Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

These Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies are thick, ultra-soft, and topped with a dreamy vanilla buttercream that melts in your mouth. The best part? No rolling pins, no cookie cutters, and no chilling required. Just scoop, bake, frost, and sprinkle. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, bake sales, or whenever you’re craving a classic bakery-style cookie at home. Soft centers, lightly golden edges, and that sweet buttery frosting make these completely irresistible.

table of contents

Time Breakdown

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 11 minutes
• Total Time: 36 minutes
• Servings: 18 cookies

Ingredients List

For the Cookies

• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (225 g) + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk (room temperature)
• ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
• 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon table salt

For the Frosting

• ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups (188 g) powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon table salt
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles (optional)

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer
• Cookie scoop (2-Tablespoon size)
• Spatula

Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions

1️⃣ Prep the Oven

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2️⃣ Cream Butter & Sugar 🧈

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). The mixture should look pale and creamy.

3️⃣ Add Wet Ingredients 🥚

Mix in egg, egg yolk, sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat until fully combined and smooth.

4️⃣ Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients on low speed. Mix until just combined. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.

5️⃣ Scoop & Bake 🍪

Scoop 2-Tablespoon portions onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10–11 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.

Immediately after baking, gently flatten cookies with the bottom of a measuring cup for smooth tops.

Let cool completely before frosting.

6️⃣ Make the Frosting ✨

Beat butter until smooth.
Gradually mix in powdered sugar on low speed.
Add vanilla and salt.
Add food coloring if desired.

Spread frosting over cooled cookies and top with sprinkles.

Pro Tips

• Room temperature ingredients create softer cookies.
• Do not overbake — slightly underbaked centers keep them ultra-soft.
• Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 2 months.
• For bakery-style smooth frosting, use an offset spatula.

Nutrition Table

Serving Size	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat	Fiber	Sugar
1 cookie	273	2g	35g	14g	0.5g	21g

Disclaimer: Nutrition facts are estimated using online calculators and may vary depending on brands and portion sizes. Consult a nutrition professional for exact values.

Conclusion

These Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies are everything you love about bakery-style sugar cookies — thick, soft, sweet, and beautifully frosted — without any complicated steps. Perfect for celebrations or simple sweet cravings.