Name: Tasha Tudor's Sugar Cookie Recipe
Prep time: 120 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 132 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Salted Butter (4 sticks); 2 Eggs; 5 cups All-purpose flour; 2 cups Sugar; 1/4 teaspoon Salt; 1 tablespoon Vanilla; 1 teaspoon Baking soda (dissolved in the milk); 3 tablespoons Milk

Tasha Tudor’s sugar cookie recipe is so special to me! I started using it as our Christmas sugar cookie when I was just a young girl.

My mom found this big red Christmas book at a thrift store written by a women named Tasha Tudor. It had a beautiful old linen book cover, antiqued pages, and is titled “Take Joy!”

Tasha Tudor's Christmas book "Take Joy" with a candle behind and a small christmas tree

It was full of different Christmas stories and old fashioned Christmas songs, all accompanied by the charming and comforting artwork of Tasha Tudor herself.

a women with a green bow pictured from behind reading Tasha Tudor's Christmas book "Take Joy"

Best of all, the book also contained an account of all the Christmas traditions followed on the Tudor family farm.

They were all so charming and wonderfully old fashioned that I was completely drawn in. The doll’s Christmas was my favorite Tudor tradition of all. The idea was just magical to me.

Find a kindle copy of The Doll’s Christmas by Tasha Tudor here

The Story of the "The Dolls Christmas" from Tasha Tudor's Christmas book "Take Joy

My sisters and I all had American Girl dolls and we were eager to create a Christmas for our dolls as well. We made them special foods out of clay and tiny cookies out of salt dough and wrapped tiny presents that sat under their tiny tree.

One year for Christmas my dad made a table big enough for all of our dolls to fit around and we started having a Christmas Eve dinner for our dolls. These are such sweet memories and it’s all thanks to the inspiration of Tasha Tudor herself.

Making a Tradition of Tasha Tudor’s Sugar Cookie Recipe

Another tradition of the Tudor’s that I loved to follow as a girl was using Tasha Tudor’s sugar cookie recipe. Perhaps to my mother’s dismay I would make a whole event out of Christmas cookie decorating. Those days are such fun memories! I remember that even my dad would get into decorating! This recipe makes so many cookies that the decorating really can last for an entire afternoon.

Tasha Tudor's book "Take Joy" opened to an inside page

There is something so special to me about using a recipe with a history rooted in tradition. The old soul in me loves that aspect of using this recipe in our Christmas traditions. As if the recipe itself takes me back in time.

In the book, Tasha shares that they would divide the dough and they always added ground almonds to one batch. They would then cut that dough with a flower shaped cutter and place half a candied cherry in the middle of each cookie. “They are very pretty” Tudor says.

I’m not sure just yet how to get my hands on a candied cherry, but I would love to try and emulate the way they decorated their cookies someday.

Tip for decorating sugar cookies with multiple children:

I decorate Christmas cookies with my boys each year and they love it. They are very serious about their designs, which is adorable. But if I’m honest, can cause some tension as well.

two little boys rolling out sugar cookie dough with the help of their mother

This year instead of rolling out one big piece of dough that my boys would end up fighting for with their cookie cutters, I decided to give each boy their own piece of dough. I gave each of them a piece of parchment paper and they rolled their dough out on the paper. The smaller ones needed help, but the bigger ones enjoyed having more control over their creations.

Tips for Making Tasha Tudor’s Sugar Cookies

two stacks of Tasha Tudor's sugar cookies tied up with brown string

This recipe makes 5-6 dozen cookies so you will have a lot of dough on your hands. After mixing the dough I recommend dividing the dough into several sections before chilling. This will make it easier to handle.

Because of all the scrumptious butter, this recipe can warm very quickly with too much rolling and handling. You want to keep it chilled in smaller portions in the fridge and work with one small portion at a time.

You can also freeze some of the dough for later. Press the dough into a thin disc that is still small enough to fit into a gallon ziplock. ( The thinner the dough that faster it will defrost) Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then seal in a large ziplock freezer bag. Thaw a few hours before using.

Tools You May Need

cookie making scene with a stack of sugar cookies, a floured rolling pin, cookie cutters, and a tin with flour inside

Measuring Cups

Measuring Spoons

Kitchen aid mixer or Large Mixing Bowl

Rubber Spatula

Parchment Paper

Plastic Wrap

Rolling Pin

Cookie Cutters

Baking Sheet Pans

Ingredient List

The hands of a young boy adding vanilla to Tasha Tudor's sugar cookie recipe

1 lb Salted Butter, softened (4 sticks)

2 Eggs

5 cups All-Purpose Flour

2 cups Granulated Sugar

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1 tablespoon Vanilla

1 teaspoon Baking Soda, dissolved in 3 tablespoons of Milk

How to Make Tasha Tudor’s Sugar Cookie Recipe

Tasha Tudor's sugar cookies from her recipe decorated with white frosting and laying on a cutting board

Start by creaming the butter and sugar together.

While mixing slowly add in the eggs, vanilla, and baking soda dissolved in milk until lightly mixed.

Add the salt, mixing gently.

a little boy in Christmas pajamas helping his mom measure the flour for Tasha Tudor's sugar cookie recipe

Finally, gradually add the flour one cup at a time, mixing in between cups until just incorporated.

The dough will be thick and will take a bit to come together.

Mix until a smooth dough is formed.

“No amount of mixing seems to bother it. ” writes Tudor.

Form into several balls, dust them with flour, and wrap them in plastic wrap.

Place in the fridge for several hours to chill.

When ready to cut into shapes, dust your work surface with all-purose flour.

Roll your dough very thin for crispy cookies, or to about 1/4 inch thick for soft and chewy cookies.

a mother helping her young child roll out Tasha Tudor's sugar cookie dough recipe

Dust with granulated sugar and nutmeg and cut into shapes.

Place cut out dough on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 until light brown around the edges.

unbaked cut out cookies from Tasha Tudor's Sugar cookie recipe layed out on parchment paper

Thin Cookies: 10-12 minutes

Thick Cookies: 12-15

Let them cool on a wire rack before frosting and decorating.

white frosted sugar cookie ginger bread man from Tasha Tudor's sugar cookie recipe

Simple Frosting Recipe

You will need:

2 cups powdered sugar

6 Tb. + 2 tsp. of heavy cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. pure almond extract, optional, but extremely delicious

How to Make:

Mix it all together in a little bowl with a fork. It will take a little bit for the powdered sugar to moisten and come together. Scoop into a small ziplock bag, snip off the very tip of one corner of the bag and pipe your frosting onto your cookies however you wish!

How to Store Your Cookies

Store your cookies in an airtight container, placing wax or parchment paper between each single layer of cookies. This may reveal how cheap I am, but I will often reuse the parchment for this that I used for baking. Often it’s not too messy and can easily be used again.

PIN FOR LATER

Pintrest Image for Tasha Tudor's Sugar Cookie Recipe

PRINTABLE RECIPE

Tasha Tudor’s Sugar Cookie Recipe

This beautiful Christmas sugar cookie recipe of Author and artist Tasha Tudor is rooted in history and tradition. An old family recipe that has withstood the test of time. They are buttery, without being overly sweet and just simply perfect.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 12

Total Time 2 12

Servings 5 dozen

Ingredients

1 lb Salted Butter 4 sticks
2 Eggs
5 cups All-purpose flour
2 cups Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Baking soda dissolved in the milk
3 tablespoons Milk

Instructions

Start by creaming the butter and sugar together.
While mixing slowly add in the eggs, vanilla, and baking soda dissolved in milk until lightly mixed.
Add the salt, mixing gently.
Finally, gradually add the flour one cup at a time, mixing in between cups until just incorporated.
The dough will be thick and will take a bit to come together.
Mix until a smooth dough is formed. "No amount of mixing seems to bother it" writes Tudor.
Form into several balls, dust them with flour, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for several hours to chill.
When ready to cut into shapes, dust your work surface with all-purose flour.
Roll your dough very thin for crispy cookies, or to about 1/4 inch thick for soft and chewy cookies.
If desired, dust with granulated sugar and nutmeg (this was the Tudor tradition ) and cut into shapes.
Place cut out dough on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 until light brown around the edges.
Thin Cookies: 10-12 minutes
Thick cookies: 12- 15 minutes
Let them cool on a wire rack before frosting and decorating.

Simple frosting

This delicious and simple frosting is so easy to whip up! With a touch of almond extract it's extra special and super yummy!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Ingredients

2 cups powdered sugar
6 tbsp.+ 2 tsp heavy cream or half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. pure almond extract optional, but extremely delicious

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and stir with a fork until creamy.
Scoop into a small ziplock bag, snip off the very tip of one corner of the bag and pipe your frosting onto your cookies however you wish!

More Christmas Inspiration From Loving Grace Home

Chocolate Gingerbread Christmas Cookie

Dried Orange Recipes + 3 ideas for Decorating with Them

6 Easy Ideas for an Old Fashioned Christmas

Thank you so much for joining me today as we made Tasha Tudor’s sugar cookie recipe!

We had so much fun creating these delicious cookies! Old soul that I am, I love knowing that this recipe has been cherished in the Tudor family for generations and It’s my hope that it lives on in our family as well.

Maybe even yours too?

Do you have any Christmas recipes that you make each year with your family? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Merry Christmas and have a lovely day!