The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe for Decorating (Australia Edition)

Looking for the perfect sugar cookie recipe that holds its shape, tastes amazing, and works perfectly with fondant or cookie stamps? This is Pixie Patio’s go-to sugar cookie recipe — created especially for Australian bakers who love decorating cookies for events, gifts, or business orders.

Whether you're making embossed cookies with fondant, stamping cute designs, or just want a reliable dough that won’t spread, this recipe is made to impress. No refrigeration dramas, no sticky mess — just smooth, sturdy cookies that bake like a dream.

🍪 Ingredients

• 225g unsalted butter (softened)
• 150g caster sugar
• 1 egg (room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract for variation)
• 375g plain flour
• ½ tsp salt (optional, if using unsalted butter)

👩🍳 Instructions

1. Cream the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and caster sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
2. Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
3. Mix in dry ingredients: Add flour and salt gradually and mix until a dough forms. If it’s crumbly, add 1–2 tsp milk. If sticky, add a little extra flour.
4. Chill the dough: Divide into 2 discs, wrap in cling film, and chill in the fridge for 1 hour or freezer for 20 minutes.
5. Roll and cut: Roll dough to 6–7mm thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with your favourite cookie cutters.
6. Bake: Place cookies on a lined tray and bake at 160°C fan-forced for 10–12 minutes or until edges are just golden.
7. Cool completely: Let cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack. Decorate once fully cooled.

✨ Decorating Tips

• Use Queen’s Ready to Roll Icing or similar fondant for best results
• Roll fondant to 3mm and emboss before cutting it out with the same cutter
• Stick fondant to cookies with a tiny bit of water or edible glue

🧊 How to Store Sugar Cookies

• Room temperature: Store undecorated or fondant-covered cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks
• Freezer: Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp before decorating

→ Read our full cookie storage guide here

📌 FAQ

• Can I skip chilling the dough?
  We recommend chilling for clean edges and better embossing, but in a pinch, a 20-minute freezer chill can work.
• Why use caster sugar?
  It dissolves easily and gives the cookies a smooth finish, ideal for decorating.
• Can I use salted butter?
  Yes! Just skip the added salt in the ingredients list.

🎉 Final Thoughts

We’ve tested this recipe dozens of times, and it always delivers crisp edges, no spread, and a delicious buttery flavour — ideal for decorated sugar cookies. Whether you're baking for a party, a customer, or just for fun, this is the recipe you’ll keep coming back to.

Ready to decorate? Shop our cookie stamps and