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Sugar Cookies – the best thick, soft, and fluffy bakery style sugar cookies with a sweet frosting. You will never have to go to the store for cookies again!
There is one thing that my family loves and that is sugar cookies. Around the holidays we always make Frosted Sugar Cookies, but other times of the year we like thick and fluffy cookies that are like the ones you get at the bakery.
There are all kinds of cookie shops popping up all over, and this is like what you get at those. They have a little bit of almond extract in the dough and frosting, that makes them just a little different. Don’t worry, you can use all vanilla if that isn’t your thing.
These are some of the easiest sugar cookies you will ever make. There is NO chilling of the dough, no rolling them out and cutting out shapes. Just roll into balls and bake.
You will want to use the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to press down on the cookies, because they do not spread much as they bake. So you get thick and fluffy cookies!
What’s You Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- Almond Extract
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
One thing to note, yes this does have almond extract. But depending on the brand you buy, almond extract doesn’t actually contain almonds. So if you have a nut allergy, check the package. Cook’s brand uses the pit of peaches and apricots, not almonds. Also if you just don’t like the flavor, leave it out and just use vanilla extract.
How To Make Sugar Cookies
- Cream the butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes until it is nice and fluffy.
- Bean in the eggs and both extracts and mix until the eggs are fully incorporated. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Then you just mix in the flour and baking powder until it forms a dough.
- Roll the balls of dough into about a golf ball size. Then gently press down slightly with the bottom of a glass or measuring cup.
- Bake for about 9 minutes until the edges are set and the tops are just dry. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a the baking sheet.
- Once they are cool you can remove them and they are ready for the frosting.
For the Icing
You will need your standard frosting ingredients.
- Powdered Sugar
- Butter
- Almond Extract
- Milk
If you want to color the frosting then you will also need a little bit of food coloring. All you have to do is mix everything together until it is smooth and a spreadable consistency.
Recipe Tips
- I made these the size of an average cookie you would have at home. The ones you get at cookie shops are probably twice the size. If you want to make them large they work great, follow the same instructions and just add 1-2 minutes of baking time.
- DO NOT OVER BAKE these cookies. That is the number one tip for getting the perfect bakery style cookie. You have to keep an eye on them. As soon as the tops appear dry they are done. They will continue to cook some as on the hot baking tray as they cool. So don’t worry, take them out of the oven.
- If you don’t want to use almond extract, you can just use the vanilla called for in the recipe. Use equal amounts of vanilla extract in the frosting as well.
- You can make these cookies ahead of time and frost when you are ready to serve.
Store cookies in an air tight container for up to 5 days. You can also put them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
No, this dough does not require any refrigeration. Just roll the balls of dough and place on a baking sheet. Press the dough down gently, as it does not spread that much while it bakes.
Yes, absolutely! You can freeze the already baked cookies for up to 3 months. I like to put the frosting on fresh, so I don’t frost the ones I know I am going to freeze. The frosting does freeze fine, I just like the taste and texture of fresh the best.
You can also just freeze the dough. Roll balls of dough and place onto a baking sheet. Put in the freezer until the balls of dough are frozen and then transfer to a freezer safe plastic bag. Then when you are ready to bake cookies remove however many balls of dough you like and let them sit on the counter while you preheat the oven.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Chick-Fil-A Cookies
- Buckeye Skillet Cookie
- Cornflake Cookies
- Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Bars
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Funfetti Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Video
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Icing
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- Food Coloring – optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- In an electric stand mixer cream butter and sugar together for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs vanilla and almond extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides as necessary.
- Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix until combined.
- Roll balls of dough about the size of a golf ball and arrange on a baking sheet. Using the bottom of a glass or measuring cup, gently press down on the dough. The cookies will not spread a lot during baking.
- Bake for 9 minutes, until the edges are set and the tops appear dry.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking tray.
- Once cool remove and they are ready for the icing.
- For the icing mix together all of the ingredients until it is smooth and spreadable. Adjust the milk and sugar it necessary to make it thinner or thicker.
- Spread icing over cooled cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I must do this light saber technique!! I LOVE it! Well – my son will love it. I will love how easy it is!! I'm going to pin it to my Pinterest board! 😉
This is such a great recipe! I had a craving for sugar cookies yesterday, and I tried this recipe out. It’s really good! I love the frosting on top.
My kids couldn’t get enough of these cookies!! They taste really amazing!
Can you use self rising flour instead of all purpose and baking soda?
I have not tried it before, so I can’t be sure. The homemade self rising flour recipes are 3 cups for flour to 4 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 3/4 tsp of salt. So you would still need to add in some baking powder and skip the salt entirely.
These are the best cookies! i’ve made them and everyone loved these sugar cookies!
If I’m making shapes, can I still chill the dough and use this recipe?
They aren’t meant to use for cutting shapes, they will spread. If you want a soft and thick cut out sugar cookie dough, this has been the one I have used for more than 20 years, and my MIL has used it even longer. https://dinnersdishesanddesserts.com/frosted-sugar-cookies-12-days-of-giveaways/
These are always ways a hit!