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I've made so many trips to the store buying those soft cookies with frosting that I finally figured out how to make them at home. These cookies taste just like Lofthouse ones - they're incredibly soft with a thick layer of smooth frosting on top. I enjoy adding fun sprinkles for holidays or whenever we want something extra special for dessert.
What Makes These Cookies Special
When you bite into these cookies, you'll be amazed at how fluffy they are - like taking a bite of softness covered in sweet creamy topping. You probably already have all the ingredients in your kitchen, and you can customize them for any event. My children always want to help add sprinkles, and I must admit I enjoy it too.
Essential Components
- Cake Flour: This flour creates that signature softness that melts when you take a bite.
- Sour Cream: It makes the cookies super tender and adds a subtle tanginess.
- Butter: Splurge on quality butter since it improves both cookie base and topping.
- Powdered Sugar: Creates that velvety frosting texture with perfect sweetness.
- Vanilla and Almond Extracts: Together they create that unforgettable flavor combo.
- Sprinkles: Choose colors that match your celebration theme.
Simple Preparation Guide
- Prepare Your Mixture
- Combine all dry components in a separate bowl. In your main bowl, whip butter and sugar until light, then add sour cream, eggs and both extracts. Mix everything together just enough to form your dough.
- Rest and Form
- Divide dough into two portions, wrap them up and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Later, flatten each portion to half-inch thickness and cut out your cookie shapes.
- Cook
- Place them in your oven at 350°F for roughly 8-9 minutes. They should be barely golden around the edges. Allow them to cool completely before adding frosting.
- Top and Finish
- Beat your frosting until it's airy and smooth. Add a layer to each cooled cookie then top with your chosen sprinkles. Let frosting firm up before you stack them.
Secrets for Amazing Soft Cookies
- Use Ingredients At Room Temperature: Pull everything out of the fridge ahead of time for smoother mixing.
- Mix Minimally: Once ingredients come together, stop mixing to keep them soft.
- Let Dough Rest: The waiting part isn't fun but cold dough makes better cookies.
- Load Up The Topping: Go big with the frosting as it's what makes these cookies so good.
- Watch Your Timer: Take them out when they're barely done as they'll continue cooking on the hot pan.
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Keeping Them Fresh
Store your finished cookies in a sealed container and they'll stay soft up to a week. If you put them in the fridge, let them warm up before eating. You can also freeze them for later - just put parchment paper between layers if they're already frosted.
Creating Themed Treats
You can transform these cookies for any event or holiday. Just change the frosting color and pick different sprinkles. Try red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or blue for baby showers. You can get as creative as you want with endless color combinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why mix at room temperature?
It makes everything blend smoothly and gives you the right cookie texture.
- → Does chilling really matter?
Yes, it firms the dough up for easier handling and ensures your cookies don’t spread too much.
- → Can I bake these in advance?
Sure, keep unfrosted ones in a sealed container at room temperature and they’ll stay fresh.
- → What’s the deal with cake flour?
It’s the secret for super soft and delicate cookies, like the Lofthouse style.
- → Why use so much frosting?
The thick frosting is what makes Lofthouse-style cookies stand out.