Aunt Vern’s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

These Sugar Cookies are tender and lightly sweet, with just a hint of vanilla. The edges are gently crisp, giving way to a soft, melt-in-your-mouth center. Sprinkled with colored sugar, they’re simple, classic, and perfectly nostalgic. The kind of cookie you can’t resist eating more than one of.

We call these Aunt Vern’s Sugar Cookies, and growing up, they were the only sugar cookies I knew existed. Truly. I had no idea people actually frosted sugar cookies until I got out into this big, wide world of ours. Hey, don’t laugh. We had three TV channels (four if you counted the fuzzy PBS signal, which we watched anyway because … Electric Company). But that is a story for another day.

Most Christmases, we pulled out the cookie cutters as soon as Christmas break started. My mom waited for my brother and me to be home so we could help. We colored our own sugar with food coloring, sprinkled it on before baking, and if we were feeling wild, we pressed a red hot in the middle.

These days, my mom skips the cutters and bakes them as simple round cookies, still coloring her own sugar because who needs store-bought sprinkles? (Me, apparently. I have an entire drawer of sprinkles. It is an addiction.)

Every Christmas, she sprinkles the tops with red and green sugar and makes batches for her friends, for her twin sister, and for my brother and me. And I will be honest. Many times, I hide these cookies from my kids. I share, of course, just not the whole tin. If I left it out on the counter, it would be like the Cookie Monster yelling, “Hey, look, it is Snuffleupagus,” and by the time I looked back, every last one would be gone. (And yes, I watched Sesame Street too.)

So today I am sharing these nostalgic little cookies with you, my virtual friends. If you are a tea drinker, I highly recommend brewing a pot. You will want something cozy to sip while you sample these.

Sugar Cookies with Cream of Tartar

These sugar cookies are not overly sweet. They are slightly crisp, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and full of that simple, classic flavor that only a recipe loved for generations can give. I would say that they are similar to an Amish Sugar Cookie, if you have ever had one of those.

If you like soft sugar cookies with icing, Grandma Davis’ Sugar Cookies are for you. But for now, these crisp, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth beauties deserve their moment.

What Are Amish Sugar Cookies?

If you’ve never had one of these before, Aunt Vern’s Sugar Cookies might remind you of what people sometimes call Amish sugar cookies. They’re simple, old-fashioned cookies that focus on flavor and texture rather than fancy frosting or decorations.

Think soft, slightly crisp around the edges, melt-in-your-mouth tender in the center, lightly sweet, with just a hint of vanilla. They’re comforting and classic, exactly the kind of cookie that makes you smile before you even take a bite.

No frills, no fuss, just a cookie that tastes like home, like the ones you remember from your grandma’s kitchen or a small-town bakery. Sprinkled with colored sugar, they’re perfect for holidays, cookie trays, or any time you need a little nostalgic treat.

Ingredients in Aunt Vern’s Sugar Cookie Recipe

You will find the complete ingredients and instructions in the printable recipe card a the bottom of this post. Here is a quick look at what goes into these cookies and why each ingredient matters:

• Butter adds richness and helps create that tender crumb.
• Sugar sweetens the dough and gives the tops their sparkle.
• Eggs bind the dough and add structure.
• Vanilla brings classic sugar cookie flavor.
• Vegetable oil keeps the cookies soft in the center.
• Flour forms the base of the dough.
• Salt balances the sweetness.
• Baking soda and baking powder help the cookies rise and bake evenly.
• Cream of tartar adds tang and contributes to their signature melt-in-your-mouth texture.
  

How to Make Aunt Vern’s Sugar Cookies

These cookies come together quickly and easily, no chilling necessary.

Preheat your oven to 375°F.

Cream the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and oil until smooth. Whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cream of tartar. Fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture.

Roll into small balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and flatten each cookie. Sprinkle with colored sugar.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until just set. Do not overbake! When the edges become a very light golden brown, pull them from the oven.

Carefully transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. These cookies are pretty delicate.

Storing and Freezing this Sugar Cookie Recipe

At room temperature: Keep your cookies in an airtight container, and they’ll stay fresh for about a week. If they last that long.

Freezing baked cookies: You can freeze them in layers separated by parchment paper for up to three months. Perfect for making a big batch ahead of time.

Freezing the dough: Roll the dough into balls and pop them in the freezer. When you’re ready, bake them straight from frozen, just add a minute or two to the baking time.

Love them? Pin Them!

If you can’t wait to make these, I can’t blame you! Make sure you can find the recipe. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Recipe Tips

• Do not overbake. These cookies should be pale with just a touch of golden color at the edges.
  
• If the dough feels sticky, chill it for 20 to 30 minutes.
  
• Pressing with a sugar-coated glass gives them their signature crackled top.
  
• Bake one sheet at a time for the most even results.
  

Variations

Looking to mix things up? Use pastel sugars for spring or bright colors for birthdays. Add a hint of almond extract for a different old-fashioned flavor. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar instead of colored sugar. Flatten with a patterned glass or cookie stamp for a fun imprint.

More Sugar Cookies to Love

There’s something timeless about sugar cookies, isn’t there? They are simple, sweet, and endlessly customizable. Whether you like them soft and fluffy, crisp at the edges, frosted, sprinkled, or even with different flavors and add-ins. I’ve never met a sugar cookie that I didn’t like. Pictured above are my old-fashioned spritz cookies. They are lemon-flavored, but you can flavor them however you like. If you are more of a soft, frosted sugar cookie lover, you will love Grandma Davis’ Sugar Cookies and these Frosted Sour Cream Sugar Cookies.

Be sure to take a peek at these fun, vibrantly colored options, too: Sugar Cookie Cups, Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars, and Funfetti Sugar Cookies. And who says sugar cookies can’t have chocolate or be flavored in other ways? My Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Kiss Sugar Cookies, Brown Sugar Cookies, and Iced Maple Sugar Cookies are all delicious in their own right.

These cookies are a little slice of nostalgia, a touch of sweetness, and a whole lot of comfort all in one bite. Whether you’re sharing them with family, gifting them to friends, or sneaking a few for yourself, Aunt Vern’s Sugar Cookies are guaranteed to bring a smile and maybe even a happy memory or two.

These cookies have been on my website since I started it! I first posted them on December 16, 2011; they have been updated to improve user experience and reshared on December 1, 2025.