Best Soft Sugar Cookies Made with Freshly Milled Flour

There’s nothing like the smell of homemade sugar cookies baking in the oven to make your kitchen feel warm and inviting, especially at Christmastime. And when you use fresh milled flour, the flavor and texture take these cookies to a whole new level. Today, I’m sharing how I adapted my meme’s sugar cookie recipe to make a healthier soft and chewy cookie made with freshly milled soft white wheat flour and maple syrup.

why fresh milled flour for these homemade sugar cookies?

Using freshly milled flour from soft white wheat berries gives these cookies a nutty flavor and a chewy texture you can’t get with all-purpose flour. When you use all-purpose white flour from the store, the flour is also void of nutrients. Some who are gluten sensitive, like myself, also can deal with fresh milled flour without any issues. 

If you have a grain mill at home, you can mill your own flour to get the best results and the most nutritious flour. Don’t worry if you’re new to milling; it’s simple, and the rich flavor is worth the effort.

where to get supples for this sugar cookie recipe

Grain Mill: If you’re looking for a grain mill to mill your own flour, I have loved my Mock Mill. Another great option is the NutriMill.  It’s a good idea to invest in a quality mill.

Wheat Berries: If you have a local co-op, you can try them. Otherwise, I enjoy using Azure Standard or Country Life Foods (here’s a 10% off coupon for Country Life!) For these whole wheat cookies, I used soft wheat berries. 

you may also like…

ingredients you’ll need to make fresh milled flour cut-out sugar cookies:

• 1 ½ cups freshly milled flour (or soft white wheat flour)
• ½ cup real butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 egg 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp baking powder

how to make this fresh milled flour sugar cookie recipe

1. Cream the butter & maple syrup: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and maple syrup until fluffy. You can use a stand mixer or hand mixer.
2. Finishing Mixing the Wet Ingredients: Once creamed, add your egg and vanilla.
3. Combine the Dry Ingredients: Add baking powder and slowly add the flour, ½ cup at a time.
4. Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Chilling helps the dough hold its shape for cut-out cookies and enhances the flavor.
5. Preheat the Oven: ​Once the dough is chilled, preheat the oven to 350*f and let your dough sit on the counter to slightly soften for 10 minutes.
6. Roll and Cut: Lightly flour your surface with dry flour. Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness using a rolling pin. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes and place them on a baking sheet with covered in parchment paper.
7. Bake: Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Don’t over bake! Remove from the oven and place cookies on a cooling rack before decorating.

tips for the best fresh milled flour sugar cookies:

• Use room temperature butter for easy mixing. Cold butter will not cream with the maple syrup.
• Milling your own flour ensures the freshest taste and the finest setting for the softest cookies.
• For an extra festive touch during the holiday season, decorate with royal icing or sprinkle with coconut sugar.
• Store your cookies in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag to keep them soft and fresh.

why choose whole grains?

Baking with whole grains like soft white wheat berries is an important step in creating nutrient-rich, flavorful treats. Unlike regular whole wheat flour from the grocery store, freshly milled flour retains more nutrients and gives your cookies a nutty, rich flavor. It’s just one reason I love using my home mill for all my baking needs.

Another important reason I choose to mill my own flour is that wheat berries store better and for longer without losing the nutrient content like store bought flour. I know that my flour is as fresh as possible and there are so many great recipes to use it in!

These whole wheat sugar cookies are perfect for any occasion, from the holiday season to everyday sweet treats. I hope this blog post inspires you to try baking with fresh flour and enjoy the finished product with your loved ones. Let me know if you try this recipe—I’d love to hear how it turns out!