Simple sugar cookies you can make with the kids

Freshly baked cookies are a thing of great joy. They make the house smell amazing, they're a beautiful little treat for snacks or guests and they're easy to whip up in next to no time.

All it takes is one easy recipe that can be adapted for any toppings and occasions you like and that's where a classic sugar cookie comes in. What I love about this recipe - and why it has become my go-to over the years - is that it's very forgiving.

For this version we're pressing sprinkles into the top, but you could do the same thing with nuts, cinnamon sugar or any sweet spice mix you like.

A great part of this recipe is that you don't need to roll the dough flat and cut out shapes. Instead it's a simple roll balls and press them flat. Brilliant.

READ MORE: So sweet: easy homemade lollipops

Simple sugar cookie recipe

Ingredients:

• 250g butter - room temperature
• ⅔ cup caster sugar
• 2 cups plain flour
• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence (or other flavour of choice)
• Hundreds and thousands sprinkles (or sprinkles of choice)

READ MORE: Easy, no-cook playdough recipe kids can whip up in five minutes

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C and line some baking sheets with baking paper.
2. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or with electric beaters) beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (creamed), do not rush this step, keep beating until the butter goes a much lighter yellow. Add in vanilla and flour and beat to combine.
3. Tip your sprinkles into a flat shallow dish. Dust your hands with a little flour and roll small balls of the dough, then press them into the sprinkles so that they flatten out with sprinkles on top. You want them about 3cm thick.
4. Place them on the baking sheets with a little room between them (they spread) and bake for 15minutes or until just golden. They look best if they are still light in colour and this also helps the sprinkles stay bright. Allow to cool a little before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.