can pack too much flour, resulting in dry, dense cookies.

More Fun Party Treats You’ll Love

If you enjoyed these festive sprinkle sugar cookies, here are some other delightful treats from our collection perfect for any celebration:

• Mermaid Cookie Bars
• Ultimate Soft Chocolate Drop Cookies
• Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars
• Vanilla White Bundt Cakes
• Soft Caramel Apple Drop Cookies
• 4 Holiday Chocolate Bark Recipes
• Super Soft Lemon Glazed Sugar Cookies

Frequently Asked Questions About Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Q: Can I use different types of sprinkles?

A: Yes, you absolutely can! While jimmies are recommended for their non-bleeding qualities, you can experiment with other types like sequin sprinkles, confetti sprinkles, or even shaped sprinkles (e.g., stars, hearts) for different occasions. Just be aware that some sprinkles, like nonpareils, are more prone to bleeding color into the dough, especially if the dough is wet or frozen. Always choose high-quality sprinkles for the best visual results.

Q: How can I make these cookies even chewier?

A: For an extra chewy texture, ensure you don’t overbake the cookies. Remove them from the oven when the edges are just set and lightly golden, and the centers still look slightly soft. They will continue to set as they cool. You can also slightly increase the brown sugar content and reduce the granulated sugar for a chewier result, though our current recipe is optimized for softness and chewiness.

Q: Can I chill the dough if I want to make them ahead of time?

A: While this recipe is designed to be a “no-chill” recipe for quick baking, you can certainly chill the dough if you prefer to make it ahead. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. When ready to bake, let the dough sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes to soften slightly before scooping, as it will be very firm right out of the fridge.

Q: What’s the best way to get uniformly sized cookies?

A: Using a cookie scoop is the easiest and most effective way to get uniformly sized cookies. This ensures even baking and a consistent appearance for your entire batch. We recommend a large cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons).

Q: My cookies spread too much. What went wrong?

A: Several factors can cause cookies to spread too much. Ensure your butter isn’t too soft or melted; it should be softened to room temperature but still firm enough to hold its shape. Also, accurately measure your flour (using the spoon-and-level method) to avoid too little flour, which can lead to excessive spreading. If your kitchen is very warm, you might consider a brief chill for the dough (15-20 minutes) to help them hold shape.

This recipe is a delightful adaptation, inspired by our Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, with some modifications to achieve that signature soft sugar cookie texture and vibrant sprinkle appeal.

More Festive Recipes to Celebrate With

If you’re planning a party or simply looking for more ways to add a touch of fun to your baking, explore these other fantastic recipes:

• Birthday Cake Cookies
• Top 10 Most Popular Baking ChocolaTess Recipes 2019
• Super-Moist Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Buttercream
• Funfetti Party Cookie Bars
• Soft Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
• Best No Chill Sugar Cookies
• Best Soft Lofthouse Cookies

These sprinkle sugar cookies are truly the ultimate party cookies for all your celebrations. Their delightful flavor, soft texture, and vibrant appearance are guaranteed to be a hit. You certainly won’t be disappointed, and neither will your family and friends!