Frosted sugar cookies are a classic sugar cookie recipe enjoyed by people of all ages. These sugar cookies are so soft, chewy, and frosted with a rich buttercream frosting and festive candy sprinkles for the ultimate frosted sugar cookie recipe the whole family will enjoy.
I love making sugar cookies. They’re a classic sweet treat suitable for any occasion, from afternoon snacking to baby showers and everything in between. They’re also super easy to make which is a HUGE bonus. I make sugar cookies all the time in all kinds of variations, but one of my favorite ways to make them is by simply adding buttercream frosting. That one simple addition elevates regular sugar cookies to an entirely different level, adding extra sweetness, flavor, and texture. And, of course, everyone loves frosting! I make a batch of these cookies whenever my kids come to visit with their families, and I also love whipping up double or triple batches to bring to parties.
Frosted Sugar Cookies
These delicious cookies start with a simple sugar cookie dough made extra soft and chewy, thanks to sour cream and vegetable oil. I bake them for just a few minutes, then let carry-over cooking time finish them off, so they’re perfectly soft and chewy. Finally, I top them with a simple homemade buttercream frosting that I love to color to match the occasion. It’s a quick and easy cookie recipe that I can serve for any event or simply because I have a craving!
Why You’ll Love This Frosted Sugar Cookie Recipe
- These sugar cookies are made without eggs and are great for people with allergies or dietary restrictions, allowing everyone to enjoy these sugar cookies.
- They are super easy to make and the buttercream frosting is rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious.
- The vibrant frosting and festive sprinkles are visually appealing and are perfect for birthday parties, festive celebrations, or any occasion.
Frosted Sugar Cookies Ingredients
These cookies use simple, basic baking ingredients, and you might just have all of them in your kitchen right now. That’s how simple they are! If for some reason you need to go shopping for any of the ingredients, you’ll know exactly which aisles to hit because you’ve probably purchased them hundreds of times before.
For the Sugar Cookies
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter
- Vegetable oil
- Sour cream
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
For the Buttercream Frosting
- Powdered sugar
- Butter
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Pink gel food coloring
- Festive sprinkles
How to Make Frosted Sugar Cookies
Making this recipe is just about the easiest thing you’ll ever do in the kitchen. Both the cookie dough and frosting only take a few minutes and a few simple steps, and the bake time for the cookies is short. You’ll be in and out of the kitchen in no time with a platter of delicious goodies in tow!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet. Set aside.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil, and sour cream with an electric mixer on medium speed for a minute. Then, add the sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth.
Step 4: Make the Cookie Dough
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until the dough forms a ball.
Step 5: Place and Bake
Roll the dough into ¾-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Then, spray the bottom of a glass with non-stick cooking spray and gently press to flatten each cookie a bit. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes.
Step 6: Cool
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 7: Make the Frosting
While the cookies cool, cream the butter, milk, and vanilla together. Then, gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until smooth and creamy. Add a little food coloring and beat again, repeating until you reach your desired color intensity.
Step 8: Frost the Cookies
When the cookies have cooled completely, frost them liberally and top them with sprinkles. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips for Frosted Sugar Cookies
- Fully soften your butter for the best cookie and frosting texture and to prevent little bits of raw butter in both.
- It’s important to remove your cookies at the 8-minute mark. They’ll look underbaked, but carry-over cooking time will finish them to perfection.
- Always use gel food coloring for your frosting. Regular food coloring can alter the texture of the frosting.
- Your cookies must be fully cooled before frosting, or the frosting will slide right off of them.
Variations
- You can use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.
- Use different food coloring gel to make frosted sugar cookies for any occasion.
- If you prefer plain sugar cookies, simply omit the frosting. They are still absolutely delicious.
- For the softest sugar cookies you’ve ever made, try using cake flour.
What to Serve with Frosted Sugar Cookies
Serve these cookies with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. You can even pair them with a dessert wine if you’re feeling fancy. They’re delicious with fresh fruit and make a great addition to a larger dessert spread with your favorite sweet treats like cupcakes, cookies, bars, and more.
Recipe FAQ
Frosted sugar cookies are soft and chewy and topped with buttercream frosting. This combination makes a sweet treat that most people can’t get enough of.
Ingredients like oil and sour cream help make cookies extra soft thanks to the moisture they add to the batter.
Can you use store bought frosting to frost sugar cookies?
You can use store bought frosting for sugar cookies if you want to save some time. Be aware that the flavor will be a bit different from homemade frosting. It’s still good, though!
Most people frost their sugar cookies with buttercream frosting to compliment the buttery sweetness of the cookies.
You sure can! Frosted sugar cookies freeze well and will last for up to a month in the freezer when stored properly.
How to Store Frosted Sugar Cookies
Store these frosted sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, wrap the cookies in plastic wrap, place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container, and freeze them for up to a month. Avoid refrigerating the cookies, as it will make the cookies stale and the frosting hard.
Try These Delicious Frosted Sugar Cookies Today
These soft frosted sugar cookies are the classic treat we all love, and they’re perfect for any occasion. They’re also incredibly easy to make and easily doubled or tripled. That equation adds up to the best cookie recipe you’ll ever make! With so much buttery, sweet flavor and such easy prep and baking, this is one cookie recipe you’ll want to make again and again for any and all events or just because. Give them a try!
More Delicious Sugar Cookie Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Here are some delicious Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookies that are soft and chewy, and the perfect cookie recipe for any occasion.
Frosted Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- 4 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1½ cups sugar
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 3 tablespoon milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pink gel food coloring
- Festive sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly grease a baking sheet(s).
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt together. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, oil and sour cream together on medium speed using an electric mixer, or a stand mixer, for one minute.
- Add sugar and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until dough forms a ball.
- Roll the dough into about ¾ inch size dough balls and place on the prepared baking sheets.
- Spray the bottom of a glass with non-stick cooking spray and gently press each cookie to flattened them a bit.
- Bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove cookies from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes and then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter, milk and vanilla together. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.
- Add food coloring until desired consistency is obtained.
- Frost cookies once they have completely cooled, and sprinkle with candy sprinkles.
Notes
Nutrition
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