Easy Sugar Cookie Sticks

These Easy Sugar Cookie Sticks include a traditional sugar cookie dough. However, rather than being cut into festive shapes or circles, they are shaped into sticks instead. The cookies are buttery and melt-in-your-mouth, perfect for having for an afternoon snack with coffee or tea, or to have for a dessert. As their name suggests, making these sugar cookie sticks is easy. Simply begin by beating the butter with the white sugar, lemon zest, and brown sugar, and then add in the flour and salt, kneading the mixture until it forms a dough. Next, the dough gets divided into portions and each portion is shaped into a stick before being rolled in sugar and being baked in the oven. The buttery texture of these cookies and hint of lemon zest make them truly addictive.

What are Easy Sugar Cookie Sticks?

Sugar cookies typically include flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, and sometimes chemical leavening agents such as baking powder or baking soda. They likely originated in the United States among the Pennsylvania Dutch community but the recipe became modified into what it is today over time. Today, they are melt-in-your-mouth cookies whereas the original version resulted in drier cookies that often included caraway seeds.

Sugar cookies are often made for holidays with bakers cutting the dough into festive shapes for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, or Halloween. They can also be glazed or adorned with frosting and sprinkles.

This version is a simple and fun take on the classic. The lemon zest adds and interesting vibrant flavor while the sugar coating adds some textural contrast to the butteriness of the cookies.

Pro Tips

• Feel free to omit the lemon zest if you don’t have any or replace it with either orange or lemon zest. Some lemon extract would work well, too.
• The dough can be wrapped tightly and placed in the freezer for you to bake at a later date. Simply allow it to thaw in the fridge before shaping it into sticks and baking it.
• For a pretty garnish, make an icing sugar glaze to drizzle on top of the cookies. Simply mix icing sugar with just enough milk or lemon juice to make it a loose enough consistency that can be drizzled. Then, allow the glaze to set before serving the cookies.
• You will know the cookies are baked when they are a light golden on the bottoms and around the edges.
• For even more texture on the cookies, try using coarse sugar to coat the cookies rather than regular granulated sugar.
• Consider dipping the cookies into melted dark or semi-sweet chocolate for added decadence.

What to Serve with Easy Sugar Cookie Sticks?

These easy sugar cookie sticks are perfect alongside a hot beverage such as strong brewed coffee or orange pekoe tea. They also make a wonderful addition to an English-style afternoon tea with various sweet treats, scones and clotted cream, and finger sandwiches.

Can I Cut the Sugar Cookie Dough into Shapes?

Yes, if you would prefer to cut this dough into different shapes, you can. Simply roll the dough out to roughly a ¼-inch thick on a surface that has been dusted with flour. Then, cut the dough into your desired shapes and place the on a parchment-lined baking sheet. You may need to adjust the baking time depending on the thickness of your cookies.

Can I Add Vanilla to These Sugar Cookies?

Yes, if you prefer your sugar cookies to have more of a vanilla flavor, feel free to add a teaspoon of vanilla into the dough when you add the eggs, and omit the lemon zest. You could also add another type of extract such as almond extract instead.

Can I Add Chocolate Chips to the Sugar Cookies?

Yes, you definitely can! If you would like to add chocolate chips, once the dough is mixed, knead in your desired amount of chocolate chips before shaping the cookies. Mini chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate will work the best considering the shape of these cookies.

How to Store Easy Sugar Cookie Sticks

These easy sugar cookie sticks can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. However, you could also place them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How to Make Easy Sugar Cookie Sticks

Step 1

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). In a bowl, beat the butter with the sugar, lemon zest, and brown sugar until pale and fluffy.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). In a bowl, beat the butter with the sugar, lemon zest, and brown sugar until pale and fluffy.

Step 2

Step 2

Beat the egg and egg yolk into the butter mixture.

Beat the egg and egg yolk into the butter mixture.

Step 3

Step 3

In a bowl, stir the flour with the salt and baking powder.

In a bowl, stir the flour with the salt and baking powder.

Step 4

Step 4

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and knead until a dough forms. Refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and knead until a dough forms. Refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes.

Step 5

Step 5

Divide the dough into 25 to 30 g portions and roll each portion into a log.

Divide the dough into 25 to 30 g portions and roll each portion into a log.

Step 6

Step 6

Roll the logs in the sugar and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Roll the logs in the sugar and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 7

Step 7

Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes.

Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes.

Step 8

Step 8

Allow the cookies to cool before serving.

Allow the cookies to cool before serving.