Lofthouse Sugar Cookies decorated in white, green, and red frosting, topped with sprinkles

These cookies are a copycat recipe of the much-loved store-bought Lofthouse brand sugar cookies. If you’ve never had one, Lofthouse cookies aren’t like your typical sugar cookieโ€”they are somewhere in a glorious gray area between a cookie and a cupcake. They are fluffy, airy, cake-like, and have a nice, thick layer of brightly-colored buttercream frosting that is almost always covered in adorable sprinkles. It’s basically like if you took the top of a cupcake and smushed it into a cookie, you’d get Lofthouse cookies.

The reason I feel okay posting a second sugar cookie recipe after declaring my first one was “perfect” is because really, it’s barely fair that both of them are in the same category of cookie. Honestly, I think Lofthouse cookies should be a category all of their own. A delicious, sugary sweet, awesome category.

Lofthouse Sugar Cookie with green frosting and sprinkles with a bite taken out of it, in front of a plate of other cookies

Lofthouse Sugar Cookies decorated in white, green, and red frosting, topped with sprinkles

Now, I do have to tell you, that dear husband of mine isn’t a fan of these soft-batch style cookies. He says they are too cakey, and a cookie should be chewy, not like cake. And to a certain extent, I agree. Chewy is my cookie texture of choice, but I leave special room in my cookie-loving heart for Lofthouse cookies because they are just so darn good.

Even though the husband doesn’t love the original Lofthouse cookies from the store as much as I do, he dug my version of them. I think it’s because these cookies still taste homemadeโ€”even though they are copycatting a store brand. There is that thing that all bakery cakes and cookies have that, no matter how good they are, taste different from what you’d make in your own kitchen. I think when you take that je ne sais quoi out of Lofthouse-style cookies, they get even better. Like, I’m hesitant to call this recipe a copycat, because it doesn’t taste exactly like the ones you’d get a the grocery store. But I think they taste better. It’s not a copycat recipe, it’s a one-upper recipe.

2 Lofthouse Sugar Cookies - one with green frosting and one with red - on a white napkin with a glass of milk

Can I use these for cut out cookies?

Now, it probably goes without saying, but just in case, let me mention that these cookies are not good candidates for cutting out gingerbread men (unless you want a particularly bloated looking gingerbread man). These cookies spread, puff up, and generally expand enough that your cookie cutter shapes will mostly be useless. I tried rolling a few of them out and cutting them using a Christmas tree cookie cutter, and if you squinted, you could see the shape, but it really wasn’t worth the effort. If you want to do cutout sugar cookies, you’re looking for the Perfect Frosted Sugar Cookies recipe. If you’re fine with a run-of-the-mill circular cookie shape, please proceed.

Wholefully Protip

Our Frosted Sugar Cookies are the way to go if you want to use your cookie cuttersโ€”weโ€™ve been using the recipe for YEARS. It is, without a doubt, the most perfect sugar cookie recipe to use with all those fancy Christmas cookie cutters you have taking up space in a drawer in your kitchen.

The cookies don’t spread. They don’t discolor. They stay soft and flavorful. It’s easy to make and work with the dough. It uses simple ingredients. I believe it really is the perfect recipe for cutout cookies.

 

So how should I shape these cookies?

The easiest way to shape these cookies is to take damp hands and form the cookie dough into two-inch balls, and then smoosh them down flat using a flat-bottom glass. If you want a truly perfectly-circular cookie shape, you could chill the dough, roll it out to about 1/4-inch thickness with a rolling pin, and then use a biscuit cutter or round cookie cutter to cut out perfect circles.

Balls of dough for Lofthouse Sugar Cookies being pressed down with an empty glass

If you do end up using a biscuit cutter, make sure you don’t twist when you press down on the dough. Twisting “seals” the edges of the cookie, making it to where it won’t rise as muchโ€”leaving you with a loftless Lofthouse cookie (is that where the name comes from?). Same advice is true for biscuits. Want tall, fluffy biscuits? Don’t you dare twist that biscuit cutter.

Either way, I’ve included instructions for both methods in the recipe directions.

Lofthouse Sugar Cookie with green frosting and sprinkles, next to a glass of milk and a plate of cookies

When are the cookies done?

You’ll want to watch these closely, especially on the first batch (since all ovens are different). Sugar cookies go from tender to overbaked in seconds. When the cookies are ready, they should be just barely brown on the bottom and the top should look “set.”

When in doubt, err on the side of underdoneโ€”I’ve never heard anyone complain about soft sugar cookies, but people definitely notice overdone cookies!

What kind of frosting should I use?

Oh, and the frosting? Well, it’s just your run-of-the-mill (but not really because OMGyummy) buttercream. You can flavor it will vanilla, almond, coconut, or whatever extract makes you happy. Because it’s Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth peppermint is all the rage, I used Nielsen-Massey Peppermint extract. It was gloriously minty and delicious! Enjoy.

 
Lofthouse Sugar Cookies decorated in white, green, and red frosting, topped with sprinkles

Lofthouse Cookies Recipe

Yield: 4 dozen cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes

Make your favorite store-bought cookie at home using this recipe for soft, sweet, and tender Lofthouse Sugar Cookies. Adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

  • 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 6 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)

For the Frosting:

  • 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla, coconut, almond, or peppermint extract
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 5 tablespoons milk
  • Food coloring and sprinkles, optional

Instructions

To make the cookies:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper, set aside.
  2. In a stand mixer fitted with a scraper/paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sour cream until smooth and light in color.
  3. Add in the sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until just combined.
  4. In a separate mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt (if using). Add the dry ingredients to the wet in three additions—mix well after each addition and scrape the sides of the bowl.
  5. To form drop cookies: using damp hands, roll dough into 2" balls and place 2" apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Using a flat-bottomed glass dipped in water, press the cookie balls flat.
  6. To form rolled cookies: cover the dough and chill for 20-30 minutes. Roll out on a lightly floured surface until 1/4" thick. Using a biscuit cutter, cut cookies and place 2" apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
  7. Bake cookies in preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, until the cookies just begin to set up and the bottoms are lightly brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet and let cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.

To make the frosting:

  1. In a stand mixer fitted with a scraper/paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and extract of choice until smooth.
  2. Add in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition. Add in the milk and food color, and beat until fluffy and smooth. Spread onto cooled cookies and immediately sprinkle on sprinkles.

Notes

Like all sugar cookies, watch these like a hawk in the oven! Sugar cookies go from perfectly tender and done to overbaked in only a few blinks of an eye. You're looking for the cookies to be just barely brown on the bottom, and the top to look "set up". Err on the side of underdone! After all, have you ever heard someone complain that their cookie was too soft and tender? Nope.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 48 Serving Size: 1 cookie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 69mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 2g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

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144 Comments

  1. I just made these cookies today! My daughter asked for the Lofthouse cookies next time we order groceries, and I figured heck Iโ€™m sure thereโ€™s a recipe letโ€™s make them now. I followed the recipe to a t and my family loves them! They are so soft and delicious!

    1. Thank you so much, Hayleyโ€”that’s so wonderful to hear! We’re so glad you and your family love the cookies. They’re favorites with our families, too!

  2. These turned out GREAT …..I have tried a few recipes for these cookies that are $4 or $5 at the store. I didn’t have enough frosting ( someone in my house had a few spoons full) so i had to stop in the middle so i took the remainder of the cookies and placed them in a bag that was the trick it allows them to get a little moist and they were PERFECT . i walked around the house offering cookies and saying i NAILED IT LALALA and doing a funny little dance ….and im still doing it THANKS FOR A GREAT RECIPE I recommend flattening them just a little .

    1. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this with us, Linda! We loved hearing about your success and your happy dance that went along with it!! You brought smiles and joy to the Wholefully team today. The next time we bake these up, we’ll join you in a dance!

  3. Love this recipe and looking forward to making them. I’m working on a number bday cake, do you think this will work or maybe your other sugar cookie recipe?

    1. If you are trying to cut specific shapes, I’d go with the rolled sugar cookies! They hold their shape better than these.

  4. DO NOT MAKE! waste of time. they are very gross. i threw them all out. they turn into balls of dough in your mouth. nasty AF!

  5. This recipe was the most revolting thing ever I ain’t never seen nothing like this. My cookies came out looking like boob shaped biscuits. 10/10 do not recommend. Yall trippin never again!๐Ÿ™…โ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ™…โ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคข๐Ÿ˜ญ

  6. Not good. They cracked and were extremely poofy. They also were extremely dry and tasted as if they had no sugar. I do not recommend. Never using this recipe again.

  7. I made these cookies and they were delicious! I cut the batch in half because 6 cups is A LOT. I didn’t use almond extract, food coloring, or sprinkles and these still came out amazing. I chilled the dough for 30 mins and baked them for 7 mins and I found out you have to be generous with the frosting. This was my first time ever making sugar cookies and I feel that if you keep trying, they will truly taste like the storebought ones.

  8. Why do you not answer any questions about the sugar
    cookies? Recipe is seriously flawed. These people , your followers, are looking for help
    Suggest you reformat recipe. 6 cups of flour is mind boggling. Rework it and try again. SO many negative reviews.

    1. Hi, Linda! We’ve tested this recipe many times with great results and seen lots of wonderful reviews. If you have any questions, we’d be happy to answer them.

    2. it does make a lot of cookies i did the recipe exactly as written and they were perfect !! recommend flattening the ball just a little and after they have cooled maybe a half hour after put them in a bag for another half hour then frost makes them moisten up a bit and yeah they are great

  9. DO not make these cookies I repeat do not make these cookies. These cookies were horrible they did not taste like Lofthouse cookies they were so dry I do Not recommend you all to make these cookies