Cracked Sugar Cookies
The best Cracked Sugar Cookies recipe. Simple and delicious, these cookies are perfect for any occasion.
The best Cracked Sugar Cookies recipe. Simple and delicious, these cookies are perfect for any occasion.
- Carbohydrate 16.7824312682374 g
- Cholesterol 66.8933333592446 mg
- Fat 16.0336904266028 g
- Fiber 0.35159500665726 g
- Protein 1.78568208507663 g
- Saturated Fat 9.94014167288295 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (41g)
- Sodium 275.368783613458 mg
- Sugar 16.4308362615801 g
- Trans Fat 1.13806675073739 g
- Calories 216 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.
- Cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla.
- Add flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Stir.
- Form dough into walnut size balls and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Don't flatten. Bake 10 to 11 minutes, until tops are cracked and just turning color.
Why do these cookies split across the top while baking instead of spreading into flat discs? Achieving that characteristic topography depends entirely on the interaction between chemical leaveners and high fat content. Cream of tartar, an acidic potassium bitartrate, reacts with baking soda to produce rapid carbon dioxide gas as soon as heat hits the dough. Because the butter-heavy structure sets quickly around the expanding gas, the surface ruptures before the edges can migrate outward. Softened butter creamed thoroughly with granulated white sugar creates microscopic air pockets that hold this structure, while three extra egg yolks contribute vital moisture and lecithin without adding the extra whites that would toughen the crumb. Temperature management is crucial; always place rounded walnut-sized portions onto parchment-lined cookie sheets that have cooled completely between batches, since residual heat from a previous pan will melt the butter prematurely and ruin the spread. Bake precisely at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 11 minutes until the edges are firm and the tops show faint coloration alongside the distinctive fissures. Pairing these rich morsels with a tart beverage like unsweetened iced tea or black coffee provides a necessary contrast to the dense sweetness. Stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, baked goods containing this ratio of butter retain their texture for up to five days.
