Description

These Icebox Slice & Bake Cookies come in five delicious flavors and offer a simple, classic way to enjoy freshly baked cookies with minimal effort. Made with a tender, buttery dough that’s rolled into logs and chilled, these cookies are easily sliced and baked when you’re ready. Perfect for making ahead, these cookies feature a soft texture with a subtle golden edge and can be customized with various mix-ins and toppings for every taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups + 2 Tablespoons (267g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Add-ins & Toppings

Coarse sugar for rolling (e.g., sparkling sugar)
Various flavor add-ins and melted chocolate for dipping or drizzling (see recipe notes for specific flavors)

Instructions

Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until the mixture is combined and creamy, about 3 minutes.
Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the room temperature egg and vanilla extract on high speed, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed, and continue until fully combined.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour and salt, then beat on low speed just until combined, avoiding overmixing.
Add Flavor Mix-ins: Beat in your chosen flavor add-ins on low speed until evenly distributed; avoid overmixing to maintain the dough’s texture. If the dough is too sticky to roll, mix in 1–2 tablespoons additional flour.
Shape Dough Logs: Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. Divide or cut the dough in half, then roll each piece into an 8-inch log approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the wrapped logs for at least 4 hours or up to 5 days to firm up.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Optional Sugar Coating: Pour coarse sugar onto a plate and roll the chilled dough logs in the sugar, pressing the dough slightly if needed so the sugar adheres well.
Slice Cookies: Slice each log into 12 equally thick slices and arrange them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes, until the edges are just lightly browned. Cookies will not brown much.
Cool Cookies: Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Optional Finishing Touches: Dip or drizzle cooled cookies with melted chocolate and add any desired toppings as per the recipe notes.
Storage: Store the cookies covered at room temperature; they remain fresh for up to one week.

Notes

Flavor Add-ins can include chopped nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, or spices depending on desired cookie flavor.
To help the sugar adhere better, chill the dough before rolling it in sugar.
If the dough is too sticky to work with, adding a bit more flour can make rolling easier without toughening the cookies.
For a more decorative finish, consider drizzling melted chocolate or pressing toppings onto sliced dough before baking.
These slice-and-bake cookies are ideal for making ahead and keeping in the fridge or freezer until ready to bake.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 13-15 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: slice and bake cookies, icebox cookies, easy cookie recipe, butter cookies, make ahead cookies, chocolate drizzle cookies