These Easy Eggless Sugar cookies are light, tender, and melt in the mouth delicious! They hold their shape when baked and are the perfect treats to decorate for the holidays, birthdays, or just any special day.
In this post, sharing how to make egg-free cutout sugar cookies and three easy ways to frost them using eggless sugar cookie icing.
We make these eggless sugar cookies every year during Holidays for Santa so the kids call them Christmas cookies.
They are really easy to make, need basic ingredients and the frosting is super easy too.
Sugar cookies with royal icing can look and sound intimidating to make but I promise after you try this recipe, you will no longer feel that way.
You don't need any special frosting skills so even if you are a newbie you will nail these cookies the first time.
These sugar cookies are
- eggless
- soft and tender
- easy to make
- don't spread
- hold their shape
- fun for decorating
- can be made ahead of time
- store well
- perfect for sharing!
A sugar cookie is a cookie made of basic ingredients like sugar, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, and baking powder.
You then shape them by hand or roll and cut them into shapes, bake and cool before decorating.
They are usually decorated with additional sugar, icing, sprinkles, or a combination of these. But they taste equally delicious without any icing too.
In today's post, I'm sharing the eggless version of the sugar cookie recipe along with an eggless sugar cookie icing.
If you are allergic or just don't eat eggs, now even you can enjoy sugar cookies.
So without further ado let's see how to make these delicious melt-in-mouth egg-free no spread sugar cookies.
Recipe Ingredients
For the eggless cookies - All-purpose flour, baking powder, salted butter (sweet cream), powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk
- powdered sugar - I prefer using powdered sugar for these cookies as it has a teeny bit of cornstarch and the powdery consistency of confectioners sugar keeps the cookies soft and tender. Substitute: You can use 1 cup of granulated sugar instead.
- Baking powder - We have used only a little bit that will help the cookies rise.
- Milk - Milk helps bind the cookies together and provides the moisture needed in place of eggs.
For the eggless frosting - powdered sugar (also known as confectioners sugar), vanilla extract, and milk. Optional - Gel food color and sprinkles
Step by Step Method
I prefer using my kitchen aid stand mixer to make the cookie dough but this can also be done using a hand mixer or a bowl and whisk (will need more elbow grease).
Making eggless sugar cookie dough
1 - Sift flour and baking powder and keep aside.
2 - Cream butter and sugar until light (pale) and fluffy. Start on low speed and once the sugar has been incorporated turn it to medium speed for 2-3 mins.
3 and 4 - Add milk and vanilla extract and mix well. The mixture should still look fluffy.
5 - Add the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) and mix until just combined. Do not over mix.
6 - The dough will be soft yet slightly firm at this point. Shouldn't be overly dry or crumbly, if so add a tablespoon of milk and mix.
7 - Transfer the dough onto a cling wrap, bring it together, shape it in a block and wrap to seal.
8 - Chill the dough for 30 mins in the refrigerator.
Cut and bake cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet or baking tray with parchment paper and keep ready.
9 - After 30 mins, unwrap the dough and divide it into two parts using a knife. Refrigerate one half while we work with the other.
10 and 11 - Place the dough between two parchment papers. Using a rolling pin roll the dough into ¼th inch thickness.
12 - Use your favorite cookie cutters (using Christmas-themed ones) and cut as many as possible.
13 and 15 - Lift the cookies gently using a spatula and transfer them onto the lined baking tray. Remove the extra dough to make it easy to lift the cookies.
14 - Gather that excess dough into a ball and keep covered or refrigerated. This can be rolled and cut later to make more cookies.
16 - Bake the cookies at 350°F for 7mins for soft cookies. The cookies make look not done but will harden on cooling. For crispier cookies bake for 8-10 mins.
Remove from the oven and let them sit on the tray for 2 mins and then gently lift using a spatula to transfer onto a cooling rack.
Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing or frosting.
Continue rolling and cutting with the remaining dough or keep it refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Frost the cookies
17 - Mix all ingredients (powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk) to form a thick but flowy paste. Do not make it too runny else it won't stay on the cookies.
18 - To make the colored frosting, divide the white frosting into the number of colors needed and the quantity as needed and add a drop or two of gel food color.
I've used red green blue and yellow gel food colors for frosting my cookies. For black color, I used store-bought decorating tube. But that is completely optional.
Keep the frosting covered at all times as it dries really fast and will form a layer.
Three easy ways to frost your cookies
Method 1 - Dip the top of the cookie and let the excess drip off (Steps 19 and 20)
21 - Get rid of any air bubbles by using a toothpick to burst them. You can also use the toothpick to fill small gaps in the frosting by moving it in a circular motion. (See the video, Christmas tree frosting part)
22 - Add sprinkles (optional) while the frosting is still wet and allow to cool.
Method 2 - Use a spoon to spread the frosting on the cookie (step 23)
Method 3 - Transfer the frosting to a ziplock bag or piping bag. Cut a very small tip and use that to frost your cookies. (step 24)
Allow the frosting to set before decorating the cookies with another icing color on top. That way the colors don't mix. Refer to the video to see how I frost my cookies.
The decorating need not be perfect, just have fun! Promise they will taste delicious irrespective of whether you frost them perfectly or not.
Delicious eggless sugar cookies are ready. Allow the cookie frosting to set before storing.
Recipe Tips and notes
To measure the flour, stir the flour around, spoon it into your measuring cup, and level it off with the back of a knife. Do not scoop it out of the container directly using the measuring cup. That will result in more flour.
Use powdered sugar as it helps keep the cookies soft and tender.
Beat sugar and cream until light and fluffy for those tender melt-in-mouth cookies.
Do not overbeat the dough once you add the flour, just mix until the is no flour visible. Over mixing will result in hard cookies.
Chill the dough before rolling and cutting the cookies. It prevents the cookies from spreading while baking.
Use two parchment papers to roll the dough. Makes it really easy and nonstick and less messy compared to dusting flour.
Roll out the dough evenly, no thinner than ⅛ of an inch. I prefer ¼ inch thick.
For soft cookies, bake just for 7 mins. They may look soft but they will harden as they cool. For crisper cookies bake for 8-10mins.
This cookie recipe can be easily halved or doubled with the same results.
Hack - If you don’t have cookie cutters use a bowl, wide-mouth glass jar, or cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
The eggless sugar cookie dough can be kept in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, or frozen for up to three months. Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight before you roll out.
Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container until you are ready to decorate them. After decorating let them air-dry until the frosting is completely set (dry). Then store in an airtight container with parchment paper in between each cookie. Baked cookies will stay at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
To make these eggless sugar cookies vegan swap butter and milk with dairy-free substitutes like almond milk or soy or oat milk and vegan butter or plant-based butter.
Hope you enjoy these Eggless sugar cookies with icing as much as we do!! If you give this recipe a try, please rate by clicking stars ⭐️ on the recipe card. Thank you ❤️! You can also follow me on Facebook | Instagram to see what’s cooking in my kitchen!!
Recipe Card
Eggless Sugar Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
For the eggless cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup salted butter softened but still cold
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar add ¼ cup more if you prefer sweeter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoon milk using whole milk
For the eggless icing
- 2 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4-5 tablespoon milk or as needed to get thick frosting
- 1-2 drops gel color of choice optional
- Sprinkles for decorating optional
Instructions
To make eggless sugar cookie dough
- Sift flour and baking powder and keep aside.
- In a stand mixer ( or hand mixer), cream butter and sugar until light (pale) and fluffy. Start on low speed and once the sugar has been incorporated turn it to medium speed for 2-3 mins.
- Add milk and vanilla extract and mix well. The mixture should still look fluffy.
- Add the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) and mix until just combined. Do not over mix.
- The dough will be soft at this point. Shouldn't be overly dry or crumbly, if so add a tablespoon of milk and mix.
- Transfer the dough onto a cling wrap, bring it together, shape it in a block and wrap to seal.
- Chill the dough for 30 mins in the refrigerator. Or the dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, or frozen for up to three months. Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator over-night before you roll out.
To cut and bake the cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet or baking tray with parchment paper and keep ready.
- Unwrap the dough and divide it into two parts using a knife. Refrigerate one half while we work with the other.
- Place the dough between two parchment papers. Using a rolling pin roll the dough into ¼th inch thickness.
- Use your favorite cookie cutters and cut as many as possible.
- Lift the cookies gently using a spatula and transfer on to the lined baking tray. Remove the extra dough around the shapes to make it easy to lift the cookies.
- Gather that excess dough into a ball and keep covered or refrigerated. This can be rolled and cut later to make more cookies.
- Bake the cookies at 350°F for 7mins for soft cookies. The cookies make look not done but will harden on cooling. For crispier cookies bake for 8-10 mins.
- Remove from the oven and let them sit on the tray for 2 mins and then gently lift using a spatula to transfer onto a cooling rack.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing or frosting. Continue rolling and cutting with the remaining dough or keep it refrigerated or frozen until ready to use.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container until you are ready to decorate them.
To frost the cookies
- Mix all ingredients (powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk) to form a thick but flowy paste. Do not make it too runny else it won't stay on the cookies.
- To make the colored frosting, divide the white frosting into the number of colors needed and the quantity as needed and add a drop or two of gel food color.
- Keep the frosting covered at all times as it dries really fast and will form a layer.
- There are three easy ways to frost your cookies
- Method 1 - Dip the top of the cookie and let the excess drip off.
- Method 2 - Use a spoon to spread the frosting on the cookie (step 23)
- Method 3 - Transfer the frosting to a ziplock bag or piping bag. Cut a very small tip and use that to frost your cookies
- Get rid of any air bubbles in the frosting by using a toothpick to burst them. You can also use the toothpick to fill small gaps in the frosting by moving it in a circular motion. (See the video, Christmas tree frosting part)
- To further decorate, add sprinkles while the frosting is still wet and allow to cool. Or to frost with another color, allow the frosting to set before decorating the cookies with another icing color on top. That way the colors don't mix.
- Delicious eggless sugar cookies are ready. Let them air-dry until the frosting is completely set (dry). Store in an airtight container with parchment paper in between each cookie. Baked cookies will stay at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- To measure the flour, stir the flour around, spoon it into your measuring cup, and level it off with the back of a knife. Do not scoop it out of the container directly using the measuring cup. That will result in more flour.
- Use powdered sugar as it helps keeps the cookies soft and tender.
- Beat sugar and cream until light and fluffy for those tender melt in mouth cookies.
- Do not overbeat the dough once you add the flour, just mix until the is no flour visible. Over mixing will result in hard cookies.
- Chill the dough before rolling and cutting the cookies. It prevents the cookies from spreading while baking.
- Roll out the dough evenly, no thinner than ⅛ of an inch. I prefer ¼ inch thick.
- For soft cookies, bake just for 7 mins. They may look soft but they will harden as they cool. For crisper cookies bake for 8-10mins.
- This cookie recipe can be easily halved or doubled with the same results.
- Hack - If you don’t have cookie cutters use a bowl, wide-mouth glass jar, or cup.
Can you use unsalted butter and add salt?
yes, thanks for checking!
Can u freeze the baked cookies to decorate when required. If yes how many hours do I thaw it before decorating?
Hi Vanessa, Thanks for checking! Yes you can. Thaw frozen cookies at room temperature for about 1 to 2 hours or until they are completely thawed. The time required for thawing may vary based on the cookie size and thickness.
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I had to bake a couple dozen cookies for a child with an egg-allergy, and this recipe is not only easy to follow but looks and tastes great too!
Thank you Angie! Happy to know you found the recipe easy to follow and loved how they turned out!! Hope you will try more recipes from the blog!
Hey ! Is it possible for me to make this recipe with a whisk only ? Over all the recipe looks super easy and yum but i just wanted to get this doubt clarified .
Hi Vani, Thank you and glad you like the recipe and found it easy and it truly is! I would recommend a stand or hand mixer to beat/cream the butter as its just more easy and convenient. Having said that you can use a whisk but that would require a good amount of effort and time. Hope this helps!
Do these cookies spread a lot when baking? Like will they lose the shape they are cut in when using a cookie cutter or the shape remains the same?
The cookies don't spread (or lose their shape) as long as you follow the recipe exactly as is.
Hello! Just wondering if you can freeze the dough and how long it would be able to be frozen for? 😊
Hi, Yes you can freeze the dough for a couple of months. Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight before you roll out.
My son has an egg allergy and these were perfect for the christmas cookie decorating party he was invited to. Also my husband, who does not have any allergies, loves these with a thin layer of Nutella on them. Thanks for an easy recipe that will be part of my baking rotation!
So happy to read that Meeta! Thank you so much! Nutella and these cookies sound delicious!
Could you please give metric measurements for this recipe. I want to it for Christmas ?? 🙏
Hi there,
Please can you add metric gram measurements for this recipe?
Thank you in advance 😊
Hi, thank you for the feedback will document the metric measurements soon 🙂
My two year old insisted on making Christmas cookies in April! We were struggling to find a recipe without eggs when we came across yours. They have turned out beautifully and we had lots of fun making them. We will definitely be using this recipe again and look forward to trying more of your recipes. Thank you so much 😊
Hi Hannah, Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you loved them and had as much fun creating them as much as we did! Looking forward to you trying more recipes.
Can v reuse leftover frosting
yes, you can
These cookies were amazing. Easy to make and bakes well. They are also delicious without icing. Definitely will be making again and again.
Thank you, Shivani!! I am glad you loved these cookies. Agree, these cookies are delicious without icing too. Hope you try the other eggless cookies too.
These are SO good! And easy to make. The cookies are tender and melt in your mouth. This is now our go to Christmas cookie recipe.
Thank you, Jamie!! Makes me so happy to know that 🙂 Happy Holidays!!
I’ve made this recipe many times and every time it turns out great! Quick and easy and delicious. Thank you!
Thank you, Jennifer:) Happy Holidays!!
This is my go-to sugar cookie recipe. Thank you so much for posting it!
Thank you!! Makes me so happy to know that!!