Frosted Sugar Cookies

Our ALL-TIME favorite Sugar Cookie recipe!! These homemade sugar cookies are so soft and have the best, creamy frosting with hints of almond. They can’t be beat!

Sugar cookies are our all-time favorite cookie!! If you feel the same, you’ll love our sugar cookie bars and no roll sugar cookies.

Bite taken out of Frosted Sugar cookie on cake stand.

so soft and so good!

I LOVE homemade cookies, and especially frosted sugar cookies! But, I’m also kinda picky about them.

  • They cannot be crunchy. They have to be super SOFT!
  • Frosting to Cookie Ratio needs to be spot on.
  • Hints of almond are always a must (If you’ve never had a cookie with a hint of almond extract, you haven’t truly lived.)

Fortunately, my mom found the BEST Sugar Cookie recipe years ago and we’ve been making them ever since.

In fact, they are so good that we get requests to make them for different events and/or wedding receptions. They’re really just that good.

In my opinion, the reason this cookie recipe is so good is because it meets all of my above requirements. The texture is soft, they have the perfect amount of frosting and the best flavors of almond in the cookie and frosting.

We think you’ll love them too!

Batter for sugar cookies in mixing bowl.

How to Make Frosted Sugar Cookies

Even though we like to have these cookies a certain way, they’re still quite simple to make – and they don’t need to chill making them even easier.

CREAM. Make sugar cookies by creaming together the butter, cream cheese, sugars, egg and almond extract in a large bowl. Beat at medium-high speed until fluffy.

DRY INGREDIENTS. In another bowl, combine all purpose flour, baking powder and salt.

COMBINE. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir (or mix with hand mixer or in stand mixer) until soft dough forms.

ROLL OUT. Roll out the dough using a rolling pin onto a lightly floured surface to about 3/8″ thick. Cut with a cookie cutter (we typically use round cookie cutters but change the shape often for holidays).

BAKE. Place on baking sheets and bake at 375 degrees for about 8-10 minutes.

Homemade Sugar Cookie dough rolled out on pastry cloth.

Recipe Tips + Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to make sure these cookies turn out nice and soft:

  • When making your dough, do not handle it too much. Over-mixing the dough can make it tough.
  • Roll out the dough to about 3/8″ thick. Thinner dough will cook too fast, making crunchy cookies.

How do I know the cookies are done? There should no longer be a shine to the cookie when they are done, but we also like to use a metal spatula to look at the bottom of the cookie. It should be slightly golden brown, but if it’s completely golden brown, then it’s overdone.

What to do when sugar cookie dough is too dry? If your dough is literally crumbling apart and cracking as you try to roll it, the best thing to do is sprinkle on small amounts of water (water is least likely to change the form of the cookie dough as it bakes) and knead it in until the dough stops breaking.

Be careful to not overdo it and make it gooey!

What to do when sugar cookie dough is too sticky? Make sure you use proper techniques when measuring out your flour so that you get the correct amount that the recipe calls for. If you need to add extra flour, sprinkle in a few tablespoons at a time, until you get the right consistency.

How to Make Sugar Cookies process image - with cookie cutter cutting out shapes.

our favorite Frosting

Everyone has different preferences on their sugar cookie icing. Some like cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting or even royal icing.

Because there is cream cheese in the cookie recipe, we like this classic sugar cookie frosting, which includes:

  • ⅓ cup butter
  • 4 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • food coloring (optional)

To make the frosting, mix all the ingredients with a hand mixer. Add more milk until it’s the consistency you desire most.

And you can add food coloring if you want to (we prefer the gel food coloring). Top it with some delicious jimmy sprinkles, and you’re set!!

NOTE: Keep frosting in the fridge until ready to frost. Stir well before adding to cookies.

Sugar Cookie Frosting in bowl.

Frequently asked questions about sugar cookies

How to store frosted sugar cookies?

We recommend storing them in an air-tight container (after the frosting has set) and keep them on the counter.

How long do they last?

They should last for up to 4-5 days. You can extend this by a day or two with putting them in the refrigerator.

How to freeze?

If you’re planning on freezing your cookies, try to freeze them before you add the frosting. They’ll hold up better unfrosted. Either way, stack them in an airtight container separated by sheets of wax paper or parchment paper in the freezer.

How to change up for the holidays?

This is easily done based on the cookie cutter shape, color of your frosting and what sprinkles you use to decorate. You can see samples below, but here are links as well:
Valentine’s Sugar Cookies
Easter Sugar Cookies
Halloween Sugar Cookies
Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies
Christmas Sugar Cookies

I could seriously eat a dozen of these sugar cookies! They are just so soft, so flavorful and so delicious! I highly recommend these cookies and would love to get your feedback. 😉

Frosted sugar cookies on white cake stand.

More Collections: Sugar Cookie Recipes

Frosted Sugar Cookie Recipe

4.94 from 105 votes
Our ALL-TIME favorite Sugar Cookie recipe!! They are always so soft and have the best, creamy frosting with hints of almond. Everyone loves these delicious sugar cookies.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 24
Calories 260 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

Cookies

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 egg
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Frosting

  • cups powdered sugar
  • cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¼ cup milk plus more as needed
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • food coloring

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and set aside.
  • To make cookie dough, cream butter, cream cheese, both sugars, almond extract and egg in a large bowl or stand mixer until fluffy.
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.
  • Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about ⅜ inch thick (roll thinner for more crunchy sugar cookies).
  • Cut with cookie cutters and bake for 9–12 minutes on the prepared cookie sheet. Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a rack to cool.
  • To make frosting, mix all ingredients in a medium bowl with a hand mixer. If too thick, add a little more milk.
  • Frost cookies and let set before storing.

Video

Notes

Make Ahead: You can prepare the dough as directed, cover tightly, and store it in the refrigerator  for 1–2 days before baking. Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Frost right before serving.

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

  1. Hi, I’m just wondering if you chilled your dough at all. In the video it skipped that rolling process. I don’t know about anyone else but I get a lot of my information from all steps to help me with the consistency though the whole process

  2. I am making these cookies now. I used proper measuring techniques for the flour but my dough was very sticky. I ended up adding 8 extra tablespoons of flour and I’m still not sure the dough will be not be sticky to roll and cut. Is the amount of flour in the recipe accurate?

    1. It is! The dough may be a bit sticky, but it sounds like you added in flour just the right way. You can also try chilling the dough. And then of course rolling onto a floured surface. Hope you enjoy the cookies!!

  3. 5 stars
    These really ARE the best sugar cookies. My family raves about them. I’ve even made them with a royal icing for more detailed decorating, and they worked perfectly. These come together super fast because you don’t have to wait for the dough to chill. They do have a sticky dough, but I just cover my counter with a sprinkle of flour and then sprinkle flour as I roll out. They bake beautifully, and they don’t spread and lose their shape. I go back to this recipe every time. They are so addicting. Great recipe. Always recommend it.

  4. Just now making this recipe and my resulting dough is way too soft to even think about rolling and cutting into shapes. Should it have been 4 oz cream cheese?

  5. 5 stars
    This recipe was very easy and the cookies turned out so tasty, soft, and the frosting was nice and sweet. :). Will definitely make this sugar cookie recipe again. Even though the dough was a bit sticky, it wasn’t hard to roll out with a nicely floured surface and a little bit of flour here and there. Highly recommend and thank you for sharing this recipe!

  6. 5 stars
    These sugar cookies were a homerun! My daughter’s friends could not stop raving about them, we had to hide these tasty treats they were going so fast!

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