Heavenly Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies: A Step-by-Step Recipe for Perfect Sweetness
Sugar cookies are a classic treat, but mastering the perfect soft and chewy texture, combined with a melt-in-your-mouth frosting, can elevate them to something truly special. This recipe provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to creating heavenly soft frosted sugar cookies that will impress your friends, family, and even yourself. Get ready to embark on a baking adventure filled with delightful aromas and even more delightful tastes!
## Why This Recipe Works
This recipe isn’t just a collection of ingredients; it’s a carefully crafted formula designed for success. Here’s why these sugar cookies turn out perfectly soft every time:
* **Creaming Butter and Sugar:** This crucial step incorporates air into the dough, creating a light and airy base that contributes to the cookie’s soft texture.
* **Using Cake Flour:** Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, resulting in a more tender crumb.
* **Adding Sour Cream:** Sour cream adds moisture and tang, further enhancing the softness and creating a subtle complexity of flavor.
* **Chilling the Dough:** Chilling the dough prevents the cookies from spreading too thin during baking, ensuring a thick and chewy texture.
* **Baking at a Lower Temperature:** Baking at a slightly lower temperature helps the cookies retain moisture, preventing them from becoming dry and brittle.
## Ingredients You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather all your ingredients. Having everything measured and ready to go will streamline the baking process and ensure consistent results.
**For the Sugar Cookies:**
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, but highly recommended)
* ½ cup sour cream
* 3 cups cake flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* ½ teaspoon baking soda
* ½ teaspoon salt
**For the Frosting:**
* ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
* 3 cups powdered sugar
* 3-4 tablespoons milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Pinch of salt
* Food coloring (optional)
* Sprinkles (optional)
## Equipment You’ll Need
* Stand mixer or electric hand mixer
* Large mixing bowl
* Measuring cups and spoons
* Baking sheets
* Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
* Rolling pin
* Cookie cutters (optional)
* Wire rack
* Spatula
* Piping bag or ziplock bag (optional)
## Step-by-Step Instructions
Now, let’s dive into the fun part: baking! Follow these detailed instructions carefully to create your own batch of soft frosted sugar cookies.
### Part 1: Making the Sugar Cookie Dough
1. **Cream the Butter and Sugar:** In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This process typically takes 3-5 minutes, depending on the power of your mixer. The mixture should become noticeably lighter in color and texture. This step is crucial for incorporating air into the dough, which contributes to the cookie’s soft texture. Don’t rush it!
2. **Add the Eggs and Extracts:** Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract and almond extract (if using). The almond extract adds a subtle nutty flavor that complements the sweetness of the cookie perfectly, but it can be omitted if you prefer a pure vanilla flavor.
3. **Incorporate the Sour Cream:** Add the sour cream and mix until just combined. Do not overmix at this stage. The sour cream adds moisture and a slight tang to the dough, contributing to the overall softness and flavor complexity.
4. **Whisk Dry Ingredients:** In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking ensures that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed, preventing pockets of baking powder or soda that can affect the cookie’s texture and rise.
5. **Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients:** Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tougher cookie. Mix until the flour is just incorporated, and then stop mixing.
6. **Chill the Dough:** Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Chilling the dough allows the gluten to relax, preventing the cookies from spreading too thin during baking. It also makes the dough easier to handle and roll out.
### Part 2: Baking the Sugar Cookies
1. **Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets:** Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Parchment paper or silicone mats prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets and make cleanup easier.
2. **Roll Out the Dough:** On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about ¼ inch thickness. If the dough is too sticky, lightly dust it with more flour. Work quickly to prevent the dough from warming up too much. Keep the other disc of dough refrigerated while you work on the first one.
3. **Cut Out the Cookies:** Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes from the dough. Alternatively, you can use a knife or pizza cutter to cut out simple squares or rectangles. Re-roll the scraps of dough to cut out more cookies.
4. **Bake the Cookies:** Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between each cookie. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on the cookies.
5. **Cool the Cookies:** Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling the cookies on a wire rack prevents them from becoming soggy.
### Part 3: Making the Frosting
1. **Cream the Butter:** In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter until light and fluffy. This typically takes 2-3 minutes.
2. **Gradually Add Powdered Sugar:** Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until combined. Be careful not to add too much powdered sugar at once, as this can create a dusty mess.
3. **Add Milk and Vanilla Extract:** Add the milk, vanilla extract, and salt, and beat until smooth and creamy. Adjust the amount of milk to achieve your desired consistency. If the frosting is too thick, add a little more milk. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
4. **Add Food Coloring (Optional):** If you want to color your frosting, add a few drops of food coloring and mix until evenly distributed. Gel food coloring is recommended, as it is more concentrated and less likely to thin out the frosting.
### Part 4: Frosting the Cookies
1. **Frost the Cookies:** Once the cookies are completely cool, frost them with the prepared frosting. You can use a spatula, a piping bag, or even a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off. If using a piping bag, use a large round tip or a star tip for decorative swirls.
2. **Add Sprinkles (Optional):** If desired, sprinkle the frosted cookies with sprinkles or other decorations.
3. **Let the Frosting Set:** Allow the frosting to set completely before storing the cookies. This typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
## Tips for Perfect Sugar Cookies
* **Use Room Temperature Ingredients:** Ensure that your butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature for best results. Room temperature ingredients emulsify more easily, creating a smoother and more consistent dough.
* **Don’t Overmix the Dough:** Overmixing the dough can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tougher cookie. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
* **Chill the Dough Thoroughly:** Chilling the dough is essential for preventing the cookies from spreading too thin during baking. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
* **Bake at the Correct Temperature:** Baking at a slightly lower temperature helps the cookies retain moisture, preventing them from becoming dry and brittle.
* **Don’t Overbake the Cookies:** Overbaking the cookies will result in dry and hard cookies. Bake until the edges are lightly golden brown.
* **Let the Cookies Cool Completely Before Frosting:** Frosting the cookies while they are still warm will cause the frosting to melt and run.
* **Store the Cookies Properly:** Store the frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
## Variations and Add-Ins
* **Lemon Sugar Cookies:** Add the zest of one lemon to the dough for a bright and citrusy flavor.
* **Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies:** Add ½ cup of mini chocolate chips to the dough for a touch of chocolatey goodness.
* **Spice Sugar Cookies:** Add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves to the dough for a warm and cozy flavor.
* **Colored Sugar Cookies:** Divide the dough into several portions and add different food colorings to each portion for a vibrant and colorful assortment.
* **Different Extracts:** Experiment with different extracts, such as peppermint, orange, or rum extract, to create unique flavor combinations.
## Troubleshooting
* **Cookies Spreading Too Thin:** The dough was not chilled enough, or the oven temperature is too low. Make sure to chill the dough for at least 2 hours and ensure that your oven is properly preheated.
* **Cookies are Too Dry:** The cookies were overbaked, or the oven temperature is too high. Reduce the baking time or lower the oven temperature.
* **Frosting is Too Thick:** Add a little more milk to thin out the frosting.
* **Frosting is Too Thin:** Add a little more powdered sugar to thicken the frosting.
## Serving Suggestions
These soft frosted sugar cookies are perfect for:
* **Holidays:** Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and other holidays.
* **Parties:** Birthday parties, baby showers, and other celebrations.
* **Gifts:** Homemade gifts for friends, family, and neighbors.
* **Everyday Treats:** A sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.
## Conclusion
With this detailed recipe and guide, you’re well on your way to creating the most heavenly soft frosted sugar cookies you’ve ever tasted. Remember to follow the instructions carefully, pay attention to the tips and tricks, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different variations and add-ins. Happy baking!
## Nutrition Information (Approximate)
* Calories: 200-250 per cookie
* Fat: 10-15g
* Saturated Fat: 6-9g
* Cholesterol: 40-50mg
* Sodium: 50-70mg
* Carbohydrates: 25-35g
* Sugar: 15-20g
* Protein: 1-2g
**Note:** Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used and the size of the cookies.