This Lofthouse Sugar Cookies recipe makes cookies that are thick and soft and covered with frosting. If that doesn’t get your attention, I’m not sure what will!
Lofthouse Sugar cookies are those neon colored sugar cookies that always catch your attention in the bakery section of the grocery.
The cookies are pale in color so the sprinkles and bright colors decorating them really stand out.
Zoe just adores them and I’m not sure if it’s because of their taste or because they are awfully dang cute.
I’ve been on a mission to find the best sugar cookie, because I’ll be baking lots of cookies for my brother who is getting married in May.
These Swig style sugar cookies with icing are pretty tasty. But I love this recipe, too!
Though I’m not sure if I’ve settled on these, I am quite sure I should be sharing them with you.
They are the first to get grabbed from the cookie plate and I have no doubt those grabbing are frosting lovers.
If you are anything like me you probably realize that cake is there to hold the frosting.
Well, it works the same with these giant sugary cookies.
The creamy frosting isn’t just their for looks. It’s there because it tastes good.
Swig or Lofthouse sugar cookies?
Swig sugar cookies apparently are a bit crisper where Lofthouse cookies have a fluffy texture and are less crumbly.
Lofthouse cookies contain both baking powder and baking soda to achieve this texture.
Yes, I know you don’t see both listed in this Lofthouse sugar cookies recipe, but cream of tartar is a key component in baking powder.
The original Lofthouse cookie also contained sour cream which keeps this cookie moist.
The dry ingredients contain granulated sugar and powdered sugar which adds to the soft texture of these soft sugar cookies.
Use regular all purpose flour, not cake flour, and don’t forget the baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.
Honestly after looking at many a copycat recipe, I would say this Lofthouse cookie recipe is a combination of both.
I have tried the Lofthouse cookies from the grocery store bakery. Just once.
And I say that to let you know that they were memorable, which is what inspired me to try baking my own.
These copycat Lofthouse cookies with an amazing buttercream frosting are perfect sugar cookies in so many ways.
Dry Ingredients:
All Purpose flour
Sugar
Powdered Sugar
Baking Soda
Cream of Tartar
Salt
Wet ingredients:
Salted Butter
Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil which also creates a soft cookie
Eggs at room temperature
Vanilla Extract for flavor
Sour Cream
What makes the buttercream frosting so good?
Salted Butter
Sour Cream
Vanilla Powdered Sugar
Heavy Cream or Milk
How To Make Homemade Lofthouse Cookies:
Preheat oven to 350 and line several cookie sheets with parchment paper. (This recipe makes a lot!)
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, oil, sugar and powdered sugar.
Sprinkle the baking soda, cream of tartar and salt across the top. (Don’t put this all in one spot!)
Mix well for two minutes. (I often cover my mixer with a towel so the ingredients don’t fly out!)
Add sour cream, eggs and vanilla and mix another two minutes, scraping bowl as needed.
Add the flour and beat until it is incorporated.
Scoop the sugar cookie dough into rounded tablespoons of dough and place several inches apart on cookie sheets.
In a small bowl add about 1/2 cup of sugar and spray the bottom of a glass with cooking spray.
Dip into sugar and press down on each dough ball until the dough is 1/4 to 1/2″ thick,
Bake for about 11 minutes-at least in my oven. The longer you bake them, the crispier and more golden they will get.
While the cookies are baking make the frosting by combining the softened butter, sour cream and vanilla.
Mix 2 minutes and then add the powdered sugar and milk-adding more milk as needed for frosting consistency.
After cookies have cooled, frost and decorate.
What makes this big, soft, sugar cookie so good?
- For starters they are easy to make and there is no need to chill the batter. In other words, no waiting!
- They travel well. I packed some of these up and carried them on the plane to Texas and they arrived in ideal condition. No breakage at all.
- I froze some before I left that had been covered with frosting and trust me, they defrosted perfectly and still tasted amazing! Just store them in an airtight container and pull them out of the freezer as needed.
- Like I said, these just disappear. That should tell you something. Just one other thing to tell you. Though I loved the size of these cookies the next time around I will make them smaller. This is one big monster of a cookie. Not that that’s a bad thing.
- These cookies can be dyed with food coloring of your choice. The frosting can be dyed also.
Lofthouse sugar cookies are filling. And sugary. And topped with an amazing buttercream frosting.
They are simple in their own luxurious way, which makes them desirable for so many special occasions.
Lofthouse iced sugar cookies are not meant to be rolled out. However they could be if you choose.
They are meant to be rolled in balls and then flattened with a glass covered with sugar.
After they are baked and decorated however, I would not skip the frosting!
These lofthouse sugar cookies are mighty fine on their own, but the frosting sends me to Cloud 9.
Nope, this Lofthouse sugar cookie recipe is not for you if you are not a frosting lover. Believe me when I say this. I do not take frosting lightly!
Decorate with rainbow sprinkles or any festive sprinkles of your choice.
If you feel like doing some baking this weekend these are a great make ahead soft frosted sugar cookies great for any holiday.
You can freeze Lofthouse sugar cookies unfrosted or frosted.
Running short for time? Frost them when they come out of the freezer.
Tint the sweet frosting your favorite color. Need sprinkles? I often find some fun varieties at TJ Maxx.
Wish I had some kids to decorate these, with but even without I still had a good time.
And yes, I realize this is the second sugar cookie recipe I’ve posted in two months.
But hey! I’m on a mission and I don’t want to screw up. When the brother asks for a delicious cookie I have to get it right!
If you love frosting like I do, you may want to check out a few more frosted cookies from my friends. Tricia at Saving Room for Dessert makes these old fashioned iced oatmeal cookies.
Butter Almond Meltaways from Back for Seconds seem pretty incredible, too. And my friend Holly from A Baker’s House makes amazing decorated cookies that explain all the how to’s! Check out these master’s golfer cookies. After all it is the season!
Still Hungry?
Strawberry Crumble Bars
This is an updated post from 2019.
PrintLofthouse Iced Sugar Cookies
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes plus Frosting time
- Cook Time: 11 Minutes per sheet
- Total Time: 60 Minutes
- Yield: 40-50 Cookies 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Lofthouse Sugar Cookies are thick and soft and covered with frosting. If that doesn’t get your attention, I’m not sure what will!
Ingredients
1 c butter softened
3/4 c neutral flavored oil, like canola
1 1/4 c sugar
3/4 c powdered sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/2 t salt
2 T sour cream
2 large eggs
1 t vanilla
5 1/2 c unbleached all purpose flour (Make sure to fluff it up before you spoon it into a measuring cup. If it’s too packed, your cookies will turn out overly dense.)
Sugar for pressing on the cookies
Frosting
3/4 c softened butter
2 T sour cream
1 t vanilla
6 c powdered sugar
1–2 T cream or milk and may be more to achieve frosting consistency
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 and line several half sheet pans or cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add butter, oil, sugar and powdered sugar. Sprinkle baking soda, cream of tartar and salt across the top. (You don’t want this all in one spot!) Mix until well combined and super creamy, about 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. (I often cover my mixer with a towel so the sugar or flour doesn’t send up dust.)
Add sour cream, eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined for about 1-2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Add the flour and mix until mixture is evenly mixed and flour is distributed equally.
Scoop the dough into large rounded tablespoons and roll into balls. Place several inches apart on prepared baking sheets. (I usually do 5 rows of cookie dough distributed with 4 cookies in row 1, two cookies in row two, then 4, then two, then four so I can get 16 to 18 cookies on a cookie sheet.)
Place several inches apart. Place about 1.2 c of sugar in a bowl. Spray the bottom of a flat bottomed glass with cooking spray and dip into sugar. Press each cookie into an even thickness about 1/4 to a 1/2″ thick. Do this with each cookie, but no need to spray the glass each time.
Bake the cookies for 10 – 12 minutes or until just set. Do not let them get too golden on the edges or the bottom unless you like a dry and crumbly cookie. I prefer mine creamy and soft so I only baked them about 11 minutes.
Let them cool a few minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Make the frosting while these are baking. Rinse out the bowl of the mixmaster and combine butter, sour cream, and vanilla. Mix until thick and smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and milk or cream and mix until well combined and creamy, adding more milk as needed. (Just add small spoonfuls at time.)
Frost the cooled cookies and sprinkle as desired!
Notes
Thanks Mel’s Kitchen Cafe!
Mae
Monday 29th of April 2019
Really pretty cookies! I’m sure they will be perfect for a wedding party.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Susan
Wednesday 17th of April 2019
Love those sprinkles and your cookies look worthy of a party! So cute!!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
Tuesday 16th of April 2019
I've not heard of either name for this cookie but they sure are cute. If they are half as good as they look then they are terrific.
Juliana
Monday 15th of April 2019
Oh Abbe, these cookies are so so cute...I love how you decorated them...and like the idea that it can be made ahead and stored in the freezer...thanks for the recipe. Have a fabulous week!
Tricia
Sunday 14th of April 2019
I've always heard great things about Loft House cookies and yours look beautiful! I'll take a dozen please!