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Super easy and delicious NO ROLL Sugar Cookies with a delicious frosting. No rolling pin needed for these – just drop and bake!
We have so many sugar cookie recipes that we love, but this one is by far the simplest! Try our other variations including this Funfetti version, as well as our Strawberry Frosted Sugar Cookies.
AKA Drop Sugar Cookies
I may be slightly obsessed with Sugar Cookies. They are probably my favorite cookie of all, and I’m sure it has to be because there is a nice layer of delicious frosting on top. It may be the kid in me, but I simply LOVE a delicious and soft cookie covered in frosting and sprinkles!!
Over the years, my mom has tried so many recipes for sugar cookies and we have usually liked them all, but we have definitely picked out our favorites. The one I am sharing today just happens to be one of those “favorites” and it’s not just because they are finger-licking delicious, but because they are really simple.
As you see from the title above, these are No Roll Sugar Cookies (aka “Drop Sugar Cookies”) which means there is no rolling involved, you just plop the dough on the cookie sheet. Easy, right?
I love that these don’t need to be rolled because I feel like Sugar Cookies can be a little crunchy if you roll them too thin, and in my mind Crunchy Sugar Cookies are a no-go. I need them soft and I can tell you right now that these cookies are SUPER soft and seriously so delicious!
how to make drop Sugar Cookies
The best thing is that no rolling is involved!!
PREP. Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
COOKIE DOUGH. In bowl or stand mixer cream shortening, butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and extracts and mix well. Combine baking powder, salt and flour in a separate bowl. Gradually add to the wet mixture until blended.
BAKE. Using cooking scoop, lightly roll dough ball in hands, place on parchment paper lined baking sheet and press top of cookies half way down. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Tip: The use of butter and shortening help give these cookies a nice thick chewy cookie without the added chill time. If you want your cookies thinner just press down on the cookie dough ball a little more before baking.
Recipe Tips + Tricks
Be sure to read these tips before making these cookies – they’ll help!
- This recipe is easy to double for large parties or to freeze some for later.
- Instead of frosting them, you can dip the top in sprinkles before baking
- If you do not have parchment paper, simply spray the cookie sheet with cooking spray.
- Don’t over mix! Beating too much air into the butter mixture can cause them to rise and fall flat. Also, over mixing the flour can activate the gluten too much yielding a tougher cookie.
homemade Buttercream Frosting
For the frosting, beat butter until fluffy using a hand mixer. Add vanilla and milk. Blend lightly. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time. Use food coloring to change the color of the frosting if you like.
The final texture should be solid, but soft. Frost the cookies and add sprinkles if desired!
Frosting Fun: The pink frosting sprinkle tops are pretty, simple and delicious. Since you’re just using food coloring to make pink, you can easily change up the frosting color. You can also use different kinds of sprinkles. Holiday sprinkles would definitely make a festive treat.
Storing, Tips, & Tricks
Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. To help keep them soft and chewy stick a slice of white sandwich bread in the container as well. The bread will suck excess moisture leaving your cookies softer longer.
You can make these cookies ahead of time and store them in the freezer to be used later. This is helpful for a last minute family treat or to have on hand to put in kids’ lunchboxes.
- Freezing baked cookie: I recommend freezing these unfrosted. If they have already been frosted you’ll want to flash freeze* them first. Store them in an airtight freezer safe container for about 3 months. To be extra cautious wrap each cookie with plastic wrap first.
- Freezing cookie dough: Form cookie dough balls and flash freeze. Store them in an airtight freezer safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw dough before baking. You may need to add a minute or two to the bake time.
- *Flash freezing: Place cookie/dough on a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze for a couple hours before transferring them to an airtight container. This will help them keep their shape and avoid sticking to one another.
Nothing better than a Frosted Delicious Sugar Cookie!!
For More Sugar Cookie recipes, check out:
- Favorite Sugar Cookies
- Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Gooey Funfetti Sugar Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Bars
- Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies
- Brown Sugar Cookies
More Collections: Sugar Cookie Recipes
Drop Sugar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Cookie
- ⅓ cup shortening
- ⅓ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour plus 2 tbsp
Frosting
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In bowl or stand mixer cream shortening, butter, and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and extracts and mix well.
- Combine baking powder, salt, and flour in a separate bowl. Gradually add to the wet mixture until blended.
- Using cooking scoop, lightly roll dough ball in hands, place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet and press top of cookies half way down.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- For frosting, beat butter until fluffy using a hand mixer. Add vanilla and milk. Blend lightly. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time. Texture should be solid but soft. Frost cookies.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Im asking What 11/2 cups of flour mwan
It means one and half cups of flour needed 😉 Enjoy!
Can I double the recipe at once? Or do I need to make each batch separately if I want more cookies? I once read that it’s not a good idea to double the recipe when making cookies. But if I can, it would be a lot faster.
Yes, you can double it the first time. Hope you like them!
Hello Happy holidays
I was wondering if this cookie dough batch is freezable? If I freeze them in cookie balls do you know if the cookie dough would come out the same when defrosted meaning the softness? Thanks in advance.
I honestly have not tried with this recipe, so I am not sure if it would change it. They should be ok 🙂
I haven’t made these no roll sugar cookies, yet. My daughter-in-law had a recipe for one that she made often. They were delicious; and, I loved the convenience of not having to roll and cut. I hate messing with flour. She always rolled them in sugar before pressing them down. I will be making these very soon 🙂 I also love Snickerdoodles, a close cousin to a sugar cookie.
My two favorite cookies!! I hope you give them a try & hope you like them!! They are super easy & good!
You will probably get a kick out of this, but I went to make this recipe and I was mixing my dry ingredients. I then realized I was out of baking powder. Then I realized I was out of baking soda, and cream of tartar. I basically had to throw these cookies in the oven and hope for the best. I was not dissappointed! They came out perfectly, and the icing was top notch. I added a little bit of sweetened flaked coconut on top of my icing! Definitely my new sugar cookie recipe
Oh, I am so glad they still turned out! I hate when that happens! Hopefully, you will like them even more when all the ingredients are added 🙂
I have tried countless dropped sugar cookie recipes; some I tossed in garbage they were so bad. I felt like I was eating a spoonful of sugar with no taste. This recipe by far is the BEST DROPPED SUGAR COOKIE.EASY TO MAKE I USED CRISCO WITH BUTTER IT HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT IF SUGAR, THEY are everything and much more.I rate this a 10 star…. You must double the recipe for sure; guaranteed to go quickly great cookie for a bake sale. Takes very little time and note lavish ingredients. Thank you????????????????????????????????????
You are so nice! Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found this recipe 🙂
How many cookies can you make from this recipe?
You can get a couple dozen, but it also depends on how big you make them. Hope that helps!! Thanks so much!
Hi please can you tell me what TB flour is, I’m from the UK thanks
It is a tablespoon of flour 🙂 I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
I made these yesterday and they are the BEST sugar cookies ever! (and no rolling out and cutting) Thanks! Merry Christmas!
It’s definitely nice that you don’t have to roll and cut out!! 😀 SO glad you like them!
I love that you don’t have to roll the dough out. It’s a tradition in our family to make cut-out cookies and decorate them for Christmas. I like this recipe for throughout the rest of the year. Thanks so much for the great recipe!!
We’re used to rolling them too but it’s nice to have a recipe where you don’t have to for those lazy days. 😉