Chubby Chick 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 yellow frosting for the tuft of feathers on the top of each cookie, and black sprinkles for the eyes. You can use mini chocolate chips, black frosting, or anything you'd like to make these chubby chick 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.
• 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.

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.
• Food coloring: Yellow food coloring for the chick's body and orange food coloring for the details. I recommend using gel food coloring as it gives vibrant colors without adding excess moisture to the recipe.
• Frosting: Just a small amount for the feather tufts and eyes. I use basic buttercream, but store-bought frosting works too. 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 feathers. 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 Chick 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 the egg, extracts, and yellow food coloring.

Step 2: Add baking powder, cornstarch, and flour. Mix until the dough comes together and is smooth.

Step 3: Use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to scoop all of the dough into balls.

Step 4: Place two of the dough balls into a small bowl and add orange food coloring. Mix until it comes together.

Step 5: Roll the remaining scoops of yellow dough into smooth balls. You'll need 1 Tablespoon-sized ball for the head and a 1 Tablespoon-sized ball for the body of each chick. Divide two balls into pea-sized pieces. Shape each piece into a teardrop shape for the wings.

Step 6: Roll pea-sized pieces of the orange dough for the feet, and even smaller pieces shaped into small triangles for the beak.

Step 7: Place yellow cookie dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. One for the head, and one for the body. Space the chicks 2" apart on the baking sheet.

Step 8: Flatten the cookie dough balls slightly with your fingers.

Step 9: Place wings, feet, and beak onto the cookie. Use a toothpick to gently press each beak to create a crease.

Step 10: Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet.

Step 11: Use yellow frosting and a small round tip to add feathers on the top of the head.

Step 12: Add two black sugar pearls for the eyes. I used yellow frosting to hold them in place.

Tip: Watch my step-by-step video for the best visual tutorial. It plays under the first image in the post as well as in the recipe card.

Chubby Chick Sugar Cookie FAQs

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