National Sugar Cookie Day (July 9th)

Quick facts
When is it?	Every July 9th
Tagged as:	Cookies Food & Drink
What's the hashtag?	#NationalSugarCookieDay
We first published this page on:	Dec 23rd, 2017
We last updated this page:	Jan 13th, 2025

As Harold took a bite of Bavarian Sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be okay. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy… there are Bavarian Sugar Cookies.
Zach Helm

Sugar cookies are far and away one of the simplest and most delicious cookies to ever be created. They are the hallmark of Christmas, with Santa ostensibly wolfing down tons of them every year in a deluge of milk.

They are made to celebrate every occasion and are sold as part of charity drives everywhere. National Sugar Cookie Day celebrates this delicious little treat, and the big role it plays in all our lives.

Celebrating National Sugar Cookie Day is easy as pie! Well, easier actually! You just have to spend the day shamelessly indulging in the consumption of sugar cookies. This couldn’t be easier, as you can simply head to the store and pick up a big box of any number of varieties.

Of course, if you like fresh baked cookies, you can pick up a container of sugar cookie dough and make your own right at home. Pillsbury has the variety you can just open and slice, but there are also big tubs you can scoop dollops out of for cookies of any size!

If you have children, sugar cookie making and decorating is great fun. You can purchase some cookie cutters so that you can create the sugar cookies in lots of different and exciting shapes.

You can then decorate the cookies with different colored icing and sprinkles. This is a great way to spend some special time with your children and to have a lot of fun together.

If you are going to be making sugar cookies, there are a number of things that you can do in order to make sure that they turn out delicious…

Tips on making the perfect sugar cookies

Your cookies are done before they turn golden brown. A lot of cookie recipes will call for you to bake the cookies until they turn golden-brown. However, sugar cookies are an exception to this rule. They are overbaked if you have baked them until you have noticed the edges have turned to a golden hue. They are going to be crunchy and hard when they should be chewy, tender, and soft.
You can freeze the dough for up to one month. Sugar cookie dough is one of the best doughs in terms of freezing. This is because of the high amount of butter in it. All you need to do is wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap and you can freeze it for up to one month.
Cream cheese and butter are key. A lot of cream cheese and butter is the key to making delicious sugar cookies. Butter makes the cookies super tender whereas the cream cheese adds that beautiful bit of flavor.
There is such a thing as mixing the dough too much. One of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make is over-mixing the dough. It can be tempting to mix the wet and dry ingredients together until they are extra incorporated. However, this can cause your cookies to become too tough.

National Sugar Cookie Day was created to honor the tasty sugar cookie.

This is a holiday favorite, and it is very easy to make, which is always a major plus! Most sugar cookies are made with a mixture of sugar, vanilla, eggs, butter, flour, and either baking soda or baking powder.

It is an easy recipe to follow, which means that anyone can give it a try, and it’s a good recipe to try if you’ve got children as well.

Fun facts about sugar cookies

In 2015, Pillsbury was given the world record for the most biscuits/cookies ice within 60 minutes. They enlisted the help of shoppers at the Mall of America, resulting in 1,169 sugar cookies being decorated.
You can create fluffier cookies by using a technique that is known as creaming. When butter and sugar are creamed correctly, you can add air to the cookie dough. This will lighten it and give you more to work with.
The first sugar cookies were not known by the name we call them today. There were many different entertaining terms that were used to describe the sweet treats before they became known as sugar cookies.

National Sugar Cookie Day finds its origins in the roots of the sugar cookie, which in its turn can be traced back to the 1700s among the Nazarene’s of Pennsylvania.

Among those pastoral people, the German Protestants, a simple creation was made that was proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Benjamin Franklin claimed this was beer, but we contest that and say it was clearly the sugar cookie. In those days it was specifically known as the Nazareth Sugar Cookie, as it was the only recipe of its kind.

But like all recipes, it comes from an earlier source known as the “jumble”, a biscuit that was equally popular and had an unusual trait. This biscuit was unleavened and thus could be stored for many months after it was dried.

As time went on Pennsylvania adopted the Nazarene Sugar Cookie as the official cookie of the Commonwealth, not just as a resolution, but as a full House Bill. House Bill 1892 to be precise. Since its creation, the sugar cookie has been served in the name of every celebration that comes across the table.

National Sugar Cookie Day FAQs

Why were sugar cookies popular with early settlers in the U.S.?

Early American settlers valued sugar cookies for their simplicity. They required basic ingredients like butter, sugar, and flour, which were easy to store.

Their long shelf life made them a practical treat during long winters and journeys.

What unusual shapes or symbols have sugar cookies been used for historically?

Sugar cookies weren’t always round. In colonial America, bakers shaped them into animals, hearts, and stars for festive occasions. In Europe, intricate designs often symbolized luck or religious blessings.

How are sugar cookies used in modern art and design competitions?

Sugar cookies are a blank canvas for edible art. Cookie decorating competitions challenge participants to create stunning designs using icing and edible paints. Some designs mimic famous paintings or intricate lace patterns.

What role did sugar cookies play during wartime rationing?

During World War II, sugar cookies adapted to ingredient shortages. Bakers used honey or molasses instead of sugar and experimented with margarine.

These adjustments kept the treat alive despite rationing.

Why are sugar cookies associated with weddings in some cultures?

In parts of the U.S. Midwest, particularly among German-American communities, sugar cookies were served at weddings. Their plain yet elegant nature symbolized purity and simplicity, fitting themes of marital harmony.

What’s the most expensive sugar cookie ever sold?

In 2017, a designer sugar cookie decorated with gold leaf and edible diamonds sold for $1,000 at a charity auction. It was created to celebrate luxury and elevate the humble treat into fine art.

Are there any ancient precursors to sugar cookies?

Sugar cookies have roots in ancient Rome, where simple honey-sweetened dough was baked into small cakes. These early treats weren’t as refined as today’s cookies but laid the foundation for modern baked goods.

How do bakers achieve perfectly crisp edges on sugar cookies?

Chilling the dough before baking is key. It prevents spreading, ensuring sharp edges and well-defined shapes. Using cutters dipped in flour can also create cleaner cuts.

What’s the science behind sugar cookie baking?

Sugar binds with butter during creaming, trapping air to create a light texture. The flour forms a delicate gluten structure, while baking at the right temperature caramelizes the sugar for a golden finish.

What are some regional twists on sugar cookies?

In Mexico, polvorones are a variation of sugar cookies, often made with a hint of cinnamon. In the Philippines, cookies flavored with ube (purple yam) offer a vibrant and unique twist on the classic recipe.

Need some inspiration?

Check out these videos for some extra inspiration in getting involved!