Great as gifts or brought along to dinner parties, my Perfect Chewy Sugar Cookies are a lovely golden color, with a crinkly top and sugary (and chewy!) bite!
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and 1 ½ cups (12 oz/340 g) sugar together on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
Turn the mixer on low speed and gradually add in the dry ingredients. continue mixing until the dough just comes together.
Scoop the dough into 30 (1 tablespoon-sized) balls then roll in the remaining ¼ cup (2 oz/57 g) sugar. Transfer to a plate and chill the rolled cookies for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Pre-heat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Arrange the cookies 2 inches (5 cm) apart on the prepared sheets and bake for 14-16 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Be sure not to over-bake to keep them soft.
Remove from the oven and cool slightly on the baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.