Due to Covid-19, I’ve been spending almost all my time at home lately, teaching from the kitchen table. Because of this, I have time to think about meals in the mornings, preparing them early in the day so that we always have something good to eat when Dennis gets home from work. As I was flipping through my recipe box, I came across my favorite old-fashioned sugar cookie recipe. It had been a while since I had made them, but since these cookies bring back such awesome memories, I decided to make a batch.
How to Make Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
Memories
This recipe always brings back memories of my great-grandmother, Bertha Squibbs Sprague who was affectionately nicknamed Tut. (Don’t ask me why, but it seemed like most people in the family had nicknames back then.) Some of my earliest memories involve visiting Grandma Tut at the farm, entering the house through an enclosed back porch, and finding the tin of cookies on the table there. They always seemed to be waiting just for me.
For years, the actual recipe seemed to be a mystery. Certain people in the family seemed to be able to make the cookies after Grandma Tut passed away, including my grandpa and great-aunt Irene, but no one seemed to have the real recipe. Finally, my grandmother, who never ever baked the cookies, wrote down a version. Like many family recipes, it says things like 3 shakes of nutmeg and flour to roll. I mean, really? How much flour is “flour to roll”? Eventually, my sweet Aunt Vonnie figured it out.
Ingredients
Grammy’s Sugar Cookies are relatively easy to make. You need two cups of sugar (one white and one brown), two eggs, one cup of shortening, one cup of milk, two teaspoons of baking soda, four teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, the ubiquitous three shakes of nutmeg, and flour to roll (approximately six cups). You’ll also need nuts or raisins to put in the middle of the cookies and a little sugar to sprinkle on top. I remember Grandma Tut using pecans, walnuts, and raisins as centers. I hated the raisins, so I always use pecans in mine.
Directions
First, start by creaming the brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and shortening together. Crisco works the best. Grandma Lee wanted us to make sure that we used the actual Crisco shortening, not the oil, and even wrote it on the recipe. After you have creamed together the sugars, eggs, and shortening, you can add the milk.
Once you have all of the wet ingredients mixed together, start adding the dry ingredients. I usually add one cup of flour first before putting in the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Slowly continue to add the remaining flour, mixing well.
Once the batter is mixed, I refrigerate the dough for an hour before rolling it out. I’ve never known these cookies to be any shape but round. You can either use a round cookie cutter, or do what members of our family have been doing for generations–use a drinking glass as a cookie cutter.
Lightly flour your surface and rolling pin and then roll out the cookies to approximately 1/2 inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter or glass to cut them out. Place on greased or Pam sprayed cookie sheet or parchment paper covered cookie sheet. I prefer to use parchment paper because the clean-up is so easy. Once the cookies are on the baking sheet, sprinkle each one with white sugar and add a nut or raisin to the center. Bake for approximately 10 minutes at 375 degrees.
Grandma's Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar plus extra to sprinkle on top
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup shortening (Crisco) not oil
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 shakes nutmeg
- 6 cups flour
- walnuts, pecans, or raisins
Instructions
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Cream together the sugars, eggs, and shortening.
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Pour in milk.
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Add one cup of flour. Then add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
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Add the remaining flour. Mix well.
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Chill dough for one hour.
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Roll out dough on a floured surface. Cut cookies into circles.
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Place on sprayed or parchment paper covered baking sheet 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with sugar and place a nut or raisin in the center of each cookie.
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Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes approximately 4 1/2 dozen cookies.
Final Thoughts on Grandma Tut’s Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
I enjoy making these old-fashioned sugar cookies because of the memories associated with them. I love that it’s my great-grandmother’s recipe (my maternal grandfather’s mother) and that I use my other great-grandmother’s (my maternal grandmother’s mother) rolling pin to make them. Grandma Tut’s old-fashioned sugar cookies are sturdy cookies that hold up well to travel. And, as Dennis says “They might be the best cookies he’s ever eaten.”
Want something to go along with the cookies? Try this easy chicken pot pie recipe. It’s the perfect comfort food! And while you’re at it, check out the Cleland Clan Instagram page.
I am so excited to try these! I love baking cookies. I think I’ll try this out today 🙂
Nothing like a batch of delicious sugar cookies.I think my daughter will enjoy baking these with me.
These look delicious. I love the memories that you included with the recipe.
Ohhhh his looks very similar to a recipe I lost and have been looking for!! Thank you so much for sharing this! I will be making these ❤️
oooo these look amazing, I cant wait to try them out! Love the fact you included grandmas recipe !
I have found a new love for baking since quarantine. Adding these to the list
Oh wow you really mean old fashioned! These look deliciously good. Now i’m super inspired to bake away the weekend.
The best recipes are always handwritten on envelops!
I’m a total sucker for a good sugar cookie! These look amazing, and there is something special about old school recipes like this that are passed down through the generations too. I haven’t figured out exactly what that special addition is, but it is still. there. I’m definitely giving these a try!
Since I have plenty of free time due to self-quarantine, I will give it a try for those tasty cookies! ı am already hungry while reading the recipe 🙂
Those hand-me-down recipes are normally the best. I love the look of these and might give them a go. I’d put a cherry on top instead of the pecan.
It’s so satisfying when you finally translate an old family recipe into real measurements! These look amazing, and I love the little pecan on top.
Definitely making these tomorrow for my quarantine project
These are one of my favourite! Looks so yummy
Well now I know what I’m baking this afternoon! These sound amazing!!
These sound very similar to the sugar cookies that my grandmother used to make for us all the time. She always had cookie containers filled (the old tin style) and in the freezer and she would pull them out for us when we came to visit. These and the marshmallow/peanut butter squares lol! I think I’m going to have to give this recipe a try for a fun walk down memory lane!
We have done so much baking through this but haven’t done sugar cookies!! I need to try this recipe.
Oh wow now you are talking my language these look really nice cookies for sure x
Exactly the old-fashioned cookies that I love infinitely to eat. Like those of my grandmother!
They look so delicious and quite easy to make, maybe something to try out while stuck at home. It’s the same for me, I’m also stuck teaching from home every day. I have to pay attention not to eat too many cookies all at once, though!
Am the great fan of sweets …recipe looks simple…I didn’t taste before ..sure gonna try.. Thank you for your treat for this sweet lover.
Awww – I absolutely love the way you included the photo of grandma’s recipe at the end. What a special tradition to keep alive with your family and they look delicious!
Oh my these look good! I make sugar cookies every Christmas but they don’t come out looking this good. I am going to leave this pandemic obese!