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    Flouring Kitchen » Cookies and Bars

    Buttercream Frosted Sugar Cookies

    Published: Dec 21, 2021 · Modified: Jan 9, 2022 by Mary · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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    These buttercream frosted sugar cookies are soft, extra thick, and topped with the most luscious whipped buttercream. This recipe makes chocolate and vanilla frosting so you can have both! The sugar cookies have that classic flavour thanks to some almond and vanilla extract. Top with your favourite sprinkles to dress them up and serve. They're perfect for a birthday or holiday party. Try not to eat the whole tray, you won't be able to resist! They're - dare I say, even better than lofthouse frosted sugar cookies?

    Why you will LOVE this recipe:

    • Thick: These cookies are thick, soft, have that classic sugar cookie flavour! They work so well with the buttercream.
    • Buttercream: This simple, whipped buttercream is perfect in every way thanks to some whipped cream added at the end. Creamy, fluffy, and smooth. Pile on as much frosting as you like onto the cookies, it's your world!
    • Chocolate AND Vanilla: This recipe makes both chocolate and vanilla buttercream. You can have just one flavour if you like but I love the option of choosing and alternating flavours.
    Vanilla buttercream frosted sugar cookies

    Extra thick and soft

    These buttercream frosted sugar cookies have sour cream and a few tablespoons of cornstarch that help make them super soft. They're rolled out pretty thick and cut into large cookies. They puff up quite a bit in the oven and work so well with the frosting because they aren't overly rich themselves.

    The perfect party cookie!

    They're the perfect cookie and can be adapted to any occasion! You can top them with holiday sprinkles, birthday sprinkles, or adapt them to any other theme. Here is how I decorated them for Christmas! Crushed candy canes, sanding sugar, and a christmas sprinkles mix.

    holiday buttercream frosted sugar cookies

    Whipped buttercream frosting

    The buttercream is incredibly creamy and smooth thanks to some added heavy whipping cream at the end! It makes the frosting so luscious and fluffy. It really is the key to the best frosting ever.

    How to get both chocolate and vanilla buttercream in one batch

    Once you make the vanilla buttercream, it's so easy to turn half of it into a creamy, rich, chocolate buttercream. Set aside half of the vanilla buttercream and add some sifted cocoa powder into the other half. Beat until it's fully incorporated. If you need to loosen it up some more after adding the cocoa powder, add an extra tablespoon or two of heavy whipping cream.

    Bitten chocolate buttercream frosted sugar cookie

    Key ingredients

    Full steps and ingredients in recipe card below. But read through these for all the tips you will need for success!

    Sour cream: This helps give the cookies a beautiful soft texture and gives them lots of lift. It adds a lot of flavour and a very subtle tang too!

    Almond extract: No sugar cookie is complete without almond extract. You can find it in the baking aisle of your local grocery store.

    Butter: Use good quality, real butter for best results. You can use salted butter if you prefer, just omit the salt. It will be just as delicious!

    All purpose flour: Weigh the flour to get the most accurate results. If you don’t have a scale, measure properly by stirring the bag and spooning gently into a measuring cup. Scrape the excess off the top with the flat edge off a knife without packing it into the cup.

    Cornstarch: This helps to make the cookie texture extra soft and thick. You can substitute with arrowroot starch or for double the amount of all purpose flour.

    Sprinkles: You need to top the cookies off with a lil bit of crunch! Sprinkles really are a must. You can use chopped chocolate bars if you prefer no sprinkles.

    Heavy whipping cream: Use a 35% or higher cream for the best results. Do not go lower than 32% milk fat. This is super important to make the buttercream super creamy, luscious, and silky smooth.

    Cocoa powder: This is used to flavour half the buttercream chocolate. You can use dutch processed or natural cocoa powder. If you want a richer chocolate flavour you can add an extra tablespoon.

    Tray of vanilla and chocolate frosted buttercream sugar cookies

    Step by step

    Step 1 - Beat butter and sugar. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine butter, sugar, and salt. Beat with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 8 minutes. Scrape down the bowl halfway through.

    Step 2 - Combine wet ingredients. Add egg and yolk into the butter and beat until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and beat again. Add sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract to the bowl. Beat until light and fluffy again. Scrape down the bowl and beat again.

    Step 3 - Add dry ingredients. Sift flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and baking soda into the bowl and fold until no more dry streaks remain. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap tightly to prevent it from drying out. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

    Step 4 - Roll and cut. Preheat oven to 180°C or 355°F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface or in between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll to ½” thickness. Using a 3” round cookie cutter, cut out circles, re-rolling the dough as needed.

    Step 5 - Bake. Place the cut cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet and pop in the freezer for 5 minutes or in the fridge for 10 minutes. Bake 2-3" apart for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden brown at the bottom and puffed at the top. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    • Adding eggs to beaten butter
    • Sugar cookie wet ingredients
    • Sugar cookie dough ready to chill
    • Cutting out sugar cookies
    • unbaked sugar cookies
    • baked sugar cookies

    Step 6 - Buttercream. Beat butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy, about 8-10 minutes. Scrape down the bowl halfway through. Add vanilla and beat until light and fluffy again. Add heavy whipping cream, a tablespoon at a time until buttercream and beat on low speed until light and fluffy.

    Step 7 - Flavour buttercream chocolate. Set aside half of the buttercream in a separate bowl. Into the remaining frosting, add cocoa powder and beat until fully incorporated. Add more heavy whipping cream a tablespoon at a time into the chocolate frosting to loosen if needed.

    Step 8 - Frost cookies. Frost half the cookies with vanilla buttercream and the other half with chocolate buttercream. Top with sprinkles of choice and serve! You can serve the buttercream frosted sugar cookies at room temperature or refrigerated.

    • Beat butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy
    • Finished vanilla buttercream
    • buttercream frosting chocolate
    • Tray of vanilla and chocolate frosted buttercream sugar cookies

    FAQ

    Do I really need to chill the cookie dough?

    You really do need to chill the dough. This helps relax the gluten and firm up the butter. It makes for a softer cookie that holds its shape in the oven better. I also like to pop the rolled and cut cookies in the freezer right before baking.

    Can I substitute the cornstarch?

    I recommend adding the cornstarch because it makes for a softer cookie. You can substitute it with the same amount of arrowroot starch or 4 tablespoons of all purpose flour.

    Can I colour the frosting?

    You can colour the frosting with whatever colour you like to fit your theme!

    Can I make all the buttercream chocolate flavoured?

    Of course you can! Just double the amount of cocoa powder and add it into the whole batch of frosting.

    Are these regular sugar cookies?

    These have the flavour of regular sugar cookies but are much softer, lighter, and thicker. They work even better with the frosting because the cookies themselves aren't overly sweet and rich.

    Are these lofthouse cookies?

    Dare I say, these are even better than lofthouse cookies? The buttercream is creamy and rich, the cookies are extra thick and soft, and you won't be able to resist eating at least 3 of them. You're going to love these buttercream frosted sugar cookies

    Check out these other recipes:

    • Dulce de Leche Cookies
    • Easy Rocky Road Cookies
    • Blueberry Cream Cheese Cookies – Soft & Chewy

    Happy baking!

    Did you make this recipe? I would love for you to rate this recipe and hear what you think in the comments below!

    Share your creation on Instagram and tag @flouringkitchen. Follow me on Pinterest to save and for more recipe ideas.

    bitten thick frosted sugar cookie

    Buttercream Frosted Sugar Cookies

    Mary
    These buttercream frosted sugar cookies are soft, extra thick, and topped with the most luscious whipped buttercream. This recipe makes chocolate and vanilla frosting so you can have both! The sugar cookies have that classic flavour thanks to some almond and vanilla extract. Top with your favourite sprinkles to dress them up and serve. They're perfect for a birthday or holiday party. Try not to eat the whole tray, you won't be able to resist!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Baking, Cookies, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15 cookies

    Equipment

    • 3" round cookie cutter
    • stand mixer or electric mixer

    Ingredients
     
     

    Sugar Cookies

    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 large whole egg room temperature
    • 1 large egg yolk room temperature
    • ½ cup sour cream room temperature
    • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour 300g
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda

    Buttercream

    • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 5-8 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
    • ¼ cup cocoa powder sifted
    • 5 tablespoons sprinkles

    Instructions
     

    Sugar Cookies

    • In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine butter, sugar, and salt. Beat with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 8 minutes. Scrape down the bowl halfway through.
      ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt
    • Add egg and yolk into the butter and beat until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and beat again.
      1 large whole egg, 1 large egg yolk
    • Add sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract to the bowl. Beat until light and fluffy again. Scrape down the bowl and beat again.
      ½ cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • Sift flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and baking soda into the bowl and fold until no more dry streaks remain. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap tightly to prevent it from drying out. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
      2 ½ cups all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • Preheat oven to 180°C or 355°F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface or in between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll to ½” thickness. Using a 3” round cookie cutter, cut out circles, re-rolling the dough as needed.
    • Place the cut cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet and pop in the freezer for 5 minutes or in the fridge for 10 minutes.
    • Bake 2-3" apart for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden brown at the bottom and puffed at the top. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    Buttercream

    • Beat butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy, about 8-10 minutes. Scrape down the bowl halfway through. Add vanilla and beat until light and fluffy again.
      ¾ cup unsalted butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • Add heavy whipping cream, a tablespoon at a time until buttercream and beat on low speed until light and fluffy.
      5-8 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
    • Set aside half of the buttercream in a separate bowl. Into the remaining frosting, add cocoa powder and beat until fully incorporated.
      ¼ cup cocoa powder
    • Add more heavy whipping cream a tablespoon at a time into the chocolate frosting to loosen if needed.
    • Frost half the cookies with vanilla buttercream and the other half with chocolate buttercream. Sprinkle with sprinkles of choice and serve! You can serve them at room temperature or refrigerated.
      5 tablespoons sprinkles

    Notes

    Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Serve cold or at room temperature.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Chocolate Praline Cake
    Slice and Bake Peppermint Shortbread Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rea Rae

      March 06, 2022 at 7:26 pm

      Your recipe sounds wonderful because I love a thick, soft, buttercream frosted cookies. I have two questions first before I try them. Do you suggest q round cutter because the won't keep their shape well with a mire intricut cutter? I'd love to make 3" unicorn profiles with this recipe. My other question concerns the cocoa powder. I have this strange taste aversion to frostings, cookies and brownies made with cocoa powder, that other people don't seem to notice. The cocoa powder leaves a strange aftertaste. Weird, right? I don't get that taste when I use melted(cooled) unsweetened chocolate in a bar form. Could I use that for the chocolate flavoring in the frosting? How much and would i omit some of the cream?

      Reply
      • Mary

        March 07, 2022 at 10:19 pm

        Hi there, the cookies do spread and puff up in the oven so you'll lose detail if you use a more intricate cookie cutter. I'd just stick to a round cookie cutter. I haven't tried to use melted chocolate for flavouring this buttercream. My best bet would be to melt a bar of chocolate and add as much as you need to get a chocolate flavour. Keep tasting as you go. You may need to reduce the cream, just add until it gets a nice and creamy texture. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Cynthia

      February 06, 2022 at 12:00 am

      Hi, would greek yogurt work in place of the sour cream?

      Reply
      • Mary

        February 08, 2022 at 5:24 pm

        Hi, I wouldn't recommend greek yogurt because it would make the dough too wet since greeh yogurt has a higher water content than sour cream. If you do try with it, I'd add another tablespoon of flour. Hope that helps! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Alex

      January 02, 2022 at 12:56 am

      5 stars
      These cookies were fun to make and my family couldn't stop eating them. The frosting is so creamy. Would make again!

      Reply
      • Mary

        January 02, 2022 at 1:00 am

        So happy you and yours enjoyed them! 😀

        Reply

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