You know those soft sugar cookies in grocery stores with the bright frosting and lots of sprinkles? They come in the plastic containers, and they always look so appetizing. They are very deceitful in my opinion. I always want to like them. They look like they should be amazing, and they taste like nothing. Seriously, every time I bite into one (and I have tried them many times), I am bitterly disappointed. Well, friends, we have found the solution. These cookies are just as large and soft, but they taste like real butter and vanilla. They have a great texture, and the frosting is so much more than just a typical powdered sugar glaze because there's more butter in it.
I made my frosting a little thinner than it should have been, so there's not as much frosting on my cookies as the store-bought kind. I was okay with that because there is a lot of butter in these cookies. Since there was less frosting, I had double the amount and threw away half of it. Next time I'll cut the frosting recipe in half, but I'm leaving it as is below in case you want to make thicker frosting to slather on the cookies.
The best thing about these is that, just like the store-bought ones, you can make them for any holiday or party. You can color the frosting how you want and use seasonal sprinkles. I guarantee that when you bring them to a party, people will devour them and be thrilled with how good they are. No bitter disappointment here!
Soft Frosted Sugar (Lofthouse) Cookies Recipe
Makes 24 large cookies
Print this recipe
For the cookies:
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla
For the frosting:
5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup (5 1/3 tablespoons) butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla
7-8 tablespoons milk
Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)
To make the cookies, in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add in the vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder until combined. Add in the flour, one cup at a time, until incorporated. When everything is mixed together, cover the dough and chill for one hour.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Take a scant 1/4 cup of cookie dough and roll into a ball. Place the ball on the prepared sheet and press down slightly. Place the balls about 2-3 inches apart from each other. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. Do not overbake or they won't stay soft. You want the edges to be barely brown if at all. Let rest on the baking sheets for three minutes and then remove to a flat surface to cool.
To make the frosting, combine the powdered sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the milk one tablespoon at a time until the frosting is the consistency you like. Frost the cookies using the back of a spoon or an offset spatula and add the sprinkles if using. Store in an airtight container.
Source: Annie's Eats, who adapted it from Hostess with the Mostess
I made my frosting a little thinner than it should have been, so there's not as much frosting on my cookies as the store-bought kind. I was okay with that because there is a lot of butter in these cookies. Since there was less frosting, I had double the amount and threw away half of it. Next time I'll cut the frosting recipe in half, but I'm leaving it as is below in case you want to make thicker frosting to slather on the cookies.
The best thing about these is that, just like the store-bought ones, you can make them for any holiday or party. You can color the frosting how you want and use seasonal sprinkles. I guarantee that when you bring them to a party, people will devour them and be thrilled with how good they are. No bitter disappointment here!
Soft Frosted Sugar (Lofthouse) Cookies Recipe
Makes 24 large cookies
Print this recipe
For the cookies:
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla
For the frosting:
5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup (5 1/3 tablespoons) butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla
7-8 tablespoons milk
Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)
To make the cookies, in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add in the vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder until combined. Add in the flour, one cup at a time, until incorporated. When everything is mixed together, cover the dough and chill for one hour.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Take a scant 1/4 cup of cookie dough and roll into a ball. Place the ball on the prepared sheet and press down slightly. Place the balls about 2-3 inches apart from each other. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. Do not overbake or they won't stay soft. You want the edges to be barely brown if at all. Let rest on the baking sheets for three minutes and then remove to a flat surface to cool.
To make the frosting, combine the powdered sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the milk one tablespoon at a time until the frosting is the consistency you like. Frost the cookies using the back of a spoon or an offset spatula and add the sprinkles if using. Store in an airtight container.
Source: Annie's Eats, who adapted it from Hostess with the Mostess
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