Soft frosted cookies, otherwise known as Lofthouse Cookies, are such a beautiful cake like cookie that is fluffier and creamier than traditional sugar cookies.
These soft frosted cookies are tender, rich and delicious. They are easy to make and are fabulous for cookie trays. The pretty eye catching ones that always get eaten first.
If you want helpful ideas for your Christmas gatherings, check out the link here.
The cookies starts with a base cookie dough so one large mixing bowl can be turned into several types of cookies including Old Fashioned Thumbprint Cookies, Sprinkle Cookies and Hershey Kiss Sugar Cookies.
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Norwegian Christmas Cookies | Kolaczki Traditional Polish Cookies | Oreo Cheesecake Cookies
What We Love About This Recipe
If you are a fan of the soft, cake like cookies than these iced cookies are for you. The recipe is easy and the end results are always wonderful. These are so full of history here are the details to find out more fun facts.
- Minutes to Make: This recipe is so easy to make, no complicated ingredients or directions.
- Family Friendly: Fun for kids to help frost and decorate.
- Adaptable: Can make this sugar cookie recipe into many different varieties of cookies by adding food coloring such as almond extract or peppermint extract to taste etc.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: Always room temperature, soft butter. Unsalted butter is best for baking. However, use the salted butter and omit or cut down the salt in the recipe if that is all you have.
- Shortening: Vegetable shortening helps cookies keep their shape.
- Eggs: When baking, always use large eggs, that is the standard for recipes unless otherwise stated.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding: This gives that velvety soft texture to the cookies.
Variations and Substitutions
- Shortening – Replace all or a few tablespoons of the shortening with a butter flavor shortening.
How to Make Easy Frosted Sugar Cookies
These are the basic steps for making lofthouse sugar cookies. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: PREP
First, preheat oven to 350 line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat. Second, in a large bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment (A hand electric mixer also works) cream together butter, shortening, and sugar, on medium-high speed, next add in eggs, vanilla extract, and instant pudding mix. Continue mixing until thoroughly incorporated.
STEP 2: DRY INGREDIENTS
In a medium bowl stir together dry ingredients, all purpose flour, baking powder and salt and next add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients a little at a time mixing between additions until all the flour is incorporated. Use a rubber spatula or butter knife to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
STEP 3: SCOOP AND BAKE
Next, using a cookie scoop or spoon scoop drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared sheet pan, about 2 inches apart. Then bake for 12-15 minutes or until set and lightly golden brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling wire rack to cool completely. Finally, frost with icing.
Prep and Storage Tips for Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
The dough can be made up to twenty four hours in advance. Wrap well with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge to chill until ready to bake
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
The enemy is the air. Therefore, store in a zip top bag and suck out as much air as possible. Keep at room temperature for up to 5 days. Store in single layers with parchment or waxed paper in between the layers.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Of course, for the best results freeze the cookies baked but not iced. They will hold up best. Thaw and then decorate as you wish.
HOW TO BAKE THESE COOKIES
These soft sugar cookies are better a little under done then over done, it is a good idea to know your oven temperature and test your first batch by watching them and pulling them out when just done. You want that nice soft texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
A gluten free flour works great for this soft baked cookie recipe.
Of course, lightly flour your work surface and use a rolling pin to flatten dough to 1/4-inch thickness then use a round cookie cutter or your favorite shapes. Gather scraps and make more.
Double or even triple this recipe as it is great for making so many variations, for example:
>Kiss Cookies
>Sprinkle Cookies
>Thumbprint Cookies
Baking soda and baking powder are not the same. While baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.
Expert Tips for Making This Frosted Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Add Decorations and Sprinkles: Enhance the soft baked cookie with sprinkles and decorations.
- Short cut tip: Use this amazing buttercream frosting recipe or alternatively use premade cookie icing like these.
- Variation tip: Top with little candies after icing.
- Fridge: Remember that if you use buttercream icing you must use right away or store in the fridge or freezer.
- Top: Just a sprinkle of powdered sugar works for this cookie or add a cream cheese frosting.
What to Serve with Soft Frosted Cookies
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Soft Frosted Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ Cups Butter – softened
- ¼ Cup Shortening
- 1 ½ Cups Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 ½ Cups Flour
- 3.4 ounce Instant Vanilla Pudding, 1 box
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar with an electric mixer.
- Add in eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix. Continue mixing until thoroughly incorporated.
- In a separate bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time mixing between additions until all the flour is incorporated.
- Using a dough scoop or spoon scoop drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until set and lightly golden brown around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once cookies have cooled, frost with icing.
Expert Tips
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: Great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and make different versions like the ones listed above.
- Add Decorations and Sprinkles: Enhance the soft baked cookie with sprinkles and decorations.
- Short cut tip: Use this amazing buttercream frosting recipe or alternatively use premade cookie icing like these.
- Variation tip: Top with little candies after icing.
- Fridge: Remember that if you use buttercream icing you must use right away or store in the fridge or freezer.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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