The next time you find yourself tempted to pick up a package of Lofthouse Cookies from the grocery store, do yourself a favor...and don't. Enticing as those gorgeously thick supermarket sugar cookies may be, you're guaranteed superior results at home. These homemade Lofthouse Cookies are loaded with big vanilla flavor and come adorned with a generous smear of frosting and a happy sprinkle of colorful Jimmies. Like biting into sweet, little clouds from heaven, sugar cookies do not get better than this.
Although in the sugar cookie family, Lofthouse Cookies come together much easier -- no rolling dough, and no chilling required. Simple to make and versatile, you can dress these cookies up with different colored frostings and sprinkles to go along with any holiday!
LOFTHOUSE COOKIES INGREDIENTS
- Cake Flour - Lofthouse Cookies without cake flour aren't really Lofthouse Cookies at all. Cake flour is flour that has been sifted 3 times, making it light, airy, and extra fine. It's what gives these cookies their signature cake-like texture and pillowy soft look.
- Baking Powder - Because there is very little acid in this cookie recipe, baking powder is needed as a leavener. Do not confuse baking soda for baking powder. It will not provide your cookies with the same kind of rise and shape.
- Butter and Shortening - These Lofthouse Cookies use a combination of both butter and shortening for best results. The butter adds flavor while the shortening ensures we keep in line with a cake-like texture. Be sure to use unsalted butter and plain-flavored vegetable shortening. Butter-flavored shortening has a tendency to taste overly processed.
- Granulated Sugar - Similar to classic sugar cookies, the only sugar you will need for your cookie base is granulated (white) sugar. This type of sugar will allow both the flavor of the vanilla and butter to shine.
- Eggs - You will need two large eggs for your Lofthouse cookies.
- Vanilla Extract - Use pure vanilla extract over imitation extract for best results.
LOFTHOUSE COOKIE FROSTING
For a perfectly delicious, fluffy, Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Frosting you will need to have these frosting basics on hand: powdered sugar, shortening, and milk. In addition to the essentials, you'll also need vanilla and salt. Although the vanilla and salt are added in very small increments, these two ingredients take any basic frosting recipe from good to positively delicious.
HOW TO MAKE LOFTHOUSE COOKIES
MAKE THE COOKIES
- Mix Dry Ingredients - In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter, Shortening, and Sugar - Creaming the butter and the sugar together is an important step for a light and airy Lofthouse Cookie. To begin, you'll first add the butter and the shortening to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (if you do not have a stand mixer, you can use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer instead). Beat the two together on medium-high speed to combine. Then, add the granulated sugar and mix with the fats for at least 3-4 minutes more, until lightened in color and fluffy. Do not skimp on this step.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla - Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the egg one at a time, mixing well after each addition. This next step is extremely important for a nicely shaped cookie, without wonky edges: scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl once more, and make sure the eggs are evenly incorporated into the batter before moving on to the dry ingredients. Add the vanilla and mix to combine.
- Mix in Dry Ingredients - To complete the batter, add the dry ingredients and mix on low until fully incorporated.
- Scoop and Bake - Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Place the dough balls on the baking sheet about 1-2" apart and bake for 14 minutes, just until the bottom edges are lightly tinging with gold. Remove from the oven, transfer to a cooling rack, and allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting. Do not frost a warm cookie -- the frosting will melt!
HOW TO MAKE FROSTING FOR LOFTHOUSE COOKIES
- Combine Ingredients - Add all of the frosting ingredients to the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and begin mixing on low. Again, if you do not have a stand mixer, use a handheld mixer and a large mixing bowl.
- Mix On Medium-High - Once the sugar is mostly mixed in, it's safe to increase the speed to medium-high, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Frost the Cookies - Add a dollop of frosting to the top of each cookie and spread to the edges using either the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula. Top with your frosted Lofthouse Cookies with sprinkles, serve and enjoy!
HOW LONG DO LOFTHOUSE COOKIE LAST?
You can store Lofthouse Cookies at room temperature in an airtight container and they will stay fresh for 3-4 days. However, take note you should store cookies with frosting in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can pull from your refrigerated stash for 5-6 days.
CAN I FREEZE THESE COOKIES?
To make Lofthouse Cookies in advance, bake as directed and allow them to completely cool. Then, place them in a freezer-safe, airtight container, separated by sheets of wax paper for up to 2 months. Be sure to allow them to come back to room temperature before applying any sugar cookie frosting.
If you'd prefer to get the frosting out of the way up front, you can store them frosted, but you’ll need to take extra precaution when arranging them in the storage container. Be sure to separate each layer with wax paper and take care to stack them delicately.
5 MORE COOKIE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Sugar Cookies with Icing feature a homemade sugar cookie dough and an easy buttercream frosting. A truly beautiful holiday recipe that can be adapted for any celebration!
- Chocolate Chip Cookies bake up beautifully every single time, just like the ones you see at bakeries and specialty shops. They're moist and chewy on the inside and fully loaded with chocolate chips!
- Snickerdoodle Cookies are the perfect cookie for sinking your teeth into come the holidays! Featuring a thick, super soft Snickerdoodle cookie with big cinnamon flavor.
- Thumbprint Hershey Kiss Cookies are bite-sized peanut butter blossoms made for gifting (and snacking) come the holidays! They’re soft and chewy, and loads of fun for baking with kids!
- Ginger Molasses Cookies bake up crackly and soft, and are full of warm and cozy spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, and perfect for holiday gift-giving!
Lofthouse Cookies Recipe with Frosting
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cup cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup shortening, room temperature
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup shortening, room temperature
- ⅓ cup milk (preferably at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
Make the Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 375° and have ready a baking sheet lined with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside until ready to use.
- Add the butter and the shortening to the bowl of stand mixer fitter with a paddle attachment. If you do not have a stand mixer, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. Beat on medium-high speed to combine. Add the granulated sugar, and mix on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until lightened in color and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the egg one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl once more. Add the vanilla and mix to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until fully incorporated.
- Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Place on baking sheet about 1-2" apart and bake for 14 minutes, just until the bottom edges are lightly tinging with gold. Remove from the oven, transfer to a cooling rack, and allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting.
Make the Frosting:
- Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and begin mixing on low. If you do not have a stand mixer, use a handheld mixer and a large mixing bowl.
- Once the sugar is mostly mixed in, increase the speed to medium-high, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add a dollop of frosting to the top of each cookie and spread to the edges using either the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula. Top with sprinkles, serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Julia says
These cookies look so pretty! I bet they taste amazing!
Erika says
These are the BEST cookies, yum!
Taylor says
These cookies were my absolute FAVORITE growing up! This recipe tastes just like the real deal!
Erica Schwarz says
I never knew what these were called, but I know I love them! I'll leave the frosting white and use Christmas colored jimmies too. to make for the holidays.
Emily Liao says
These sugar cookies were amazing! Can't wait to whip up another batch for Christmas 🙂
Irina says
These cookies are the best! They are going into my baking list this holiday season. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa Huff says
Love how thick and fluffy these Lofthouse cookies look! Great for the holidays!
Anita says
These cookies are so pretty. It will be a fun activities for the kids to decorate the cookies. 🙂
Sara Welch says
Love how light and fluffy these are; easily a new favorite recipe! Delish!
Mandy says
There are very tasty, but not like the lofthouse brand. Theirs are light, airy and have layers. However, I would not hesitate to make these again.