Sugar Cookies Lab513 recipes

Sugar Cookies Lab · Decision tree

Find your sugar cookie

Three questions sort all 513 recipes into 8 groups. Each question is about one of the ingredients recipes disagree on most, and splits the recipes in front of it at their own median, so each answer keeps about half of them. Every group ends with its median recipe in grams and the real recipes nearest it.

The questions

  1. Question 1

    More leavening than most, or less?

    Soft sugar cookies use baking powder to puff; cut-out recipes use little or none so edges stay sharp.

    All 513 recipes: median 1.3% of the flour weight, 3.5 g per 280 g of flour; middle half 0.4% to 2.1%; 22% use none.

  2. Question 2

    More egg than most, or less?

    Egg binds the dough and makes it cakier; some cut-out recipes use none for a crisper, flatter cookie.

    All 513 recipes: median 18% of the flour weight, 50 g per 280 g of flour; middle half 14% to 23%; 7% use none.

    Asked within each answer to question 1, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.

  3. Question 3

    More sugar than most, or less?

    Sugar tenderizes and spreads the dough as it melts; powdered sugar gives a finer, less spreading cookie than granulated.

    All 513 recipes: median 64% of the flour weight, 180 g per 280 g of flour; middle half 53% to 83%.

    Asked within each answer to question 2, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.

The key

Read left to right: pick an answer to question 1, then one of the answers beside it for question 2, and so on to a group. Each cell gives the answer, its bound in grams per 100 g of flour, and how many recipes give it.

Decision key: 3 questions, one per column, leading to 8 groups of recipes
1. Leavening2. Egg3. SugarGroup
Moreover 1.3%254Moreover 18%124More80% or more64A64
Lessunder 80%60B60
Less18% or less130Moreover 71%65C65
Less71% or less65D65
Less1.3% or less259More18% or more120Moreover 59%60E60
Less59% or less60F60
Lessunder 18%139Moreover 56%69G69
Less56% or less70H70

The 8 groups

Each median recipe is the median of every ingredient over the group's recipes, scaled to 280 g of flour, beside the typical batch of all 513. Bold rows are the ingredients the questions asked about.

Group A · 64 recipes · 12% of all

More leavening, more egg and more sugar

Leavening over 1.3%, egg over 18% and sugar 80% or more of the flour weight.

Median recipe of group A at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup AAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat185 gabout 3/4 cup170 g
Sugar270 gabout 1 1/3 cups180 g
Egg65 gabout 1 1/2 large eggs50 g
Leavening6 g3.5 g
Salt3 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 11 minutes, the medians of the 56 recipes here that state a temperature and the 64 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group A

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe · crazyforcrust.comleavening 1.7% · egg 22% · sugar 97%
  2. Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies · bakingamoment.comleavening 2.1% · egg 24% · sugar 95%
  3. Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies · twopeasandtheirpod.comleavening 2.4% · egg 20% · sugar 102%
  4. M&M Sugar Cookies · twopeasandtheirpod.comleavening 2.4% · egg 20% · sugar 102%
  5. Easy Sugar Cookies · loveandlemons.comleavening 2.3% · egg 22% · sugar 80%
Back to the key

Group B · 60 recipes · 11% of all

More leavening, more egg and less sugar

Leavening over 1.3%, egg over 18% and sugar under 80% of the flour weight.

Median recipe of group B at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup BAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat150 gabout 2/3 cup170 g
Sugar175 gabout 3/4 cup180 g
Egg65 gabout 1 1/2 large eggs50 g
Leavening6 g3.5 g
Salt2 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 11 minutes, the medians of the 55 recipes here that state a temperature and the 58 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group B

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Gourmet Sugar Cookies · sugarspunrun.comleavening 2.2% · egg 22% · sugar 66%
  2. Unfussy Sugar Cookies · smittenkitchen.comleavening 2.4% · egg 21% · sugar 51%
  3. The One and Only Christmas Sugar Cookie · fifteenspatulas.comleavening 2.2% · egg 24% · sugar 47%
  4. Sour Cream Sugar Cookies · 12tomatoes.comleavening 2% · egg 27% · sugar 53%
  5. Classic Chewy Sugar Cookies · countryliving.comleavening 3% · egg 23% · sugar 69%
Back to the key

Group C · 65 recipes · 12% of all

More leavening, less egg and more sugar

Leavening over 1.3%, egg 18% or less and sugar over 71% of the flour weight. 5 of the 65 use no egg.

Median recipe of group C at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup CAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat175 gabout 3/4 cup170 g
Sugar240 gabout 1 1/4 cups180 g
Egg41 gabout 1 large egg50 g
Leavening6 g3.5 g
Salt2 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 12 minutes, the medians of the 62 recipes here that state a temperature and the 65 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group C

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Easy Sugar Cookies · lifeloveandsugar.comleavening 2.3% · egg 14% · sugar 87%
  2. Lemon Coconut Sugar Cookies · thecafesucrefarine.comleavening 2.2% · egg 13% · sugar 80%
  3. Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe · thefirstyearblog.comleavening 1.7% · egg 14% · sugar 83%
  4. Halloween Sugar Cookie Recipe · thefirstyearblog.comleavening 1.7% · egg 14% · sugar 83%
  5. Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe · thefirstyearblog.comleavening 1.7% · egg 14% · sugar 83%
Back to the key

Group D · 65 recipes · 12% of all

More leavening, less egg and less sugar

Leavening over 1.3%, egg 18% or less and sugar 71% or less of the flour weight. 4 of the 65 use no egg.

Median recipe of group D at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup DAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat170 gabout 3/4 cup170 g
Sugar150 gabout 3/4 cup180 g
Egg37 gabout 1/2 large egg50 g
Leavening5 g3.5 g
Salt2 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes, the medians of the 61 recipes here that state a temperature and the 65 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group D

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Holiday Sugar Cookies and DIY Colored Sugar · theviewfromgreatisland.comleavening 1.8% · egg 13% · sugar 53%
  2. Sugar Cookie Pinwheels · sugarhero.comleavening 1.8% · egg 13% · sugar 53%
  3. Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies · sallysbakingaddiction.comleavening 1.8% · egg 13% · sugar 53%
  4. Raspberry Sugar Cookies · sallysbakingaddiction.comleavening 1.8% · egg 13% · sugar 53%
  5. Easter Egg Sugar Cookies · sugarhero.comleavening 1.9% · egg 14% · sugar 55%
Back to the key

Group E · 60 recipes · 11% of all

Less leavening, more egg and more sugar

Leavening 1.3% or less, egg 18% or more and sugar over 59% of the flour weight. 21 of the 60 use no leavening.

Median recipe of group E at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup EAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat155 gabout 2/3 cup170 g
Sugar225 gabout 1 cups180 g
Egg65 gabout 1 1/2 large eggs50 g
Leavening2 g3.5 g
Salt2 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 11 minutes, the medians of the 50 recipes here that state a temperature and the 58 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group E

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Sprinkle Sugar Cookies (Easy & No Chill) · thebakingchocolatess.comleavening 0.8% · egg 27% · sugar 80%
  2. Easy Sugar Cookies · beyondfrosting.comleavening 0.7% · egg 24% · sugar 68%
  3. Peppermint Sugar Cookies · beyondfrosting.comleavening 0.7% · egg 24% · sugar 68%
  4. Sprinkle Sugar Cookies · beyondfrosting.comleavening 0.7% · egg 24% · sugar 68%
  5. Christmas Cut Out Sugar Cookies (Cookie Cutters) · brooklynfarmgirl.comleavening 1.2% · egg 27% · sugar 80%
Back to the key

Group F · 60 recipes · 11% of all

Less leavening, more egg and less sugar

Leavening 1.3% or less, egg 18% or more and sugar 59% or less of the flour weight. 35 of the 60 use no leavening.

Median recipe of group F at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup FAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat145 gabout 2/3 cup170 g
Sugar140 gabout 2/3 cup180 g
Egg60 gabout 1 large egg50 g
Leaveningnone3.5 g
Salt0.5 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 11 minutes, the medians of the 48 recipes here that state a temperature and the 59 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group F

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Ptit sablés de noel tout simple !!! · ptitchef.comleavening 0% · egg 20% · sugar 50%
  2. Sablés de Noël au thermomix · cookomix.comleavening 0% · egg 20% · sugar 48%
  3. Sablés de Noël au Thermomix · cuisine.journaldesfemmes.frleavening 0% · egg 20% · sugar 48%
  4. Sablés de Noël au Thermomix · cuisineaz.comleavening 0% · egg 20% · sugar 48%
  5. No-Spread Sugar Cookies · mybakingaddiction.comleavening 0% · egg 23% · sugar 57%
Back to the key

Group G · 69 recipes · 13% of all

Less leavening, less egg and more sugar

Leavening 1.3% or less, egg under 18% and sugar over 56% of the flour weight. 21 of the 69 use no leavening. 13 of the 69 use no egg.

Median recipe of group G at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup GAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat195 gabout 3/4 cup170 g
Sugar185 gabout 1 cup180 g
Egg41 gabout 1 large egg50 g
Leavening1.5 g3.5 g
Salt2 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes, the medians of the 59 recipes here that state a temperature and the 64 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group G

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Almond Sugar Cookies · lecremedelacrumb.comleavening 0.4% · egg 15% · sugar 64%
  2. No-Chill Sugar Cookies · sugarspunrun.comleavening 0.3% · egg 15% · sugar 58%
  3. Chocolate Sugar Cookie · iambaker.netleavening 0.5% · egg 18% · sugar 61%
  4. ABC Sugar Cookies · countryliving.comleavening 0.6% · egg 16% · sugar 64%
  5. Classic Cut Out Sugar Cookies · butternutbakeryblog.comleavening 0.4% · egg 14% · sugar 57%
Back to the key

Group H · 70 recipes · 13% of all

Less leavening, less egg and less sugar

Leavening 1.3% or less, egg under 18% and sugar 56% or less of the flour weight. 39 of the 70 use no leavening. 14 of the 70 use no egg.

Median recipe of group H at 280 g of flour, beside the typical recipe of all 513
At 280 g flourGroup HAll
Flour280 g280 g
Fat165 gabout 3/4 cup170 g
Sugar130 gabout 2/3 cup180 g
Egg37 gabout 1/2 large egg50 g
Leaveningnone3.5 g
Salt1 g2 g

Bake350°F (175°C) for about 11 minutes, the medians of the 59 recipes here that state a temperature and the 66 that state a time.

Nearest the middle of group H

Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.

  1. Nutmeg Sugar Cookies · tasteofhome.comleavening 0% · egg 13% · sugar 40%
  2. Lemon "Swig" Sugar Cookies with Lemon Frosting · melskitchencafe.comleavening 0.4% · egg 15% · sugar 50%
  3. Christmas Light Sugar Cookies · countryliving.comleavening 0% · egg 13% · sugar 53%
  4. Chocolate Sugar Cookie Recipe · inlaurasbakery.comleavening 0% · egg 14% · sugar 43%
  5. Sugar Cookie Recipe · janespatisserie.comleavening 0% · egg 10% · sugar 47%
Back to the key

How the questions are chosen

Each ingredient is ranked by how much recipes disagree on it: the width of the middle half of recipes (25th to 75th percentile) divided by the median, less 4% for each place it sits down this lab's list of ingredients, so the ones that define the dish win near ties. For sugar cookies the order is leavening (1.31), egg (0.51), sugar (0.46) and fat (0.33), and the first 3 are asked. Salt is never asked about: recipes differ on it mostly by brand and taste.

Every split is at the median of the recipes in front of it, rounded to the percentage shown. Recipes exactly at the median go to whichever side leaves the two halves more even. No answer may keep fewer than 5 recipes; a group that could not be split further says so.

The recipes listed under each group are the 5 nearest its median on every ingredient at once, each scaled by how much recipes vary on it. Every recipe page links to the original for the method.