Best Frosted Sugar Cookies
If you are looking for the best soft sugar cookies with frosting, this is the recipe you’ll come back to again and again. These frosted sugar cookies topped with cream cheese frosting bake up perfectly tender and stay soft for days.
Servings: 24
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter (softened)
- 1 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- 1 large Egg Yolk
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 2 3/4 cups Flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup Butter (softened)
- (1) 8-ounce pkg. Cream Cheese (softened)
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste
- 1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract (optional)
- Gel Food Coloring and Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together for a full 4 minutes until the mixture becomes light in color, fluffy in texture, and smooth.
- Mix in the egg and egg yolk, along with the vanilla extract until fully combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything blends evenly.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing, which can make cookies tough instead of tender.
- Cover the dough or wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Chilling helps firm the butter so cookies spread less, improves flavor, and creates thicker, softer cookies.
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll the chilled dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness for soft cookies. Dip cookie cutters in flour, then cut into shapes. Transfer cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. If the dough has warmed, chill the cut cookies for 10 more minutes before baking.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set, the centers look slightly soft and pale, and the bottoms are just barely golden
- Do not overbake! Slight underbaking keeps cookies tender. Let cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting, by creaming together softened butter and softened cream cheese for 3 minutes. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add food coloring as desired.
- Once fully cooled, spread frosting using an offset spatula in soft swirling motions, then finish with colored frosting or festive sprinkles. See the recipe post for more tips on frosting.
Notes
See more FAQ's in the recipe post.
Can I freeze frosted sugar cookies?
Yes. Freeze in a single layer until firm, then store in an airtight container.
Yes. Freeze in a single layer until firm, then store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 377IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
