Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies – Thick, Fluffy & Topped With Dreamy Buttercream Frosting

🎉 Introduction

These Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies taste just like the iconic grocery-store favorites — ultra soft, cakey, melt-in-your-mouth, and topped with a thick layer of fluffy buttercream and sprinkles. They’re lightly sweet, delicately flavored with vanilla and almond, and have that signature pillowy texture that makes Lofthouse cookies so addictive.

Unlike traditional sugar cookies, these are leavened and enriched — giving them a plush, almost cupcake-like crumb inside while still holding a beautiful round shape. With pastel frosting and colorful sprinkles, they’re perfect for holidays, birthdays, cookie boxes, and every celebration in between.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Hand or stand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Cookie scoop
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Rolling pin (optional)
• Cooling rack

🛒 Ingredients

Soft Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Dough

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup full-fat sour cream
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt

Fluffy Lofthouse-Style Frosting

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Cream Butter, Sugar & Sour Cream

Beat together:

• softened butter
• sugar

Mix 2–3 minutes until pale and fluffy.

Add sour cream and beat again until blended.

Add:

• egg
• vanilla
• almond extract

Beat until smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Whisk Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl combine:

• flour
• baking powder
• baking soda
• salt

Step 3: Combine

Add dry ingredients to wet and mix on low until a thick, soft dough forms.

Dough should be slightly sticky and pillow-like — don’t add extra flour.

Chill 30 minutes for easier handling.

Step 4: Shape & Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Scoop dough into 2–3 tbsp balls.
Gently flatten tops with your palm — Lofthouse cookies don’t spread much.

Place 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets.

Bake 9–11 minutes:

• edges should stay pale
• centers soft
• tops slightly puffed

Do NOT let them brown — pale = soft and fluffy.

Cool completely on a rack before frosting.

Step 5: Make the Lofthouse Frosting

Beat:

• softened butter
• powdered sugar

Add heavy cream + vanilla and beat until fluffy and spreadable.

Tint with pastel coloring if desired.

Step 6: Frost & Decorate

Spread a thick layer of buttercream on each cooled cookie.

Top with sprinkles for that iconic Lofthouse look.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Makes: 16–20 cookies
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Chill Time: 30 minutes
• Bake Time: 9–11 minutes
• Total Time: ~55 minutes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temperature: 3–4 days
Fridge: 1 week

Freezer:

• Frosted: freeze in a single layer, then stack
• Unfrosted: freeze up to 2 months

🥄 Variations

1. Birthday Cake Lofthouse Cookies
   Add sprinkles directly into the dough.
2. Almond Bakery Cookies
   Add extra almond extract + almond frosting.
3. Chocolate Lofthouse Cookies
   Add ¼ cup cocoa powder + more cream.
4. Cream Cheese Frosting Version
   Replace 2 tbsp butter with cream cheese.
5. Holiday Frosting Colors
   Red, green, pastel Easter shades, Valentine pink, etc.
6. Lemon Lofthouse Cookies
   Add lemon zest + lemon frosting.
7. Gluten-Free Lofthouse Cookies
   Use a 1:1 GF flour blend.
8. Peppermint Lofthouse Cookies
   Add peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.
9. Maple Frosted Lofthouse Cookies
   Add maple extract to frosting.
10. Strawberry Lofthouse Cookies
    Add strawberry powder to frosting.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Why are mine dense?
   Overmixing — mix dry ingredients only until combined.
2. Why didn’t they spread?
   They’re meant to stay thick and fluffy.
3. Can I skip sour cream?
   No — it’s key for soft, cakey texture.
4. Can I chill dough overnight?
   Yes — let soften slightly before scooping.
5. Can I use Greek yogurt?
   Yes — full-fat only.
6. Why pale cookies?
   Lofthouse-style cookies should NOT brown.
7. Why use almond extract?
   Classic Lofthouse flavor profile.
8. How do I get perfectly smooth frosting?
   Beat frosting for 3–4 minutes.
9. Can I pipe the frosting?
   Yes — use a round or star tip.
10. Can kids help?
    Absolutely — ideal for decorating.

🏁 Conclusion

These Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies are soft, cakey, richly flavored, and topped with a dreamy swirl of vanilla buttercream — delivering that iconic bakery-style experience right at home. Perfectly sweet, beautifully tender, and irresistibly charming, they’ll become your go-to soft cookie recipe for any occasion.

A classic, nostalgic treat made even better from scratch.

Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies – Thick, Fluffy & Topped With Dreamy Buttercream Frosting

These Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies taste just like the iconic grocery-store favorites — ultra soft, cakey, melt-in-your-mouth, and topped with a thick layer of fluffy buttercream and sprinkles. They’re lightly sweet, delicately flavored with vanilla and almond, and have that signature pillowy texture that makes Lofthouse cookies so addictive. Unlike traditional sugar cookies, these are leavened and enriched — giving them a plush, almost cupcake-like crumb inside while still holding a beautiful round shape. With pastel frosting and colorful sprinkles, they’re perfect for holidays, birthdays, cookie boxes, and every celebration in between.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 20 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

• Soft Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Dough
• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• ½ cup full-fat sour cream
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• Fluffy Lofthouse-Style Frosting
• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring optional
• Sprinkles

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Hand or stand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Cookie scoop
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Rolling pin (optional)
• Cooling rack

Method

 

Step 1: Cream Butter, Sugar & Sour Cream

1. Beat together:
2. softened butter
3. sugar
4. Mix 2–3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
5. Add sour cream and beat again until blended.
6. Add:
7. egg
8. vanilla
9. almond extract
10. Beat until smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Whisk Dry Ingredients

1. In a separate bowl combine:
2. flour
3. baking powder
4. baking soda
5. salt

Step 3: Combine

1. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix on low until a thick, soft dough forms.
2. Dough should be slightly sticky and pillow-like — don’t add extra flour.
3. Chill 30 minutes for easier handling.

Step 4: Shape & Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Scoop dough into 2–3 tbsp balls.
3. Gently flatten tops with your palm — Lofthouse cookies don’t spread much.
4. Place 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets.
5. Bake 9–11 minutes:
6. edges should stay pale
7. centers soft
8. tops slightly puffed
9. Do NOT let them brown — pale = soft and fluffy.
10. Cool completely on a rack before frosting.

Step 5: Make the Lofthouse Frosting

Beat:

1. softened butter
2. powdered sugar
3. Add heavy cream + vanilla and beat until fluffy and spreadable.
4. Tint with pastel coloring if desired.

Step 6: Frost & Decorate

1. Spread a thick layer of buttercream on each cooled cookie.
2. Top with sprinkles for that iconic Lofthouse look.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temperature: 3–4 days
Fridge: 1 week

Freezer:

Frosted: freeze in a single layer, then stack

Unfrosted: freeze up to 2 months

🥄 Variations

Birthday Cake Lofthouse Cookies
Add sprinkles directly into the dough.

Almond Bakery Cookies
Add extra almond extract + almond frosting.

Chocolate Lofthouse Cookies
Add ¼ cup cocoa powder + more cream.

Cream Cheese Frosting Version
Replace 2 tbsp butter with cream cheese.

Holiday Frosting Colors
Red, green, pastel Easter shades, Valentine pink, etc.

Lemon Lofthouse Cookies
Add lemon zest + lemon frosting.

Gluten-Free Lofthouse Cookies
Use a 1:1 GF flour blend.

Peppermint Lofthouse Cookies
Add peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.

Maple Frosted Lofthouse Cookies
Add maple extract to frosting.

Strawberry Lofthouse Cookies
Add strawberry powder to frosting.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why are mine dense?
Overmixing — mix dry ingredients only until combined.

Why didn’t they spread?
They’re meant to stay thick and fluffy.

Can I skip sour cream?
No — it’s key for soft, cakey texture.

Can I chill dough overnight?
Yes — let soften slightly before scooping.

Can I use Greek yogurt?
Yes — full-fat only.

Why pale cookies?
Lofthouse-style cookies should NOT brown.

Why use almond extract?
Classic Lofthouse flavor profile.

How do I get perfectly smooth frosting?
Beat frosting for 3–4 minutes.

Can I pipe the frosting?
Yes — use a round or star tip.

Can kids help?
Absolutely — ideal for decorating.

🏁 Conclusion

These Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies are soft, cakey, richly flavored, and topped with a dreamy swirl of vanilla buttercream — delivering that iconic bakery-style experience right at home. Perfectly sweet, beautifully tender, and irresistibly charming, they’ll become your go-to soft cookie recipe for any occasion.

A classic, nostalgic treat made even better from scratch.