Homemade Frosted Sugar Cookies: The Ultimate Soft & Chewy Recipe for Any Occasion
Indulge in these delightful frosted sugar cookies – a truly classic recipe for soft, thick, and perfectly sweet treats. Whether you’re decorating for Christmas, celebrating a birthday, or simply craving a comforting dessert, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit with their easy-to-make dough and creamy vanilla frosting.
Do you have those cherished classic recipes that simply must make an appearance every year for the holidays? For many families, traditions revolve around beloved foods that evoke warmth and nostalgia. In my family, while certain treats like our traditional Christmas Eve Fudge are annual staples, these particular Frosted Sugar Cookies hold a very special place. They are, without a doubt, an absolute must-have for my husband, and his enthusiasm has made them a cornerstone of our festive baking.
When it comes to sugar cookies, for us, it’s this specific recipe or nothing at all! My husband has declared this his ultimate favorite, a testament to its consistent deliciousness. Along with our beloved Party Mix, these cookies are among his top two requested holiday treats each and every year.
Why This Is The Best Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe
I grew up with a different sugar cookie recipe, but once I tried this one, I was completely converted. These aren’t your thin, crispy sugar cookies; instead, they are wonderfully thick, incredibly soft, perfectly sweet, and simply irresistible. What truly sets this recipe apart is its ease of preparation. They are **super easy to make** and consistently bake up beautifully, holding their shape without spreading excessively. This means your meticulously cut shapes, whether stars, trees, or gingerbread men, will look just as perfect after baking as they did before. Topped with our signature creamy frosting, they transform into the ultimate Christmas delight, though they are equally cherished throughout the year. While Reese’s Fudge might be my son’s top pick, these frosted sugar cookies are always a very close second!
The Secret to Our Simple & Delicious Sugar Cookie Frosting
A great sugar cookie needs a great frosting, and our recipe for sugar cookie frosting is refreshingly basic yet incredibly good. It’s the same recipe my mother-in-law always used for these cookies, ensuring it’s not just family-approved but also husband-approved, which is a major win in our household! The beauty of this frosting is its simplicity and delicious vanilla flavor that perfectly complements the rich cookies.
You’ll only need a few staple ingredients:
- **Softened Butter:** This is crucial for a smooth, lump-free frosting. Make sure it’s truly at room temperature.
- **Pure Vanilla Extract:** Essential for that classic, comforting flavor.
- **Powdered Sugar:** Also known as confectioners’ sugar, it gives the frosting its fine, smooth texture.
- **Milk:** Used to achieve the perfect spreadable consistency.
Another fantastic feature of this frosting? You don’t even need an electric mixer to make it! As long as your butter is very soft, you can easily combine all the ingredients in a bowl using just a spatula or a whisk. It whips up quickly, allowing you to get to the fun part of decorating even faster.
How to Bake Perfect Soft Sugar Cookies
Making these cookies is straightforward and follows a process similar to your favorite chocolate chip cookies. The key steps ensure a tender, flavorful cookie that holds its shape beautifully:
- **Cream Butter and Sugar:** In a large mixing bowl (using a stand mixer or hand mixer), cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, pale, and fluffy. This step incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ soft texture.
- **Incorporate Wet Ingredients:** Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until everything is thoroughly combined. Ensure no streaks of egg remain for a consistent dough.
- **Add Dry Ingredients:** Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed *just* until the flour is incorporated and the dough comes together. It’s vital not to overmix the dough, as excessive mixing can develop too much gluten, resulting in tough, dense cookies. You’ll be handling the dough more when rolling it out, so a gentle mix at this stage is crucial.
- **Roll Out the Dough:** Lightly flour your work surface and your rolling pin. Roll the dough out to your desired thickness. For our signature thick and chewy sugar cookies, we recommend rolling it to about 1/4 inch thick. If you prefer a slightly thinner, crisper cookie, you can roll it a bit thinner, but be sure to adjust your baking time accordingly.
- **Cut and Bake:** Dip your cookie cutters into a little flour to prevent sticking, then cut out your desired shapes. Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for approximately 7-9 minutes in a preheated oven. You’re looking for cookies that are just set in the middle with bottoms that show small air bubbles, but without any browning on the edges. If they start to brown, they’ve likely been cooked a little too long for that desired soft texture.
- **Cool Completely:** Allow the cookies to sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes after removing them from the oven. This helps them set and prevents breakage. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
The No-Chill Dough Advantage
Unlike many sugar cookie recipes that require hours of chilling the dough, I generally **don’t chill my dough** for this recipe. This is a huge time-saver and allows for spontaneous cookie-baking sessions! The dough is robust enough to handle shaping without excess spreading, even without chilling. Of course, if I’m planning to make them far in advance or need to break up the recipe into steps, I might chill the dough for convenience. But for the most part, I simply mix, roll, cut, and bake. While the cookies are baking and cooling, I whip up the frosting, letting it sit at room temperature until the cookies are ready for their delicious topping.
Decorate Your Frosted Sugar Cookies for Any Season or Celebration!
One of the most enjoyable aspects of baking sugar cookies is their incredible versatility when it comes to decoration. You can customize them for literally any shape, any season, or any specific occasion! A few weeks ago, I even made football helmets and football shapes, proving these cookies are not just for winter holidays.
Imagine the possibilities: heart shapes for Valentine’s Day, bunnies and eggs for Easter, stars and stripes for the Fourth of July, pumpkins and ghosts for Halloween, or even custom shapes for birthdays and baby showers. The magic truly happens with the frosting and sprinkles. Simply change the color of your frosting and swap out the sprinkles, and you have a brand new themed treat!
While I admit I’m a sucker for anything with chocolate, and recipes like these Chocolate Toffee Bars are among my absolute favorites, I truly have a soft spot for these classic sugar cookies. They bring a unique kind of joy and anticipation, and I look forward to baking and decorating them every single year.
How to Store Frosted Sugar Cookies to Keep Them Fresh
Proper storage is key to keeping your delicious frosted sugar cookies fresh and delightful for as long as possible. You do **not** need to refrigerate frosted sugar cookies, as the butter in the frosting can firm up too much and alter the texture. Instead, store them at room temperature in an airtight container. To prevent them from sticking together or smudging the beautiful frosting, place a layer of parchment paper between stacked cookies.
- **Countertop Storage:** When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, your frosted sugar cookies will remain fresh and tasty for about 7-10 days.
- **Freezing Frosted Cookies:** For longer storage, these cookies freeze exceptionally well! You can absolutely freeze them once they are fully frosted and the frosting has had a chance to set. Layer them in an airtight freezer-safe container, again using parchment paper between layers to protect the frosting. They will last beautifully for 2-3 months in the freezer. Simply thaw them at room temperature before serving.
Smart Tips for Making Sugar Cookies Ahead of Time
The holidays and special occasions are often hectic, so any recipe that allows for make-ahead preparation is a lifesaver. This sugar cookie recipe is fantastic for preparing in advance, giving you more flexibility and less stress when crunch time arrives.
- **Freeze the Dough:** One of my favorite strategies is to prepare the cookie dough a couple of weeks before a busy baking season. After mixing, shape the dough into a disk, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap (and then optionally in foil or a freezer bag), and store it in the freezer. When you’re ready to bake, simply transfer the dough to the refrigerator to thaw overnight, or let it sit on the counter for a couple of hours until it’s pliable enough to roll out.
- **Freeze Pre-Cut Dough Shapes:** For even greater convenience, you can roll out the dough and cut out your cookie shapes, then arrange them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the individual cookie cut-outs to a freezer bag or airtight container, separated by parchment paper. When you want fresh cookies, simply bake them from frozen (you might need to add a minute or two to the baking time).
- **Freeze Baked Cookies (Frosted or Unfrosted):** You can also bake the cookies completely, cool them, and then freeze them. If you plan to freeze them unfrosted, they’ll be ready for a quick thaw and decorate later. While you *can* freeze them already frosted, I personally find that the texture and vibrancy of the frosting are best if you frost them just before serving. However, for sheer convenience, freezing them frosted is a perfectly viable option and still yields delicious results. Just ensure the frosting is completely set before freezing to prevent sticking.
More Irresistible Christmas & Holiday Recipes to Try
If you’re looking to expand your holiday baking repertoire or simply crave more delicious treats, be sure to explore these other fantastic recipes:
- Grasshopper Pie
- No Bake Mint Chocolate Chip Pie
- Andes Mint Cake Mix Cookies
- Easy Microwave Fudge
- Festive Christmas Sangria
- Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
- No-Bake Christmas Dessert Lasagna
- Peppermint Oreo Truffles
Frosted Sugar Cookies
15 minutes
10 minutes
25 minutes
36 cookies
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Equipment
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Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer
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Cookie Cutters
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Rolling Pin
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 whole large egg
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Sugar Cookie Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400º F (200°C).
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In a large bowl with an electric mixer (stand or hand-held), cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the milk, vanilla, and egg, mixing until the egg is fully incorporated and the mixture is well blended.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until everything just comes together. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
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Lightly flour a clean work surface and a rolling pin. Roll the dough out to an even 1/4 inch thick for thick and chewy cookies. Dip your favorite cookie cutters in flour to prevent sticking, then cut out cookies. Carefully transfer the cut-out cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
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Bake for 8-9 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the centers appear cooked through but not browned.
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Remove from the oven, and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
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While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl (no mixer needed if butter is very soft!), combine the softened butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until creamy and well blended. Adjust milk or powdered sugar as needed to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
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Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the frosting onto each cookie. Decorate with sprinkles or other embellishments as desired.
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Allow the frosting to harden slightly before stacking or storing the cookies in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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