These basketball sugar cookies feature a soft, fluffy sugar cookie topped with a simple icing decoration to make them look just like basketballs.
This was inspired by my baseball sugar cookie recipe on the site. I use the exact same cookie recipe, except I change the decoration to make them basketball cookies instead of baseballs. Work smarter, not harder, guys. 😉
Why You Will Love this Recipe
- It's a super easy recipe that only uses a few ingredients.
- The cookies are soft, fluffy, and so good.
- Decorating them is a snap.
Top Tip:
Don't worry if your dough is grainy and crumbly. It's supposed to be that way!
Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make these cookies. You probably have most of them in your kitchen right now.
Any ingredients you don't have are all easily found at your local grocery store. See the recipe card at the end of the post for amounts.
For the Cookies
- Powdered sugar
- Softened butter
- Flour
For the Icing
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla
- Red decorating icing
Substitutions and Variations
- Sugar Cookie Dough - Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe or refrigerated dough for this recipe.
- Plain - Skip the icing and just enjoy the cookies as-is. They're so good even plain.
- Any Holiday - Use different colored icing to theme these cookies for any holiday.
Instructions
Making these cookies is super simple. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps. The broad strokes are below, but you'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
1: Combine the sugar cookie ingredients.
2: Scoop out the dough and form into balls.
3: Place the dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten them with the bottom of a flat glass.
4: Bake until slightly golden brown, then cool completely.
5: Combine the icing ingredients in a bowl.
6: Then, dip the tops of the cookies into the orange icing.
7: Finish by drawing black lines to mimic a basketball.
Storage
Room Temperature: These will last for about 3 days in an air-tight container on the counter.
Refrigerator: Store these cookies for up to a week in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Freezer: Open-air freeze the cookies, then place them in single layers separated by parchment or wax paper in an air-tight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Make Ahead: You can make these cookies up to a day in advance.
What to Serve with Basketball Cookies
These cookies are so good with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. They're also a great dessert after any meal. I also love to bring them to parties, because they're so good with all your party favorites.
Tips
- Be sure your butter is fully softened before creaming, or your cookies' texture won't be right.
- The dough will be grainy and coarse. That's okay. It's supposed to be.
- Be sure you don't overbake these cookies. Take them out as soon as they're golden.
FAQ
You can double or even triple it. The amounts never change.
This dense dough doesn't spread. To get the cookie shape, you have to flatten them.
If your cookies are even a little warm, the icing will just slide right off of them.
More Delicious Cookie Recipes
Basketball Sugar Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 cups flour
Icing Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Orange food coloring gel
- black frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar together for about 2 minutes or until creamy.
- Add flour and beat again. Dough will be powder-like, however, it will take shape after beating for about 2-3 minutes.
- Form 1-inch balls of dough and place them on your prepared baking sheet.
- Using a flat-bottom glass lightly spray with cooking spray, flatten dough balls until they are about 1⁄4-inch thick.
- Bake cookies for 15-18 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
- To prepare frosting, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together. (If icing is too thick, add more milk. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar.)
- Add orange food coloring gel until desired color is reached. The amount will depend on the type of food coloring you use.
- Dip cooled cookies into icing. Allow excess icing to drip off.
- Allow icing to harden.
- Add lines to basketball with black frosting.
Notes
-
- Be sure your butter is fully softened before creaming, or your cookies' texture won't be right.
- The dough will be grainy and coarse. That's okay. It's supposed to be.
- Be sure you don't overbake these cookies. Take them out as soon as they're golden.
- If icing is too thick, add more milk. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Nutrition
Beth Agus says
Do you dip the cookies into the icing twice? Once before adding the orange food coloring and then again? Thanks.
Karin and Ken says
Oh my goodness. I can’t apologize enough. I have corrected the recipe. Only once. You only dip in the orange icing once. Then when dry, add your black lines. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know. All the best. Karin
Samantha says
Love this cookie recipe SOEASY and I can’t believe so few ingredients Thank you I’m making these cookies again for sure The kids loved decorating them and they ate them all Thank you again for sharing 💕
Karin and Ken says
As always you’re most welcome! I love that cookie dough too. I still can’t believe how easy they are to make with only 3 ingredients and everyone loves them. I wish we started using that recipe years ago! Thank you for taking the time to comment and let me know. All the best. Karin