I’ve made these Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies countless times. These irresistible cutout cookies are addictive! Once you try one bite you’ll crave them forever more. They have a texture like the Lofthouse cookies but they aren’t full of the strange flavor from preservatives and artificial flavors. Plus these are fun to make and decorate. The kids love to help too! What makes these so soft? They’re made with that secret ingredient of sour cream, it gives them the perfect texture! This soft sugar cookie recipe is easily worthy of having a space in your recipe box! What’s not to love?
Ingredients Needed to Make Frosted Cutout Sugar Cookies
All purpose flour – a staple ingredient to build up the structure of the cookies. I don’t recommend substitutes. Cornstarch – this helps give the cookies a delicate melt in your mouth texture, it also makes the dough easier to work with. Baking powder and baking soda – these help the cookies rise. Salt – a crucial ingredient to keep the cookies from tasting bland. Unsalted butter – I don’t recommend using salted butter (while it could work in the cookies and you could reduce the salt to 1/4 tsp) it would make the frosting taste salty. No margarine or shortening substitutes here. Granulated sugar – while the cookies themselves don’t come out very sweet once you add the sweet frosting they’re perfect. Sour cream – this ingredient keeps the cookies moist and also helps give that signature cake-like texture. Use full fat for more rich and tender cookies. Vanilla and almond extract – these boost flavor in the cookies. If there’s an allergy the almond extract can be omitted. Powdered sugar – the fine texture of the powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) makes for a silky smooth frosting. Half and half – in a pinch milk or heavy cream will work fine too. Or use a blend of both if you have both.
How to Make Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
How to Make Sugar Cookie Frosting
Sugar cookie frosting is super easy to make. It’s very similar to a buttercream but not as much whipping is required and the ratios are a little different. To prepare it:
How do You Keep Sugar Cookies Soft?
When cooling I like to let cool about 10 minutes on a wire rack then transfer to an airtight container to finish cooling to trap in moisture and soften the otherwise lightly crisp edges. For the frosting I like it to be just a littler more wet then traditional buttercream so that moisture soaks into the cookies and makes them even more moist and soft. You can also try adding a slice of bread to the same container with the cookies to keep them soft, just don’t place it on the cookies.
How Do You Keep Them Fresher Longer?
If you want the cookies to keep longer then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to about 6 days, bring to room temperature before serving), or freeze for a few months.
Tips for the Best Frosted Sugar Cookies
Whisk dry ingredients for about 20 – 30 seconds to evenly distribute ingredients. Use a kitchen scale to weigh ingredients for the most accurate results if possible. Don’t skip the chill time or dough won’t be workable for rolling and cutting. Be careful not to over-bake or cookies will be dry! These cookies are actually best the next day, they become super soft after resting a while and absorbing some of the moisture of the frosting.
More Sugar Cookie Recipes You’ll Love
Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizzas Amish Sugar Cookies Lemon Sugar Cookies Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Red Velvet Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookie Bars
