Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

Annie's Eats

My hope is to inspire you to be fearless in the kitchen, to try new things, to take the time to make things the homemade way and most importantly, to have fun doing it!

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

202 comments

posted in: Cookies, Dessert

07.18

2011

I have a foodie confession to make. You know those super soft, frosted sugar cookies in the plastic container at the grocery store? The kind that come in different color schemes depending on the season or upcoming holiday? I have never bought them myself but if someone else ever offered me one, I was all over it. I’ll admit it…I love them. Well, I used to love them. That was until I found a homemade version of soft frosted sugar cookies that blows those out of the water. Where those tasted slightly artificial, these taste buttery and delicious.

I’ve seen quite a few knock-off recipes for the store bought version but most of them involve a boxed cake mix. I don’t really see the point in making your own if they still contain the laundry list of preservatives and flavorings included in the commercial sort. This recipe doesn’t call for a box mix and uses just the basic ingredients you are likely to find in most sugar cookies. Topping them with various colors of frosting and sprinkles makes them easily customized for any party or holiday. I made them in red, yellow, green and blue for Andrew’s birthday party and they were a hit. My only problem now? These taste so much better than the kind from the store and I know how to make them and when I do, I end up with a whole batch at home. That’s kind of a problem, but at least it’s a good problem to have :)

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

Yield: about 2 dozen large cookies

Ingredients

Ingredients:
For the cookies:
4½ cups all-purpose flour
4½ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
5 tsp. vanilla extract

For the frosting:
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/3 cup (5 1/3 tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
7-8 tbsp. milk (plus more, as needed)
Food coloring (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

Directions

To make the cookies, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt, and whisk together to blend. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed. Blend in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients mixing just until incorporated and evenly mixed. Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, scoop a scant quarter cup of dough and roll into a ball. Flatten the ball slightly and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies at least 2-3 inches apart. Bake about 10-12 minutes or just until set. (Do not overbake! The edges should be no more than very lightly browned if at all.) Let cool on the baking sheet for several minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
To frost the cookies, place the confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter, vanilla, and milk to the bowl and whisk until smooth. Whisk in additional milk as necessary, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Tint with food coloring if desired. Use an offset spatula or spoon to frost the cooled cookies. (If the frosting begins to thicken as you decorate, just continue to whisk in small amounts of milk to keep it workable.) Top with sprinkles if desired. Store in an airtight container.

Source

adapted from Hostess with the Mostess

http://keepitsweetblog.com Lauren at Keep It Sweet

Great idea to make a homemade version of that cookie! Yours are so pretty.
http://warmvanillasugar.wordpress.com/ Katrina

These are so pretty! Yum!
http://warmvanillasugar.wordpress.com/ Katrina

These look perfect Annie! I love the pretty frosting. Yum!
http://cinnamonandorange.blogspot.com/ Talar

I’ve been searching for a recipe like this forever, thanks so much for posting these! I’m like you — I don’t see the point in making something “homemade” if it’s still going to contain a ton of artificial ingredients and preservatives, especially if the kiddies are going to be eating it. Thanks so much for the post, can’t wait to try these cookies SOON!
http://www.dishesofmrsfish.com Mrs. Fish

I loved those grocery store cookies too, so I’m beyond excited you found a make at home version!
http://theobsessivechef.blogspot.com StephenC

I’m mellowing. I’m starting to read recipes for sweet baked goods. I do love a good sugar cookie. Since quitting smoking about 3 months ago, though, I’m worried about my weight. I’m thinking I could make a half recipe of these and skip the icing. It would please my palate enormously. I will ponder this issue, grasshopper.
http://whatisbakinginthebarbershop.blogspot.com/ Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?!

Mmmm, these look delicious! I, too, have enjoyed this kind of store bought sugar cookie in the past…but homemade is absolutely better!
http://www.blognewblack.com Blog is the New Black

Gorgeous!
Francesca

Love, Love, Love that you posted this recipe! Those store-bought cookies are my FAVORITE! Honestly, I used to buy them and keep them in my car so that I could eat 2 before heading into class at college. I would buy them for every season/holiday, but haven’t done so in a long while. I simply cannot wait to try this recipe. Yummmmmmmy! Thanks a million! :)
Rebekah

I have been waiting (impatiently!) for you to post these ever since your son’s birthday! We love the store bought version of these cookies, too, but my daughter has a peanut allergy and I’ve never found one that is safe for her to eat so I don’t buy them anymore. I plan on making them for her Elmo birthday party in a few weeks. She is going to love them! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
http://dahlhousedesigns.wordpress.com lisa arana

Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I too have a slight ‘problem’ with these cookies. I love them but won’t buy them and searched for a copy recipe. Absolutely agree with you… a cake mix??? What’s the point. I can’t wait to give these a try!!! Thanks so much!
Kimberley

Interesting! I’ve made the soft sugar cookies at home for years, but my recipe has always used sour cream. I was always told that’s what kept the cookie so moist/soft. Any idea why these are so soft? I’m guessing it’s because of the three sticks of butter – everything else seems sort of normal for a cookie. Though three sticks of butter is normal too, sometimes! :)
http://sherrilynnpuz.blogspot.com/ sherri lynn

YES! I have been waiting for this recipe since you posted Andrew’s birthday party! I am so excited to make these!
http://tideandthyme.com Laura

I know just the cookie you speak of. Andrew and I are always happy when they have those in the “snack bin” in the bakery! Will def be trying these.
Annie

Congrats on quitting smoking! That is wonderful.
jen

i love those cookies from the store, too!!! i can’t wait to try these, yum!!
http://www.thespiffycookie.com Erin

Ooooo I love those cookies! But I try to avoid them at all costs because it’s impossible to only eat one. I’m so glad you have this recipe because I took have seen many knock-off recipes, but none claim to really pin down the original. Can’t wait to try them out!
http://www.catelinden.com Cate

Oh, I love those cookies too! I have since I was a kid. The summer I graduated from high school, my best friend and I would buy a package of them almost every week and sit on her bed eating them while watching movies. They are so good!

Like everybody else, I’ve been waiting impatiently for this recipe since your post about Andrew’s birthday party. I can’t wait to try them!
http://kristineskitchen.wordpress.com Kristine

I can’t wait to try these! Just looking at them is making me hungry!
http://www.bigbearswife.com Angie @ bigbearswife

these are my weakness! I first found out about these when we moved to Camp Lejeune, NC. They were everywhere down there. and for every season!

I love them! So glad to have found this recipe!!
http://thenailaholic.blogspot.com thenailaholic

YUM
Christy

These look so good! The pink frosting made me think of breast cancer awareness, kind of a very random thought I know.
http://kelseysappleaday.blogspot.com Kelsey

My mom (okay, and me) loves these cookies. I’m so excited to know I can make them from scratch for her. Thanks!
Amrita

These look fantastic! Quick question, do you think it would be possible to roll out the dough and use cookie cutters? Or is the dough too soft for that? Thanks very much, Annie!
http://skinnykitchen.com nancy@skinnykitchen.com

I love those big soft cookies too. Yours look cute too. Great photo! I make a skinny sugar cookie and I’m going to try your frosting with reduced-fat butter and bake them soft instead of crunchy!
Jennifer

I’m so freakn’ excited that you posted this recipe! I’ve been looking for one just like this! I can’t wait to try it!
K

I’ll confess. I buy these more often than I should. Especially since I’m pregnant. My favorite flavor: Red Velvet. But now I’m excited to try an even better cookie! Thanks for posting!
Annie

Supposedly you can roll and cut it but in my experience it spreads SO much, even in a ball, that I don’t think it would retain the cut shape at all.
http://Andrea-thekitchenwitch.blogspot.com Andrea the Kitchen Witch

OMG I love those cookies too!! Well as much as you can love a store bought chemical laden cookie :) this recipe excites me. I can’t wait to make it!! Thanks Annie :)
Kelsey

I also have the embarassing confession that I LOVE these grocery store sugar cookies! My husband teases me mercilessly so maybe I’ll surprise him with this homemade version. Thanks so much for posting…I’ve been waiting since the birthday party post!!
http://sweetsugarbelle.com sweetsugarbelle

I get so excited about cookies! Especially sugar cookies…my friend Gina laughs and laughs because I prefer store cookies to my own any old day! I will be making these =) Gorgeous!
http://whataboutpie.blogspot.com/ Bonnie@WhatAboutPie

You had me at hello. NO, you had me at the first photo! Holy cow! Eye candy! I am trying this recipe for sure! I have to confess that, I too, love those soft cookies in the clear plastic container from the grocery store! They taste pretty delicious, but no, I have never bought them either but scarf them up if they are at a picnic. I can only imagine what kind of funky chemicals, preservatives and additives are in them! LOL! Thank you so much for this post and recipe…I cannot wait to try this! Your photos for this are so dreamy! I love it!
Rachel

Oh I have been waiting for you to post thus ever since I saw them in Andrew’s birthday party post! Those store bought cookies are a weakness, and I’ve always wanted to make them at home. Thank you!!!
http://www.kitchen-concoctions.com Heather of Kitchen Concoctions

Oh man I can’t wait to make these. My boyfriend LOVES those grocery store sugar cookies and I have a sneaking suspicion that if I make these for him I could get him to do anything I wanted! Haha!
http://www.stuffgrowing.blogspot.com EG

I’ve been waiting for this one! Thanks!
Millie

In the following line you wrote: “When you are ready to bake the cookies, scoop a scant quarter cup of dough and roll into a ball.”
Did you mean quarter of a table spoon?
Megan

I cannot wait to try this recipe. I LOVE these silly cookies. They are one of the few pre-packaged foods that I will buy. Even so, I don’t buy them very often. I’ve tried many recipes in search of one that is similar without any luck. I really hope this is the one. I will try it tonight.
kaitlin

Yay! I’m so glad to see these, I live them and can’t wait to make them! thanks :)
astrid

Annie, when you say “flatten slightly,” do you mean that the balls of dough are still pretty thick when they go into the oven? Thanks!
Karen

The store bought version are my favorite kind of store bought cookies (besides oreo’s, but those are in a totally different class being chocolate and all. lol) I have to try these, but I think I need to wait until our heat wave is gone this week. High’s in the 90′s and heat index in the 100′s…
penandra

I cannot wait to try these cookies. I really like the CONCEPT of the cookies in the grocery store, but I just have not been able to get past the artificial taste of them . . . I know folks who just inhale those cookies, but I take one bite and then hide the rest of the cookie until I can throw it out unnoticed.

But now, thanks to you, I can enjoy these cookies, they will taste how they are supposed to taste (and what my brain is expecting). Thank you for sharing this recipe. I’ll be trying it this weekend (well, unless the temps get back into the triple digit range).
Amy

great photo! how did you get the pink tint in the background?
Annie

Yes, keep them thick if you want thick cookies.
Annie

No, I mean a scant quarter cup of dough.
Annie

It’s just pink paper.
Jen

Perfect timing! Last night I was thinking of cookies to bake and I got a real craving for soft sugar cookies. I’ve been eager to try this recipe ever since you mentioned it in the birthday party post. Now I can’t wait to make (and eat!) these! About how long would you say they stay fresh?
http://www.tsgcookin.com Terri

Oh yeah, baby. I have a 22 year old who is gonna worship her mother after I make these. The grocery store version were an integral part of swim meets for years. Thanks for figuring out the recipe. You will go down in history.
Nicole G

Geez,Annie! Your posts are dangerous!!! My hips and thighs will love this ;) Will definitley try this recipe next month for my son’s 3rd birthday! We are doing a pirate theme, I see red and white frosting with black sprinkles! Thanks again!
Sarah K

Yay! I’ve been waiting for this recipe since you mentioned that it was coming up in a previous post! They look wonderful!
http://www.sprinkletherapy.blogspot.com Kate

I’ll def have to try this recipe b/c i LOVE lofthouse cookies (:
Lydia

Can I say a huge Thank you so much for posting this recipe!! I must admit, I love those cookies as well. Can’t wait to make these cookies!
Annie

They stay fresh a pretty long time in my experience. I think I ate one about a week after Andrew’s party that had been sealed in a plastic bag and it still tasted great.
Danielle

So you use your 1/4 cup measuring cup as a scoop to put the dough on the cookie sheets?
Lisa

I LOVE those cookies. I’m going to have to make these. Right now our store has key lime flavored that are amazing. Wondering how to adapt this recipe to get that flavor in the icing.
http://theavidappetite.com Rachel @ The Avid Appetite

I too have a weird obsession with the store-bought ones. And they do taste artificial! I love your idea for the homemade version!!
Annie

I measure it out in the 1/4 cup, roll into a ball, and flatten slightly as described in the directions.
Julia

These look awesome! About how many cookies did this recipe make?
J.

I have made a killer frosted sugar cookie for years. I like to use almond extract in the frosting instead of vanilla. Amazing taste.
http://momentsthatmakealife.blogspot.com Kelley

I too loved those store bought cookies when I child brought them to our class party. I have been waiting for this recipe ever since you said it was coming.
Yippee!! That’s how serious I am about my sweets.
http://littlecornerofmyworld16.wordpress.com Lauren

I loooooove those cookies! I’m so happy to have a preservative-free option!
Annie

The yield is listed in the recipe :)
http://floptimism.blogspot.com Jess

I have a confession, too: no matter how into healthy eating I get, I’m still absolutely head over heels in love with those store-bought sugar cookies. Thanks for the recipe!
http://www.hurricanekitchen.blogspot.com Natalie

OMG. I love these cookies. PINK ICING COOKIES! YUM!
http://www.theundercovercook.com The Undercover Cook

These cookies look amazing! I have the same problem when I make something yummy ….then I have a whole delicious batch sitting there waiting to be eaten and enjoyed. Will power is so fleeting!
Julia

Wow…I worked a little too much today I think ;) Thanks!
Annie

I know the feeling…just finished a 13 hour shift and my brain is fried :)
http://www.wix.com/abbeykline/photography Abbey Kline

I absolutely LOVE that first shot of the cookies and the milk. It’s beautiful. Love the pink gradient in the background.
Annie

Thank you very much!
http://www.thecounselormom.com thecounselormom

YUM!!! They look amazing!! I can’t wait to try them. I’m with you, don’t ever buy them because of all the yuck in the store ones. These look scrumptious!
http://www.fleurdelicious.wordpress.com Hannah at FleurDeLicious

I made my own knock off recently too, sans cake mix! Yours are so pretty and pink! You don’t have to be ashamed of loving those grocery store cookie. I’m always secretly hoping someone will buy me a box for my birthday :)
http://thegazpachodiaries.blogspot.com/ Carol

Can’t wait to make these for my kids (ages 21 and 27), these were there favorites as teenagers!
http://www.kimschmidtphotography.com kim schmidt

Thank you for posting this! I’ve seen recipes that call for the box too and that drives me crazy. I’m excited to try these out!
http://pink-parsley.com Josie

Annie, I love these pictures! And of course the cookies look great too ;-)
http://alibquarterlifecrisis.blogspot.com/ Ali B

I’ve been looking forward to these cookies since you mentioned them in Andrew’s birthday party post. Thanks so much for sharing!
Amy

Those cookies are a serious weakness of mine. My friend bought them on a whim in college and I have been hooked ever since. My hubby doesn’t let me buy them except for special occasions because I can’t control myself around them, lol, and end up with a stomach ache! I am definitely printing this one to try soon!!!
Traci Howard

These beauties are on the cooling rack as I address this message! VERY excited to frost them in the morning! AGAIN, thank you for your posts!
http://theprocrastobaker.blogspot.com Sasha @ The Procrastobaker

Brilliant! I have never had a good sugar cookie like you described but i value your baking judgement highly and these must be good to deserve such praise! Lovely recipe :)
http://cafelula.wordpress.com Cafe Lula

These cookies are so, so cute. And your photography is really impressive, every photo is just lovely to look at!
Katie Jones

Love these photos! I know where to find those straws but where did you get the little mill jug??
Annie

Thank you! I think I found it at Crate and Barrel.
http://aplacetoreside.blogspot.com Marilyn

Those cookies at the store are so addictive! Thanks for the alternative. :-)
http://strawberry-chic.blogspot.com Andrea @ Strawberry-Chic

I give my husband a box of those cookies for almost every special occasion…he loves them (and I might too!) Thanks for the wonderful recipe, I’ll have to give it a try instead of buying them next time…plus I’m sure your recipe is way better!

by the way, I am going a GIVEAWAY for the “Best Bites” cookbook, would love it if you stopped by to check it out!

http://strawberry-chic.blogspot.com/2011/07/our-best-bites-giveaway.html
https://catalystcupcakes.wordpress.com/ Lia

I completely understand the pull of those cookies. I don’t buy them, but around holidays someone at work offers me one, and it’s really hard to resist. This such a great idea and I like it’s still a simple sugar cookie. As always great photos!
http://www.powerofmoms.com Anna

Thanks for sharing this! I have a friend who makes amazing sugar cookies that she loves to share, but she doesn’t share her recipe. Hoping these will “stack” up to hers!
Kate S.

Hmm. I already have a ‘clone’ recipe for those cookies that took me months of work . . . but I love everything you cook, so I’m really tempted to try your recipe. It’ll be painful concession for me if yours turns out better though: )
http://sweetluvininthekitchen.blogspot.com Michele

I LOVE those cookies too and, like you, don’t ever buy them but can’t resist of they’re offered! I have actually looked myself for a knock-off recipe for those but never found one I liked. I’ll be trying these though, I can’t wait!
Mary

Annie,
I have a question…how do I keep my family from eating all of them before I get them iced? The second batch is in the oven and the first is almost eaten.
Once again a true winner from you blog to my kitchen!
Mary
SB

I am so excited you posted this recipe! Those cookies are the only ones I would buy from the store because I think they taste delicious…but now I don’t have to :)
Margaret

These cookies are terrific! They are so much better than the grocery store ones. Thanks for such a great recipe
Lindsay

I haven’t stopped thinking about these all day… thank you for the great recipe! I can’t wait to make them soon. Until then, I’ll just daydream about them! Beautiful photos, too!
Traci Howard

Okay…SOOOOOOOOOOOO, I am on my third round of these beautiful cookies! They are outstanding <3
Diana V.P.

Hi Annie! Do you think it would be ok to cut the recipe in half? I really want to make these for my husband, but we don’t need the temptation around the house!
http:jenmaaninamman.wordpress.com jenmaan

I’m a sucker for anything pink. These cookies look amazing!
maggi

I have a regular girls night at my house and these would be so fun to make. Only problem is with 15 ladies coming we tend to overload on food so I normally do 1/2 batches of things. I thought I could cut it in half but with 3 eggs I can’t. So have you tried freezing the dough? I’m curious how that would work.
Annie

You can still cut it in half. I just put the egg in a small bowl or a glass, beat it with a fork, and then add half of it to the dough. I’m sure freezing the dough would be fine as well.
Annie

Sure, you can halve basically any recipe. Enjoy!
http://carlyskitchen.blogspot.com Carly

I took love those packaged sugar cookies, and if you say these are better I am literally off to my kitchen to make them! Thanks for the recipe!
Vicci

Thank you so much for this recipe. I went home and made them on Tuesday night, they made exactly 24 and we have TWO left!!! Amazingly good. I had trouble with the frosting. It was more of a royal icing than a fluffy kind. I didn’t have unsalted butter. Do you think that was the issue? Either way, they were way good! My waist line is kicking you from afar!
Annie

As it says in the recipe, you may need to add more milk to get it to a good consistency. I definitely add more than the base amount. Glad you enjoyed them!
Pamela

Oh, what did I do? I have been anxiously waiting to try these. My frosting is runny, really runny! I followed the directions…except I used the mixer instead of whisking it. Was that my problem? So sad, I was really dying to eat one!
Annie

You can just add more powdered sugar to thicken it.
Angela

Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. My father-in-law just had surgery and came home today after a week in the hospital. These kinds of cookies are his favorite, so I was grateful to have this recipe to whip up a batch to give him when he arrived home. They turned out great. Thanks again.
Charli

Yummy, yummy, yummy! Made half a batch and all came out perfectly. Now to get them out of the house to stop me eating them all!
http://www.kokolikes.com Koko

WOW these are my favorite cookies from the grocery store. Like you, I LOVE when a coworker brings them in so I can snack on them. SO excited to make these!
http://www.ginnyrecipes.blogspot.com Ginny

I found your site yesterday and these recipe and I made these yesterday. They are so good!
I put 3 in a little package and tied it with some raffia and handed quite a few out at church for a special treat last night. They were beautiful and a hit!
Thanks for posting!
http://akidchef.wordpress.com Riley

This looks like an awesome recipe. I love those storebought cookies and I’ve been searching for a homemade recipe, but I haven’t found one. I will definitely try it!
Vanessa G

I got a beautiful new kitchen aid mixer for my birthday and felt the need to bake something wonderful to try it out. Seeing how my husband is a cookie monster i thought there were perfect. THEY WERE A HIT!! Not only do they taste like the store but better!! The first batch was finished before the second was even ready. I have found my new party cookies. THANK YOU!!
Mary

Shouldn’t have done it, but I made them again tonight! My family loves them. They don’t last very long in this house with 4 adult children and a husband!
http://annies-eats.com ami

I made these cookies yesterday and there were buttery, sweet, and delicious. The aroma of the cookies in the oven was magical, the sweet smell of butter and vanilla. The glaze or frosting was perfect for the cookies. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Janna

I cant wait to try these! I never buy them either, but I sure do love it when people bring them over!
http://www.erikacuccaro.com/blog Erika Cuccaro

Hi Annie,

These cookies are fantastic…thanks for posting!! I topped mine with lime curd and they were out of this world.

Hope you’re having a great summer,

~ Erika.
Lisa

These are nothing short of amazing!!! My husband loves the store bought cookies, and I have been searching for months for a recipe to make him from scratch. I will search no more! I could tell from the moment I finished mixing the dough that they were going to be the type of cookie I was looking for. All the other recipes I’ve tried have made dry, tasteless, biscuit type cookies. These are melt-in-your-mouth, sweet pillows of Heaven! They are even better the next day. Thank you for posting!
http://www.limejuicesweettreats.com Frances

Everyone loved these, Annie. They are exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thanks for posting.
http://ryanisbaking.blogspot.com/ Ryan

Oh I made these two days ago and they only lasted a day. Love love love them, they tasted almost exactly like the kind from the grocery store only better. Also, your blog is amazing
Stephanie

My daughter and I made these right after your post and we are now working on a double batch for a picnic tomorrow. So easy, so delicious! Thanks!
Alishea

I just finished baking (or should I say eating) these cookies and they are amazing. I have to say that I just got some Tahitian vanilla beans so I decided to put one in the mix and they came out awesome. They actually really remind me of Starbuck’s petite vanilla scones (which I LOVE! and the recipe I have for those is much more complicated). I made the icing too thin at first and had to add more sugar (I am used to making the flood icing). Anyways, thanks so much for the recipe!
Alishea

Oh, I also made some of them half size (for my daughter) and baked them for 8 minutes if anyone else is curious. So cute!
Joscelyn S.

I absolutely love your website. I pick 2 or two of your recipes a week to try. Tried these today and they will be added to the cookie rotation :) Thanks so much for sharing your recipes and keep up the great work!
Mariah

Would rolling the dough into a log, chilling and then cutting into like….1/2 inch rounds work do you think?
Annie

The only way to know is to try it and see! Good luck :)
Nikki

Made these the other day and they were the most amazing cookies I have ever tasted. I had to give them away because I found myself hanging out by the cookie jar all day. They’re dangerous but delicious!!! They kept very well for several days, and tasted even better as the week went on. Thanks for a great recipe!
Jennifer M

These cookies are delicious! I made them for a work picnic over the weekend and they were a big hit. They are easy and cute! Six days later the cookies are still super soft. Make sure you flatten them quite a bit, my first batch was only slightly flattened and I thought they were too round and thick.
Kimberly Anderson

I loved these cookies! Thanks for sharing!
Molly F.

Oh my gosh! These are the only store bought cookie I would ever eat as well! Thanks for sharing a recipe that recreates and improves them.
Katie

Hi Annie, adore your site! I was just wondering how this dough would hold up to freezing. I made them for a family reunion a few weeks ago and they were a huge hit. I’d like to make them again, but certainly don’t need the whole batch for myself. Thanks!
Annie

You could always make a half batch. I haven’t frozen the dough so I can’t say for sure, but I don’t see why you couldn’t freeze it.
Amie

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This recipe is amazing. I rolled the dough out about 1/4-3/8″ inch and cut into circles before baking, and it held up perfectly. In fact, I’ve never had cutout cookies work so well before. They hardly spread at all, so they’re still almost perfectly round and thick and soft and pretty much just perfect. I didn’t use this frosting, though. I decided to try royal icing for the first time, and since these held their shape so well, I figured they’d be a good starting point. I saved a few, and I’m going to make a small batch of the frosting tomorrow to use with those.

Oh, and with my cookie cutter (actually an inverted wine glass), I cut out 24 cookies about 3″ in diameter and had plenty of dough left over. It’s in the freezer now. I’m guessing I can get another dozen out of it.

I’ll definitely be using this recipe again in the future. I think I’ll try adding a little more sugar next time and see how that turns out … my husband has a pretty strong sweet tooth; he has been known to eat pinches of sugar right out of the bag for a quick fix. ;) But I’m pretty pleased with this how it is. Thanks again!
alyssa

I love sugar cookies but these are the best
Nina

I made these last night :) They are VERY good. It was hard not to get a spoon and eat the icing :p
http://Fatuglyrhino.blogspot.com Lauren Ochoa

I made these today and they are just scrumptious. Very cakey. So easy I whipped the dough up and had a batch in the oven before the kids even knew I was baking. You should only try to bake 6 per pan though, because they spread quite a bit. I think I’ll make them a little smaller next time because they are very rich. You can have a lot of fun with different color combo’s on these as the dough and icing lend themselves perfectly to being colored. I think I will have to stick with your sugar cookies with royal icing as my favorite still though.
Emily

I made these cookies today and they were delicious… just like the ones from the store! I did use a different icing though; I have never been a fan of the confectioners’ sugar taste in my icing – always seems too overpowering. Great photographs!
Kmiller

I made them, they’re very good. Thanks for posting.
http://www.cuttingbackkitchen.com Katie

I have to say these cookies are wonderful! I have made them twice in the past few weeks, and I hardly ever do that. I just posted them on my blog…and I wanted to thank you for sharing them!
Andrea

I made these to take to work tomorrow ^^ I haven’t tried any (diet :( ) but my family says they are great! I did orange and yellow to kind of bring in the fall (go away summer!!!). The only problem I had was my cookies came out too round and puffy. I’ll definitely flatten them more next time. They smell great! I only have a few days left at this job, and I want them to miss me ;) Thanks for another winner Annie!
Ashley

Hi! I just wanted to see if the recipe should be 7-8 tsp instead of tbsp? My icing turned out much shinier/thin than in the picture. Thanks!!
Annie

No, the recipe is correct.
Kristina

I would like to make these for a NICU fundraiser. Do you think I could put them on a stick? We’ve found that items sell better when they are on a stick.
Annie

I think they might be a bit soft for that but the only way to know is to try it and see. Good luck!
Danielle

I had a question about the frosting
I love this frosting and it came out great when I made these cookies. It was yummy
However, it was thinner/runnier than the frosting on the store bought kind. I could paint it on the cookies.
The store bought kind seems very thick and stiff if that’s the right word – it stands up a little more/is more puffy. Almost like cake fosting
I tried adding extra powdered sugar to mine, but it still seemed thin.
Any ideas for a thicker/puffier type of frosting to pair with these delicious cookies?
Annie

You needed to add even more powdered sugar. You can make this frosting literally any consistency you want by adding more or less powdered sugar.
Kristina

Wanted to keep you posted on the great cookies on a stick project of 2011. While absolutely delicious, after about 2 bites they slowly start to slide down the stick. It was worth a shot. And I know my hubby will be thrilled to come home to a big plate of cookies.
Ellie

When my sisters and I were little, every time we went to the store, my mom would buy us each a sugar cookie from the bakery. It was always so soft and melted in my mouth. Ever since, I’ve tried numerous sugar cookie recipes and none of them tasted the same, except this kind! I’ve made it twice and it made 2 dozen, nice thick soft sugar cookies. I noticed each time though that when I started to add in the dry ingredients, the dough started to get way too dry. I always add a bit more vanilla to balence it out and maybe a little bit of water. The taste never tastes any different when I did this, but I’m wondering if anyone else had this problem?? I know I measure the flour right.
Annie

You may have a heavy hand when it comes to measuring the flour. You could try scooping more lightly. That is one downfall of measuring by volume instead of weight – my cup and your cup can be very different.
Beth

I really want to try these! How well do you think they would hold up in the mail? I’m 500 miles away from a lot of family and friends and would love to put some cookie packages together for them.
Jason

My family buy the store sugar cookies all the time. They love them. I seen your recipe and had to try it. Low and behold, we won’t be buying any for a long time! Your recipe is great and my four year old loved making them with me!!! Thanks for sharing!
Annie

I think they keep pretty well so as long as you pad them well and ship them quickly, they should be alright. I guess the only way to know for sure is to try and see. Good luck!
Jena

Hi there! I just came across your site and LOVE IT! and these are my families favorite cookies–I am making them today!
When you make the icing is there enough to put a little extra on the cookies? I like a good bit of icing, not to skimp. Just asking to see if I should double the batch on the icing?
http://www.meetthelaings.blogspot.com Kelly

I love these but they are my husbands absolute favorite, thank you so much.
Annie

There is plenty of icing here, but it only takes seconds to mix up a second batch so I would just make it as written and then make more if needed.
Rebecca

Annie: I made these cookies for the first time tonight. Seriously, these sugar cookies are amazing. I typically use royal icing on my sugar cookies, but this Buttercream variation is wonderful! So pretty and smooth
http://neuroticalison.blogspot.com alison

Annie, these look great. I love those bakery cookies, too. In your opinion, is the frosting sturdy enough to withstand being wrapped up for a bake sale? It annoys me when frosting gets all over the plastic wrap!
I realize royal frosting is the sturdiest, but I was wondering if these would be good for a bake sale.
Thanks!
Annie

This is definitely sturdy enough and the beauty of it is that you can make it thicker or thinner if you wish. Royal icing is more for decoration but this stuff actually tastes good. I hope you enjoy them!
http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com/ Manju

Hi Annie,
I am a recent visitor to your blog and ever since I’m hooked. Love everything about your blog.

I wanted to make some Sugar cookies for my office colleagues and you have so many beautiful posts on sugar cookies. I was wondering if this recipe(oft frosted Sugar cookie) is different from the recipe under Christmas cookies which you have mentioned is you favorite. Just wanted to know the difference and if I was gonna try a recipe (as a beginner) which one should I try.

Thanks a lot for your time and suggestions.

Regards, Manju
Annie

Yes, the two are very different. As you can see in these pictures, these are soft and fluffy while the others are a cutout cookie, more made for decorating. Enjoy whatever you decide!
Linda

Anne… YOU are My HERO!!! Nuff Said.. thank you for this recipe!
Flora Youwanes

Okay, so I made these for guests and served them warm without any frosting. You’d think, okay, how boring looking, right? Plain sugar cookies? Really? (That’s the look my guests gave me). Well….I had them coming up to me post party sheepishly asking if there were any for them to take home (there weren’t). They were soft, flaky almost, utterly fan-fricking-tastic!! Total hit.
http://agoodscottishname.blogspot.com/ Cassie

I tried to freeze the dough on these and it worked well. I baked half of the dough and then shaped the remaining dough into balls and froze them unbaked. When it was time to bake them, I just took them straight out of the freezer and baked them from frozen (Adding a few minutes of baking time). Then I made fresh frosting and it worked well. Great recipe!
tara

I made a double batch of these cookies and they were EXCELLENT. i made one batch of frosting and it almost covered both batches of cookies..i guess maybe i skimped a bit but didnt feel like it. I didnt add all of the milk that the recipe called for and i still had somewhat runny frosting so i had to add a lot more powdered sugar to get it to the consistency that i wanted so it wouldn’t spread on the cookies…but once i got the consistency right they were soooooo good !!! They lasted quite some time in tupperware containers. I cant wait to make these for christmas with red and green frosting and some christmas-y sprinkles !!!
Emily R

I just made these cookies and they are amazing! I, too, absolutely love those super soft sugar cookies that you can buy in the grocery store…but now I can just make them at home! Thanks for the lovely recipe! :)
betty

I love the grocery cookies.. These cookies turned out quite pretty, but they are super sweet. To me the store ones aren’t quite so sugary, but of course full of other things so I guess it’s a trade off
Amber

My sister and I just made these, and they are amazing! so much more better than the store bought ones. thanks so much :]
Nickie

OMGEEEEEE!!!!! This is the very best tasting SOFT sugar cookie recipe I have tried in 40yrs! I am not kidding. I love them. I made smaller size and got almost 5 dz. So glad I found you!
Sarah

Like all of your other recipes, this one has made it into my “keep” recipe box! They are absolutely perfect, and like you said, BETTER than the store cookies!
Jbeancuisine

I made two batches of these over the weekend and they turned out great! Just as a pointer to others, I rolled out the dough and use cookie cutters – and it worked perfectly. They looked cute and were definitely still soft.
Shauna

Whew! I just made these and they are AMAZING! Your site is one of a very few (really, only yours and PW!) that I can make a recipe without even trying it first and gladly serve it to people and know it will be a hit. I am really scaling down on Christmas cookies this year (I used to do tons of fun, detailed sugar cookies but I got to be way too much of a perfectionist and it was SO time consuming!) but I did want to do a sugar cookie type of cookie, so I decided to make these because they’re different than traditional sugar cookies but still fun and adorable! I just tasted one when it came out of the oven and they are even better than I remember the “grocery store cookies” tasting like! They are so soft, fluffy, buttery, and amazing! So basically this is a long, drawn out way of saying thank you for not only posting these, but for posting ALL of the amazing recipes you do!
Anonymous

I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed them so much, and that you love the site. Thanks!
Christy

SO GLAD they rolled out good. This is by far my fave sugar cookie recipe and I was going to try rolling them and hope for the best. Nice to know that someone already had success!
Sweetfloweret

We made them today… used cutters and cooked a few minutes less. SO good.
Kk8379

I was wondering the same thing and never thought of doing it that way. Thank you!
Laurieeusebio

I made these cookies and they turned out bitter and awful tasting. I put frosting to see if it would taste better, it did not! Can you please tell me what you think I did wrong when baking these cookies?
Anonymous

Please see the FAQ page. I’m not sure what to tell you. Sorry they didn’t turn out for you!
http://culinarilycourtney.blogspot.com/ CulinarilyCourtney

Just pinned this! These cookies remind me so much of my childhood.
Mommy2jands

Oh my goodness! These are so good! I am not a frosting person, but I have to say this is the best frosting I have ever tasted! I have to make sure I have a home for these cookies before making them or else I’ll be eating the whole batch! Thanks for the recipe and I love your blog.
SM

I’m going to guess this person made the same mistake I did today making them – using baking SODA not POWDER. dough tasted ok but the cookies were AWFUL and I quickly realized my mistake! Will definitely remake and pay closer attention to the ingredients!!
http://homepreferred.blogspot.com/ Noelle

I’m new here, my daughter was looking for a good sugar cookie for her school’s upcoming bake sale, so glad we found this!!!!!I love your site, I will be back for sure!!!
Anonymous

It’s fluffy, not hard. You probably needed a bit more milk. If you add too much milk, just add more powdered sugar – easy to fix!
Emily Myers

I have been searching for a good recipe for these cookies. lol I love these, they are so good. I love this website!
Anonymous

I doubt that would work well, both due to potency of the color and the extremely sweet syrup with an already sweet frosting. I’m sure you could make a frosting out of it – just not sure it would taste great.
Squid53

These look yummy! Can’t wait to make them.
B Freecaster

Just made these, they are delightful! Thank you!
Ariana Trimmer

Love these. I made them for some hungry Firefighters, and they were a hit at home too! Thanks for sharing.
Michele

Annie, I just found your web site last week and I love it!!! I made these cookies today with my girls and we had a lot of fun in the kitchen together. I put the cookies in a plastic bag (after refrigerating them) and they’re going to hand them out at school on Tuesday. They made sure I kept enough at home for them. :) These are the best cookies I’ve ever made. Thanks for sharing your recipes with us.
Kramer2006

Can you stack these for mailing or would that mess up the frosting?
I haven’t made them yet but they sure sound good. Thank you for sharing.
Anonymous

As long as you let the frosting “crust”, you should be able to stack them okay. I would probably still separate layers with wax or parchment paper.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1418291081 Jen McLeod Hammill

Beautiful pictures! I can’t wait to try this recipe. What are your thoughts on making the dough and refrigerating it overnight?
Anonymous

That should be fine.
Sapphirestar11

Those sound good. To bad I already made some. :(
Cathi

The cookies are amazing, in a word. Kids and adults can’t stop eating them. Win!

I have to comment on the frosting, however. Certainly it’s a versatile recipe and you can make it to whatever consistency you’d like. BUT. I’ve made this recipe twice as written and had to end up adding well over another cup of sugar. This time, I ran out of sugar before I was able to get the right consistency. My fault for not remembering this problem the first time. Just take my heads up and start with about half the milk. Also, I made about twenty large cookies from the dough recipe, but this frosting, both times, could have frosted forty large cookies. It’s too much as written so save yourself some sugar and half it. :)
Lisa

Looking forward to trying these. Did you use salted or unsalted butter for the cookies? (I know most baking recipes call for unsalted and want to adjust the salt accordingly. Thanks!
Denise

I made these last night and they are delicious! This morning I packaged each cookie up in a clear cello bag with red ribbon and brought it to my son’s valentine’s exchange at school. The frosting hardens up just enough to withstand the trip to school. My fam is very happy I didn’t send all the cookies to school as we’ll be devouring the rest for a few days. Thanks for the great recipe!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1418291081 Jen McLeod Hammill

They turned out so cute! The only thing I noticed that might be a result of being in the fridge overnight would be that the edges are not as smooth b/c the dough was awfully hard when I formed the balls and flattened them. Thanks for another great recipe!
Anonymous

Yeah, if that’s the case you might just need to let it warm up a while longer. You basically want it just firm enough to shape.
firegirl

Im making them now to send to the fire dept for my guy and his crew. I swear they would eat anything but I hope these turn out really good they will need a sweet treat while working outside in the cold.
James

Thank u very much :D!!!!!!
Mary

These cookies are delicious! This is definitely a new favorite recipe.
Will you (please) work on a red velvet version? I got some at the grocery store and would love to recreate them.
Thanks, Mary
Dnkemontoh

My boys, now 19 and 23, love my sister-in-law’s frosted sugar cookies so much that I just quit making cookies for them years ago. I tried this recipe and they now say my cookies are way better than hers! Woo hoo!
Makikosmith

Can you share your vanilla scone recipe?
Anonymous

Crate and Barrel.
Runmum38

I made these cookies for Valentines day, my boys were so impressed because they tasted just like the store bought ones! Only better, (without the added chemicals). I loved how easy they were to make and how buttery they were. These did not last a day in our house, they were family tested and approved! This is my new go to sugar cookie recipe. Thank you for sharing!!
Michele

Annie, I made these for Valentine’s Day for my children to bring to school. Instead of shaping the cookies into balls, I rolled the dough out and made heart cut-outs. My girls had a ball frosting the cookies and putting the Wilton holiday sprinkles on top. They said they got tons of compliments when the kids/teachers tasted them. Many thanks for another great recipe!
Melissa

I made these for my daughters first birthday party and they were so yummy! They are like little personalized cakes. I agree, the store bought ones look way better than it tastes. I have been snacking on the leftovers way too much!
annieseats

Please see the FAQ page regarding food storage.