Copycat Lofthouse Cookies
Ditch the bakery with this better-than-the-bakery Copycat Lofthouse Cookies recipe! Pillow-soft and topped with sweet, creamy frosting, these cookies will have you coming back for seconds in no time.
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These Copycat Lofthouse Cookies are the perfect treat for any occasion and the best part? You don’t even have to go to the bakery to get your hands on these. You’re going to adore these soft sugar cookies! They perfectly hit that sweet spot when the sugar cravings kick in, and trust me, you’ll find yourself sneaking just one more… again and again.
I’m completely smitten with these Lofthouse Sugar Cookies because they are simply sugar cookie goals! They’re pillow-soft, tender, and sweetened just right.
Although these frosted sugar cookies are a hit at any celebration (like baby showers or wedding showers), I often find myself baking a batch just for us at home. Nothing beats the cozy feeling of enjoying a homemade treat with the family, and these cookies always manage to bring out the smiles.
Table of Contents
Best Cookies
What sets these cookies apart is the creamy frosting that works perfectly with the soft texture of the cookies. And let’s not forget the sprinkles. Adding that pop of color makes them a hit with kids and grown-ups!
And hey, a cookie jar is an essential kitchen staple if you’re anything like me. What’s a cup of tea without something sweet, right? We’re all about this selection of easy Christmas Cookies as they are so effortless, and let’s not forget these Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Why Make This Recipe
- Deliciously Soft and Sweet – These cookies are incredibly soft and melt in your mouth, with just the right amount of sweetness.
- Homemade And Affordable – There’s something special about homemade cookies that store-bought treats can’t match. These cookies offer that homemade goodness in every bite at a fraction of the cost of bakery cookies.
- Perfect for Make Ahead – You can prepare the dough ahead of time and bake the cookies whenever you’re ready, making them great for busy schedules.
Ingredient Notes
- Cake Flour – Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, resulting in a softer, more tender cookie. You can substitute all-purpose flour.
- Cream of Tartar – This lifts the cookies and helps maintain their shape.
- Baking Powder – Helps the cookies rise and gives them a light, fluffy texture.
- Salt – Enhances the flavor of the cookies and balances the sweetness. Use kosher salt or sea salt.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter to have better control over the saltiness.
- Granulated Sugar – White sugar sweetens the cookies. We don’t recommend using brown sugar as it will alter the color and flavor of the cookies.
- Egg – Adds structure and moisture to the cookies.
- Vanilla Extract adds flavor and enhances the overall taste of the cookies. You could also use almond extract.
- Heavy Cream – Adds richness and moisture to the cookie dough.
- Vegetable Oil – Use your favorite light, neutral-flavored oil.
- Powdered Sugar – Using powdered sugar in the frosting keeps it nice and smooth.
- Food Coloring – Add food dye or coloring to color the frosting to match the occasion.
- Sprinkles – Choose a color of sprinkles that corresponds with the occasion. We love rainbow sprinkles.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
How To Make Lofthouse Cookies
Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.
To make the cookies:
Step 1. Cream the softened butter and sugar in a stand or hand mixer until fluffy.
Step 2. Add the remaining wet ingredients and blend together again until creamy.
Step 3. Sift the cake flour and other dry ingredients into the wet batter before folding them in. Mix until combined, and a thick dough forms.
Step 4. Cover in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Step 5. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use a large, 2-inch cookie scoop to scoop the chilled cookie dough onto the baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie.
Step 6. Bake cookies for 12 minutes or until the cookies are set and have barely browned at the edges.
Cool the cookies completely before frosting.
To prepare the frosting:
Step 1. In a mixing bowl, blend the butter until light and fluffy.
Add the powdered sugar and salt and blend them to a crumbly consistency.
Step 2. Blend in the vanilla and heavy cream until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
Step 3. Color the frosting, if desired, and transfer it to a piping bag.
Step 4. Create a thick swirl with the piping bag, then smooth with a butter knife. Top it with colorful sprinkles.
Expert Tips
- Bring the butter, egg, and heavy cream to room temperature for a smoother batter.
- Chilling the dough for at least an hour helps the cookies maintain their shape and improve their texture.
- Use a kitchen scale or measuring cups and spoons to measure your ingredients accurately for the best results.
- Mix the dough until just combined to avoid tough cookies.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform-sized cookies.
- Leave about 2 inches between the cookies because they will spread a bit
- If you bake these in batches, cool the cookie sheets before adding more dough.
- Cool the cookies completely before frosting.
Delicious Variations
- Add Citrus – To give the cookies a bright citrus flavor, add the zest of a lemon, lime, or orange.
- Add Chocolate – Mix chocolate chips or chunks to the dough for a chocolatey twist.
- Add Nuts – Chopped nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds, for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
- Sandwich Cookies – Sandwich two cookies with a layer of frosting for an extra sweet treat.
Prep And Storage
- Prep – Prepare the cookie dough to cool for at least one hour.
- Store – Store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freeze – Cool the baked cookies, then store them in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To freeze unbaked cookies, arrange dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag, using parchment to separate layers. Keep frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, do so straight from the freezer, just adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
FAQs
Lofthouse Cookies get their name from Lofthouse of Fleetwood Ltd., the company that created these soft, frosted sugar cookies in 1994 in Utah. Founded by Stephen Paul Lofthouse, the cookies are known for their thick, cake-like texture and colorful frosting. They’ve become a popular treat in supermarkets across the United States.
These cookies are loved for their unique, cake-like softness and generous topping of smooth, colorful frosting. Their perfectly balanced sweetness and festive appearance make them a hit for all ages and occasions.
Lofthouse cookies owe their softness to a recipe that includes moisture-rich ingredients like sour cream, cream or buttermilk, along with leavening agents like baking powder or baking soda. These ingredients, combined with the creaming of sugar and butter, ensure the cookies puff up during baking and achieve a light, cake-like texture.
Similar Recipes
Looking for more EASY, delicious, and flavorful recipes? I’ve got you covered. Check out my full collection of cookie recipes or start a few of my most popular recipes:
- Best Easy Oatmeal Cookies
- Funfetti Cake Batter Dip
- Moster Cookie Dough Dip.
- Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 12 Days of Easy Christmas Cookies
- Air Fryer Brownie Mix Cookies
Serve with:
- Hot Chocolate – There’s nothing like a warm cup of hot chocolate to dip those soft, frosted cookies into. It’s the ultimate comfort combo for a cozy night in.
- Vanilla Ice Cream – For a dessert treat, serve your cookies with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. The soft texture of the cookies paired with cold, smooth ice cream is pure bliss.
- Dalgona Coffee – Its light, airy texture and rich coffee flavor provide a tasty contrast to the soft and creamy cookies.
Recommended Tools
- A hand mixer or stand mixer for mixing the dough.
- Large baking sheets.
- A set of mixing bowls to make the cookie recipe.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Thank you for reading my Lofthouse cookies recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Copycat Lofthouse Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2 cups (250g) cake flour
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup (150g) white granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Frosting
- ¼ cup (58g) unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup (115g) powdered sugar
- ⅙ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- food dye
- Sprinkles
Instructions
To make the cookies:
- Cream the softened butter and sugar in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until fluffy.
- Add the remaining wet ingredients and blend together again until creamy.
- Sift in the cake flour and other dry ingredients before folding into the wet batter. Mix until just combined and a thick dough forms.
- Cover in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use a large, 2-inch cookie scoop to scoop the chilled cookie dough onto the baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until the cookies are set and have barely browned at the edges.
- Cool the cookies completely before frosting.
To prepare the frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, blend the butter until light and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar and salt blending to a crumbly consistency.
- Blend in the vanilla and heavy cream until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Color the frosting, if desired and transfer to a piping bag.
- Cut a large hole in the end of the bag and frost the cookies by creating a thick large swirl from the center to the edges, then smooth with a butter knife.
- Repeat with all the cookies and top with colorful sprinkles.
Notes
- Bring the butter, egg, and heavy cream to room temperature for a smoother batter.
- Chilling the dough for at least an hour helps the cookies maintain their shape and improve their texture.
- Use a kitchen scale or measuring cups and spoons to accurately measure your ingredients for the best results.
- Mix the dough until just combined to avoid tough cookies.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform-sized cookies.
- Leave about 2 inches between the cookies because they will spread a bit
- If you bake these in batches, cool the cookie sheets before adding more dough.
- Cool the cookies completely before frosting.
- Storage – Store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
