Tender Basketball Sugar Cookies
Soft, buttery sugar cookies shaped like basketballs with a tender crumb and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for game days, family gatherings, or festive treats.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (315 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- About 10 drops orange food coloring (optional)
- Black decorating gel or melted chocolate for drawing basketball lines
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract. Stir in orange food coloring if using.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Scoop dough into 1 ½-inch (about 4 cm) balls and place about 2 inches (5 cm) apart on the baking sheets. Gently flatten each ball slightly with your fingers or the bottom of a glass.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges start to turn golden but centers remain soft.
- Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, use black decorating gel or melted chocolate in a piping bag to draw basketball lines. Let decorations set before serving or storing.
Notes
If dough is too sticky, refrigerate for 15 minutes before shaping. Do not overmix dough after adding flour to avoid tough cookies. Use softened butter (not melted) for best texture. Baking time is short; remove cookies when edges are golden and centers are still soft. Decorating gel can be substituted with melted chocolate piped through a small bag.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 8
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Protein: 1
Keywords: sugar cookies, basketball cookies, soft cookies, buttery cookies, game day treats, easy cookies, festive cookies