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    You are here: Home / Desserts / Cookies / Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

    Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

    February 14, 2018 By Sam 70 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Soft, Frosted Sugar Cookies

    Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies that require no chilling, no rolling pins, and no cookie cutters!  These are similar to the famous “Lofthouse Cookies” and are topped off with a sweet vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkles.

    Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies that require no chilling, no rolling pins, and no cookie cutters!  These are similar to the famous "Lofthouse Cookies" and are topped off with a sweet vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkles.

    Happy Valentine’s Day!

    Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, what a great excuse to make something sweet for someone you love or just for yourself (even better, because then you don’t have to share).  I’m a little bummed that today falls on Ash Wednesday because I’ll be fasting (-ish?) today and not indulging in sweets, but there’s always tomorrow 😉

    Many of you know that I already have a favorite cut-out sugar cookie recipe, but these soft frosted sugar cookies are a bit different.  For one, there’s no need to chill the dough or roll it out — just scoop the dough and roll it into balls between your palms before baking.

    This frosting is also a sweet and simple buttercream that is easy for spreading, whereas my other recipe uses an icing that’s similar to royal icing and is better for piping.

    Shot of the soft interior of a frosted sugar cookie

    Tips for Making Perfect Frosted Sugar Cookies

    • The dough will be a bit sticky when you go to roll it into balls and some of the dough will stick to your palms, but it shouldn’t be so sticky that you aren’t able to roll it.  If you have a great deal of difficulty rolling the dough, feel free to add more flour, and lightly dusting your hands with flour may also help.
    • This frosting is a sweet vanilla buttercream, the frosting does not set very hard and stays soft.  For frosting that will become firm, you can add more powdered sugar, but keep in mind that it will be more difficult to spread on top of your cookies.
    • Make sure your soft sugar cookies cool completely before topping with the frosting, otherwise it will melt!
    • I recommend using a gel food coloring if you wish to color your frosting, it has a great vibrant color and a little bit goes a long way.  Liquid food coloring will work instead, though, the color just won’t be as bright.

    A stack of soft frosted sugar cookies beside a bottle of milk

    Enjoy!

    Full printable recipe just below the video.  If you enjoy these videos, please subscribe to my YouTube channel!

    How to Make Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies


    Sugar cookie with pink frosting

    Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

    An easy recipe for soft frosted sugar cookies!
    4.97 from 29 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    Total Time: 23 minutes
    Servings: 16 cookies
    Calories: 280kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    Sugar Cookie Bases

    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened (113g)
    • 1 cup sugar (200g)
    • ⅓ cup sour cream (80g)
    • 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour (375g)
    • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Frosting

    • ½ cup unsalted butter (113g)
    • 1 cup powdered sugar (125g)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • food coloring optional
    • sprinkles, for decorating optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • Combine butter and sugar in large bowl and beat with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add sour cream, stir well.
    • Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Stir well.
    • In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    • Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet until well-combined.
    • Roll dough into 1 ½ Tablespoon-sized ball and place on prepared cookie sheet.  Use your fingers to gently flatten (if dough sticks to your fingers, wet them first)
    • Bake on 375F for 6-8 minutes. If cookies puff while cooking, use the clean bottom of a glass to gently re-flatten. Allow cookies to cool while you prepare your frosting.

    Frosting

    • Place butter in a medium-sized bowl and beat until creamy.  Gradually add powdered sugar until combined. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
    • Add food coloring and stir until even in color.
    • Use a spatula to spread frosting evenly over cooled cookies. Decorate with sprinkles. Store cookies in airtight container.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1frosted sugar cookie | Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

    Overhead view of frosted sugar cookies

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Margaret

      September 21, 2022 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      Hello Sam! Hope life with 2 kiddos is treating you well. I was wondering whether these cookies would freeze well? Or not, because of the frosting?

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 21, 2022 at 9:33 pm

        Hi Margaret! Having 2 kiddos is so wonderful. They are such a joy! Thanks for asking. 🙂 These cookies should freeze well. I would put a layer of wax paper between them to keep them from sticking to each other. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Maureen

      August 18, 2022 at 2:03 pm

      I’m wondering if doubling this recipe, could I just use 3 whole eggs or should I do 2 eggs and 2 egg yolks?

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        August 18, 2022 at 2:47 pm

        Hi Maureen! We’d still recommend sticking with the 2 eggs and 2 egg yolks. Hope you love the cookies! 😊

        Reply
    3. Charlene

      July 02, 2022 at 7:43 am

      5 stars
      Second time making these. I love them. Only thing I add is almond extract.

      Reply
    4. Ines

      April 30, 2022 at 9:22 am

      I’m working on baking for my niece’s dessert table for her shower. I would love to add these cookies to the cookie trays. Being that I have to prepare so many cookies, I was wondering if the frosting dries so that I could put them in boxes for storage till I’m ready to assemble the cookie trays.

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        May 02, 2022 at 3:30 pm

        Hi Ines! The frosting will form a skin but is still fragile enough that we don’t recommend it for stacking. Hope that helps!

        Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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