Chubby Bunny Sugar Cookies (No Cookie Cutter Needed)

Why I Like This Recipe

• Easy to make. No need to roll out cookie dough with a rolling pin and cut out with cookie cutters. Just scoop the dough into balls!
• Tried and true recipe. I use the same sugar cookie recipe for candy cane cookies (the kind that you twist and shape into candy cane shapes). It's a good one and super flavorful!
• No chill cookie dough. No chill recipes are my favorite. These cookies come together quickly!
• Fun to customize. I used frosting for the ears and nose, and black sprinkles for the eyes. You can use mini chocolate chips, black frosting, or anything you'd like to make these cute bunny cookies your own.

Tips and Tricks

• Use a cookie scoop. You can portion and roll the cookie dough into balls on your own, but I prefer using a 1 Tbsp. sized scoop to make sure the cookie dough balls are all the same size. You'll need one Tbsp. sized ball for the body and head, and ⅛ of a ball for each of the ears and feet.
• Baking sheets. I only bake with light-colored baking sheets. If you bake with dark metal sheets, you'll need to reduce the cooking time to prevent the bottoms of the cookies from browning too quickly.
• Storage tip. These will stay fresh for about 3 days in an airtight container, but you can freeze them for months. The buttercream frosting will crust, allowing you to package the cookies, but I do not recommend stacking them more than 2 cookies high.

Ingredients

• Butter: I always use salted butter. If you use unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon of salt to the recipe (add when you mix in the flour and cornstarch).
• Sugar: some sugar cookie recipes call for powdered sugar, but I use granulated sugar in mine.
• Egg: room temperature or chilled.
• Vanilla Extract: have you tried making your own vanilla extract? It adds amazing flavor to any recipe.
• Almond Extract: you can omit if you don't like almond extract, but I always add a splash!
• Baking Powder: for leavening.
• Corn Starch: if you don’t have any corn starch on hand you can omit it, but I highly recommend adding a bit to your recipe. It makes for a more tender cookie.
• Flour: all-purpose flour works great, but you can use bread flour too.
• Frosting: I use basic buttercream to decorate cookies, and it works great! My measurements are for a full batch of buttercream. You won't need a full batch, but I like freezing the leftovers in plastic freezer bags (or disposable piping bags). It's nice to have frosting on hand.
• Helpful supplies: Small round frosting tips and disposable frosting bags to pipe the ears, nose, and carrot. You can use frosting or black sugar pearls for the eyes.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Chubby Bunny Sugar Cookies

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl combine butter and sugar. Beat until fluffy. Turn the mixer down and add egg and extracts. Add baking powder. Add the flour and cornstarch and mix thoroughly. Keep mixing until the dough comes together.

Step 2: Use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to scoop all of the dough into balls.

Step 3: Roll each scoop of dough into a smooth ball. You'll need 1 Tablespoon-sized ball for the head and a 1 Tablespoon-sized ball for the body. For the ears and feet, divide a Tablespoon-sized ball into 8 smaller balls. Use 4 for the feet and 2 for the ears. To make the ears, pinch the ball into a triangular shape.

Step 4: Place rolled cookie dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet 2" apart. Flatten the cookie dough balls slightly with your fingers.

Step 5: Add the smaller balls and ears in place. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before decorating.

Step 6: Beat frosting ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Tint the frosting for the ears and carrots with food coloring.

Step 7: Use a small round frosting tip to pipe white frosting to attach the eyes. Use a round tip to pipe the pinks of the ears, the nose and the carrot.

Tip: Watch my step-by-step video to see how I do this.

Chubby Bunny Cookies FAQs

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