Homemade Lofthouse Cookies with Frosting Recipe

If you’re craving a soft, pillowy cookie that’s bursting with sweet frosting and colorful sprinkles, you’re going to flip for this Homemade Lofthouse Cookies with Frosting Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come out perfectly tender and that luscious, buttery frosting just melts in your mouth. When I first tried making these at home, I was amazed at how easy it was to get bakery-quality cookies without any fuss. Stick with me, and I’ll share all my tips so you can nail this recipe every single time.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this recipe plays a crucial role in building that perfect Lofthouse cookie texture and flavor. From the all-purpose flour to the almond extract, they blend together beautifully to give you those soft-centered, sweetly flavored treats that everyone loves.

• All-purpose flour: The backbone of the cookies, it provides structure without making them tough.
• Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the cookies rise gently, keeping them light and fluffy.
• Cornstarch: This is my secret to that ultra-soft texture—it tenderizes the dough wonderfully.
• Kosher salt: Just a pinch to balance sweetness and bring out flavors.
• Salted butter: Using salted butter adds just the right amount of seasoning and richness.
• Granulated sugar: For sweetness and a slight crisp edge underneath the soft center.
• Eggs: They bind everything together and add moisture.
• Sour cream: Helps keep the cookies moist and tender with a subtle tang.
• Vanilla and almond extracts: These two extracts create a lovely depth of flavor—don’t skip the almond; it’s what truly elevates the taste.
• For the Frosting: Unsalted butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and almond extracts, salt, food coloring, and colorful sprinkles for the ultimate festive finish!

Variations

I always encourage experimenting a bit once you get comfortable with the base recipe. Whether you want to add your favorite flavors or accommodate dietary needs, it’s easy to tweak the classic Homemade Lofthouse Cookies with Frosting Recipe to make it your own.

• Gluten-Free Version: I swapped all-purpose flour for a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend once, and the cookies still came out soft and delicious.
• Flavor Twists: Try replacing almond extract with lemon or orange extract for a fresh citrus vibe my family adored.
• Vegan Adaptation: Using vegan butter and a flax egg substitute, I managed a tasty batch—just remember the frosting might need some adjusting!
• Sprinkle Fun: Use seasonal or holiday-themed sprinkles to customize for any occasion. My kids love getting involved here.

How to Make Homemade Lofthouse Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Whisk together your dry ingredients

Start by combining the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch, and kosher salt in a medium bowl. Whisking these together ensures that your leavening agents and salt disperse evenly throughout the dough, which is an easy step to avoid pockets of baking soda or salt in your cookies.

Step 2: Cream butter and sugar, then add the wet ingredients

In your stand mixer bowl with a paddle attachment, cream the room-temperature butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy—about 3 to 4 minutes. Adding the eggs one at a time helps the mixture emulsify properly. Then stir in the sour cream, vanilla extract, and almond extract. I love how the sour cream adds moisture and just a hint of tang that balances the sweetness wonderfully.

Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients

Switch your mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture little by little, just until combined. Be careful not to overmix here; you want the dough to come together but stay soft and tender. Overworking the gluten will make your cookies tough, and that’s exactly what we want to avoid.

Step 4: Chill your dough

Form the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, and pop it in the fridge for at least an hour. I know it’s tempting to skip this step, but chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to handle and helping the cookies keep their shape without spreading too much.

Step 5: Roll and cut your cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F. On a floured surface, roll the dough out a bit thicker than ¼ inch. Using a 2-3 inch cookie cutter, cut out circles and transfer them gently to a baking sheet lined with parchment. These cookies don’t spread much, so it’s okay to place them a little closer together.

Step 6: Bake and cool

Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes until the edges are just set and the bottoms are lightly golden. You want to avoid overbaking because these cookies flourish in their soft, tender state. Move them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Step 7: Make the luscious frosting

While the cookies cool, whip up that dreamy frosting. Beat the unsalted room-temp butter until smooth using the whisk attachment. Gradually add the powdered sugar, then the milk, vanilla and almond extracts, and kosher salt. If you want to get festive, mix in food coloring now. The frosting should be thick, creamy, and spreadable. Adjust the milk slightly if it’s too thick or thin.

Step 8: Frost and decorate

Once the cookies are fully cooled, spread or pipe the frosting generously on top. Finish by sprinkling your colored sprinkles right away so they stick beautifully before the frosting sets. Trust me, the sprinkles add a joyful pop and crunch that’s irresistible!

How to Serve Homemade Lofthouse Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic colorful sprinkles because they bring that nostalgic, festive vibe I love—plus, sprinkles add a slight crunch that contrasts the soft cookie and creamy frosting. Sometimes I add edible glitter or a light dusting of sanding sugar for extra sparkle during holidays.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk—that’s a no-brainer! I also love serving them alongside a warm cup of coffee or tea, especially when sharing with friends during cozy afternoon chats.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I like arranging these cookies on tiered stands decorated with fresh flowers for a whimsical look. They also make wonderful gifts: stack a few in a decorative box tied with a ribbon. Kids adore decorating their own cookies, so setting up a cookie-decorating station is a huge hit at birthdays.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Lofthouse cookies in an airtight container at room temperature if I plan to eat them within 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate to keep the frosting fresh up to 5 days, but I recommend letting them come to room temp before enjoying to soften that frosting.

Freezing

I’ve had great success freezing both the baked cookies and the frosting separately. Freeze the cookies on a tray first, then transfer them to a freezer bag to keep them from sticking together. The frosting can be stored in an airtight container. When ready, thaw everything overnight in the fridge.

Reheating

If you’re reheating frozen cookies, I gently warm them in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to freshen them up without melting the frosting. If frosting was added before freezing, I recommend thawing first and serving chilled or at room temperature.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Homemade Lofthouse Cookies with Frosting Recipe has become one of my go-to treats whenever I want to impress without stress. The way the cookies stay soft for days, combined with the smooth, dreamy frosting, makes them irresistible every single time. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser that’s just bursting with classic bakery charm, give this recipe a try—you’ll be surprised how simple it is to make these cozy sweets at home, and I promise, your friends and family will be asking for the recipe too!

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