These Copycat Lofthouse Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and addictive. They’ve gotten rave reviews, and they’re SO much better than the original!
Today I have a homemade version of those soft frosted sugar cookies from Lofthouse that you can get at grocery stores. This isn’t exactly a copycat recipe because these are actually better!
Yup, you heard me, better! The soft frosted sugar cookies from the grocery store are delicious, but you know how they are a little…fake tasting? Well, these definitely don’t have that element. They are soft and full of buttery rich, vanilla flavor.
In fact, one of my readers, Eboni B. said after making this recipe:
“Literally the best sugar cookies I’ve ever made! Thanks so much for the recipe. Making them again right now for the second night in a row.”
Another reader, Heather H. said
“I rolled these out and cut them, and decorated with royal icing with sprinkles and they turned out amazing. They were for a fall wedding and the bride STILL talks about these.”
This is the best sugar cookie recipe because the cookie is soft and so versatile. You can tailor the frosting and sprinkles for any holiday, party, occasion, etc. Think purple frosting with orange and black sprinkles for Halloween. Red frosting with green and white sprinkles for Christmas. For Valentine’s Day you can do pink frosting with red and white sprinkles. Catch my drift here? The options are endless!
I just made these sugar cookies with my little one helping me and she had a blast decorating the cookies with icing and they were just oh so soft and chewy. Mmmm, I might need to go sneak another one right now!
TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN MAKING THESE COOKIES:
- After rolling the dough in a ball compress the dough slightly with the palm of your hand to flatten the dough just before baking.
- Space the dough balls 2-3 inches apart on your baking sheet because they’ll spread!
Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe Questions Answered:
How to keep sugar cookies soft?
Air is the main culprit for making soft sugar cookies go hard. It is best to store the cookies in an airtight container to avoid this. You can also try adding in a piece of bread in with the cookies. The idea is that the bread will absorb the air, therefore, causing the cookies to stay soft and fresh tasting.
How do you store frosted sugar cookies?
To help keep these sugar cookies soft you should always store them in an airtight container. Because they are frosted sugar cookies the best way to store them is to set the cookies right side up next to each other in your container. After you have one layer ready, place a piece of wax paper over the cookies and then repeat the process until you have all of your cookies inside the container.
How do you pack frosted cookies?
To pack these soft sugar cookies you will want to wait until they are completely cool. This will help keep the cookies from sticking together. One tip if you are using a cardboard box is to first line it with foil or plastic wrap. This will help keep the cookies fresh. Then follow the steps above for storing the cookies to layer the cookies within the container.
Do sprinkles go on cookies before or after baking?
You can definitely change up the recipe and add sprinkles into the mixture before baking. This will change the taste of the soft sugar cookies slightly. Otherwise, you can add the sprinkles on top after frosting them to add a colorful touch.
How to make soft sugar cookies?
- First make the cookies by mixing the dry ingredients together and set aside. Next, beat the butter and sugar together until soft. Then, beat in eggs one at a time and then add in the vanilla.
- Next, add in dry ingredients and mix until combined. Then cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- Then, preheat the oven to 350 ̊ F and prepare the cookie sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
- The next step is to scoop 3 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Place on prepared cookie sheets and flatten ball slightly with the palm of the hand. Repeat until dough is gone. Finally, bake the cookies for about 10 minutes and then cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Now you can make the frosting by first, mixing the powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla and milk together. Mix until smooth, adding in additional milk as needed. To finish, mix in the food coloring of your choice.
- Spread frosting onto the sugar cookies and add any desired sprinkles.
COOK’S NOTE – SOFT FROSTED SUGAR COOKIES:
- I like to scoop the cookie dough using my 3-tablespoon scoop. Using the scoop makes the sugar cookies uniform in size. Plus, it helps ensure that you get 24 cookies from this recipe!
- This recipe makes 24 huge cookies. You can halve the recipe if that suits your needs better.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links.
Cook’s Tools:
- mixing bowls
- stand mixer
- baking sheet with a wire rack
- silicone baking mat
- large cookie scoop
- flour sifter
- offset spatula
- pink food coloring
- rainbow sprinkles
Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies - Better than Lofthouse!
Ingredients
FOR THE COOKIES:
- 4 ½ Cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon table salt
- 1 ½ Cups butter at room temperature
- 1 ½ Cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 5 Teaspoons vanilla extract
FOR THE FROSTING:
- 5 Cups powdered sugar sifted
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 7-8 Tablespoons milk plus more as needed
- pink food coloring
- rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
MAKE THE COOKIES:
- In a large bowl add flour, baking powder, and salt, and whisk together to combine. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down bowl as needed. Add vanilla and mix until just combined.
- Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined and no flour pockets remain. Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- Move oven rack to the middle position, and preheat to 350˚ F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats, and set aside.
- Scoop 3 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Place on prepared cookie sheets and flatten ball slightly with the palm of the hand. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing cookies at least 2-3 inches apart. Bake one cookie sheet at a time and bake about 10-12 minutes or just until set, and do not overbake! The edges of the cookies will be lightly browned. Cool cookies on cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
MAKE THE FROSTING:
- In a medium bowl add powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and milk. Whisk until smooth, whisk in additional milk as necessary, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Color with pink food coloring if desired.
TO FINISH:
- Frost cookies by adding a dollop of frosting to the center of the cookie, and use offset spatula or spoon to smooth out to edges.
- If frosting begins to thicken as you decorate, just continue to whisk in very small amounts of milk to keep it workable. Top with sprinkles if desired.
STORE THE COOKIES:
- Let frosting set for 2 hours before storing. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Video
Nutrition
If you love sugar cookies then you’ll love these other cookie recipes:
- Soft & Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars
- Colorful Leaf Cookies
- Gummy Bear Thumbprint Cookies
- Candy Corn Cookies
- Black and White Cookie
Jillian
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kenyata
i love these cookies they are soo goood they just melts in my mouth.
Donja Cobb
These cookies so soft and sweet it melts like butter they are very (^_^)
katrina c.
My family loves these soft cookies!!! but I hate buying them because they have sooooo many unnecessary ingredients! these look awesome and i’m thinking of subbing with coconut flour. thanks for a great recipe!
Emily
The frosting was really runny with 7 T milk and it’s super sweet.
Tara
Thank you for this recipe! I love these cookies but I have an allergy to red dye #40 & can’t eat most colored frostings or any sprinkles 🙁 Thanks to you, I can now make my own & leave out the color & sprinkles. They won’t be as pretty, but they will be sooo good! Thank you again!
Jillian
Yay, so glad this recipe will work for you. I personally feel they’re better than the ones your buy at the store. Enjoy!
Hannah
How many cookies does this recipe make?
Jillian
Hi Hannah, I just updated the recipe, but it makes about 24 large cookies. Enjoy!
Kesha
These are my favorite kind of cookies!
Heather
These look delicious! My kids would love these!
AnnaZed
I don’t know what Lofthouse is, but these look divine. I’m making ’em!
Jillian
They’re the brand of those round, frosted sugar cookies you can get in your grocery store’s bakery. Thanks for stopping by!
Lori
I can’t seem to get the icing thick like yours looks :0(
Jillian
Hmmm, maybe your butter was too soft? Try adding a little more powdered sugar.
alicia0795
oh my gosh!!! I love the store bought ones so if these are even better… omg!!! I am really excited to make these(:
Mai Tran
The frosting looks great to me! I need to try this frosting on cupcakes. Thanks for sharing.
tioleadsmuco.science
family are big chocolate lovers so I made these and then I made my homemade chocolate frosting to top IG . They turned out great ! I think these are better than Lofthouse thanks so much for the recipe !
Jillian
You’re so welcome! I think I need to try these with chocolate frosting, sounds delicious!
Steph
I’m out of milk and don’t really want to go to the store… Can you use half and half instead of milk?
Jillian
I think that would work. Let me know how they turn out!
Eboni Bell
Literally the best sugar cookies I’ve ever made! Thanks so much for the recipe. Making them again right now for the second night in a row 🙂
Jillian
Woot, woot! I’m SO glad you liked them, thanks for stopping by to let me know! 🙂
Nicole
I LOVE these cookies…. I have been making them for the past few years and they are wonderful!!! However, my husband just informed me that he prefers a “chewy” sugar cookie…. do you think they would be chewier if I lessened the baking powder??
Thank you!!!!
Jillian
No, unfortunately if you want a chewy sugar cookie you’ll have to go for an entirely different recipe. Try my food blogger friend’s recipe here: http://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/chewy-sugar-cookies/
Laura
Great recipe, such a nice project to do with children. My boys love homemade cookies
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
These look a great sweet treat for when the kids come home from school. They look so pretty too
Jagruti
So delicious looking soft frosted sugar cookies, very suitable to prepare for small children.
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe.
Alyssa
Never under estimate the power of a cookie scoop! It was the first baking tool I bought when I moved out of my parent’s house and now I have multiple sizes.