Lofthouse Cookies are a favorite store bought soft sugar cookie. With this copycat recipe you can make them at home! Soft on the outside and the inside. Topped with delicious frosting!
These soft sugar cookies are delicious! Like Butter Cookies they don’t spread when baking.
They will rise and become a wonderful cake-like texture in the middle.
They are fun to decorate and easy to change up.
Make them in the classic style or try Lofthouse Cookies with peppermint frosting and decoration for the holidays!
What are Lofthouse Cookies?
These soft sugar cookies are a grocery store cookie famous for their melt-in-your-mouth silky cake-like texture.
You’ll have recognized them from their pink frosting and sprinkles.
The cookies themselves don’t have an overwhelming amount of flavor. The frosting makes up for that.
They have a certain special something that is impossible to recreate in a homemade copycat Lofthouse Cookie recipe….but we think ourS comes as close as you can get.
The Secret of Lofthouse Sugar Cookies
The baking powder, baking soda and cornstarch combination keeps the cookies soft and cakey.
Sour cream makes them moist. We’ve added a bit more flavor to the cookies themselves and think the frosting pairs well.
The addition of corn syrup allows the frosting to ‘set’ or develop a thin outer crust so they aren’t messy to handle.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Lofthouse Cookies
All Purpose Flour. Regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend may be used. For gluten-free baking we use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free 1-to-1 Flour Blend.
Cornstarch. Keeps the cookies soft with a silky cakey texture.
Baking Soda. Helps with rising and the texture.
Baking Powder. Helps with rising and the texture.
Salt. We recommend kosher salt for a best tasting salt.
Unsalted Butter. Be sure the butter is room temperature or softened before starting the recipe.
Granulated Sugar. The sweetener.
Eggs. You’ll need 3 large eggs. Be sure to add them one at a time mixing them in before adding the next one.
Vanilla Extract and Almond Extract. Gives the flavor.
Sour Cream. Keeps the cookies moist.
Cookie Frosting
Powdered Sugar. Confectioner’s or powdered sugar is the sweet base for most frosting recipes, this one included.
Unsalted Butter. Start with room temperature or softened butter.
Light Corn Syrup. Adding corn syrup adds some sweetening but the more exciting thing is that it causes the frosting to set.
After about 15 minutes it develops a thin outside crust that keeps the frosting from being messy when handled AND allows the cookies to be carefully stacked.
Vanilla Extract. Gives flavor.
Heavy Cream. Makes the frosting richer and is used to adjust the frosting consistency.
Salt. A pinch of salt makes all the difference with the flavor. We recommend kosher salt which is a less salty tasting salt.
Food Coloring. Any food coloring will work but for brilliant lasting color gel food coloring is the best.
Americolor or Wilton both make excellent food coloring that is available where quality baking supplies or sold. It can also be found online.
Sprinkles. Any sprinkles can be used.
How to Make the Cookies – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Preparation.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
STEP 2. Mix the Dry Ingredients.
In a large bowl sift together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt (photo 1). Set aside.
STEP 3. Mix the Wet Ingredients.
In a second large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar (photo 2) until light and fluffy. Use a standing or hand held mixer.
Add the eggs one by one mixing in between (photo 3).
Add the sour cream, almond extract and vanilla extract (photo 4). Mix just until combined.
STEP 4. Make the Cookie Dough.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients (photo 5). Mix slowly over low speed until fully combined. NOTE: it will have the consistency of thick cake batter.
STEP 5. Bake the Cookies.
Drop the dough by large tablespoons or using a medium cookie scoop onto the prepared pan (photo 6).
Use the back side of a dining spoon lightly dipped in flout to flatten the cookies(photo 7 and 8). The flat bottom of a glass works too.
NOTE: the cookies do not spread much so press them to the desired size before baking.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until they no longer appear wet and are just starting to have golden edges.
STEP 6. Cool the Cookies.
Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes.
Move to a wire rack to fully cool before frosting.
While they cool, make the frosting.
How to Make the Frosting – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Make the Frosting.
In a large bowl mix together the butter and powdered sugar with a hand held or stand mixer (standing or hand held) (photo 1). NOTE: it will NOT be creamy just roughly mixed as seen in photo 2.
Add the extracts, corn syrup and heavy cream (photo 2). Mix until frosting has formed (photo 3).
Add food coloring (photo 3) and mix until fully blended (photo 4).
STEP 2. Frost and Top the Cookies.
Frost the cookies (photo 5) and top with sprinkles (photos 6 ) . Allow the cookies to sit until the frosting sets (15-20 minutes).
Storing Them
Store frosted cookies in an airtight container. Place sheets of wax paper between single layer rows of the cookies.
They can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
- Sugar Cookie Frosting recipe
- Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting recipe
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Toffee Cookies recipe
Recipe
Lofthouse Cookies (Soft Sugar Cookies)
Ingredients
Cookies
- 4 cups all purpose flour regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter room temperature (softened)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup sour cream
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature (softened)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream
- Food Coloring (any color) Americolor Gels Deep Pink used for the cookies in the photos
Topping
- ½ cup sprinkles for regular version (non peppermint holiday version)
Instructions
Making the Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a cookie sheet with a non-stick baking spray or line the sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In second large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.
- Add in the eggs, one at a time and mixing between each one.
- Add the vanilla extract, almond extract, and sour cream and mix until just combined.
- Slowly add the flour mixture while mixing on a low speed, continue adding and mixing until the dough is formed and the ingredients are well combined.NOTE: The mixture will be very wet, like a really thick cake batter.
- Scoop a heaping tablespoon amount of dough, or use a medium sized cookie scoop, and place dough onto a cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Using the backside of a spoon, lightly dip the spoon into flour and flatten out the cookie.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the top of the cookie no longer appears wet.
- Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and prepare the frosting once cooled.
Making the Frosting
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, combine the powdered sugar and butter until it’s mixed together. NOTE: it will not be creamy at this stage, just mixed.
- Add in the vanilla extract, corn syrup, salt and half of the heavy cream. Mix everything until well combined and the frosting has formed.If a thinner consistency is desired continue adding the heavy cream and mixing until the desired consistency has been reached.
- Add a few drops of food coloring and mix until well incorporated.
Topping the cookies
- Frost the cookies, top the cookies with sprinkles. Place on a cooling rack or piece of wax paper until frosting sets (15 to 20 minutes).
Notes
- These cookies are super soft on the outside and on the inside.
They don’t spread much in the oven so flatten them to the desired size before baking.
Barb M. says
These are the best cake-like cookies with delicious butter cream and they look so pretty, too! A great holiday project with the kids and plenty to deliver a few to friends! They turned out perfectly! Thanks!
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad Barb! Thank you for your comment! Happy Holidays.
Gretchen says
By any chance, if I make a bunch today (or soon) could I freeze them to bring out closer to Christmas?
Toni Dash says
Are you making the regular or holiday version (with crushed candy canes)? My suggestions differ for each type!
Katie says
These are such a favorite in our home- and having the recipe allows me to add things or change up some of the flavors, such as the almond flavoring or maybe adding peppermint. Thanks for such a good one!
katerina says
My kids love these lofthouse cookies! They look and taste incredibly delicious!!