1-First, preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper to make cleanup a breeze and ensure even baking. This sets the stage for cookies that don’t stick or spread too much.

2-Next, in a medium bowl, whisk together the 2½ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt until they’re well combined. Then, in a large bowl, beat the 2 sticks of unsalted butter and 1¼ cups granulated sugar until light and fluffy, which takes about 2-3 minutes this step is key for that soft texture. Add the large egg, large egg yolk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, blending everything smoothly before slowly mixing in the dry ingredients.

3-Once the dough forms, place the remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar in a shallow dish. Use a cookie scoop to form the dough into balls of about 3 tablespoons each, then roll them in the sugar to coat. Space the dough balls 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets and flatten them slightly with the bottom of a measuring cup for even baking.

4-Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the edges are browned but the centers still look slightly wet this prevents overbaking and keeps them chewy. Finally, let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. The total time is just 25 minutes, with 15 minutes prep and 10 minutes cooking, making this sugar cookies recipe perfect for quick desserts.