Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies

What Are Lofthouse Cookies?

Lofthouse cookies are soft, thick sugar cookies topped with a generous layer of buttercream frosting and colorful sprinkles. They're famous for their incredibly tender texture and are commonly found in the bakery section of grocery stores, packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers. Their pastel frosting changes with the seasons, making them a popular treat for holidays, birthdays, and classroom parties.

What Others Are Saying

Easy to make and looked great. I appreciated the little details in the recipe, like how to see when they were done as they lose their gloss (I saw that happen, thank you). ---Anneliese

My new go-to sugar cookies. These are so soft from the oil and butter. Thank you!---Monica on Pinterest

Lofthouse Cookies vs. Bakery Sugar Cookies

Why You'll Love These Copycat Lofthouse Cookies

• Soft and fluffy. Every bite melts in your mouth.
• No chilling required. Mix, scoop, bake, and frost.
• Made with pantry staples. No cake flour needed.
• Perfect for decorating. Customize the frosting and sprinkles for any holiday.
• Better than store-bought. Rich buttery flavor with homemade buttercream.

Homemade vs. Store-Bought Lofthouse Cookies

Store-bought Lofthouse cookies are known for their signature soft texture, but they're often made with shortening, margarine, preservatives, and artificial flavors to extend shelf life. This homemade version uses real butter, creating the same melt-in-your-mouth texture with an even richer flavor. They're just as soft and fluffy as the originals, but with the fresh taste that only homemade cookies can deliver.

Tips and Tricks

• Don't overbake the cookies. The secret to soft, bakery-style Lofthouse cookies is taking them out of the oven before they begin to brown. As soon as the tops lose their glossy appearance and the centers are set, they're done.
• Flatten the dough before baking. Gently press each dough ball into a thick disc before baking. This helps create the signature thick, round shape that Lofthouse cookies are known for.
• Use room temperature ingredients. Softened butter and room temperature eggs blend together more easily, creating a smooth dough and tender cookies.
• Let the cookies cool completely before frosting. Warm cookies will melt the buttercream, making it difficult to spread and causing the frosting to slide off.
• Use gel food coloring for vibrant frosting. Gel food coloring creates bright, bold colors without thinning the buttercream, making it perfect for holiday and seasonal cookies.
• Decorate for any occasion. Change the frosting color and sprinkles for birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, baby showers, or school parties. These cookies are easy to customize year-round.
• Freeze for later. Both the baked cookies and the frosted cookies freeze well, making them a great make-ahead dessert for parties and holidays.

Ingredients

• Butter: Butter gives these cookies their rich, buttery flavor and soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. I use salted butter, but unsalted butter works just as well. Make sure it's softened to room temperature so it creams easily with the powdered sugar.
• Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens the cookies while creating a delicate, tender crumb. It also helps produce the smooth, fluffy texture that makes Lofthouse cookies so irresistible.
• Eggs: Eggs add moisture, richness, and structure to the dough while helping the cookies bake up soft and thick.
• Vegetable Oil: A small amount of oil keeps the cookies exceptionally moist and helps create the signature soft texture that Lofthouse cookies are known for.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds warm, classic bakery flavor and pairs perfectly with the buttercream frosting.
• Almond Extract: This is my secret ingredient! A touch of almond extract gives these cookies the classic bakery-style flavor that makes homemade Lofthouse cookies taste so much like the originals.
• Baking Powder: Baking powder helps the cookies rise slightly while keeping them light and fluffy.
• Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar gives the cookies their signature soft texture and adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness.
• Salt: A small amount of salt enhances the buttery flavor and balances the sweetness of both the cookies and the frosting.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch is one of the secrets to ultra-soft sugar cookies. It helps create the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes Lofthouse cookies famous.
• All-Purpose Flour: Flour provides the structure for the cookies while still allowing them to stay soft and tender. Measure it by spooning the flour into the measuring cup and leveling it off for the best results.

Buttercream Frosting

• Butter: Softened butter creates a rich, creamy buttercream that's easy to spread and pairs perfectly with the soft sugar cookies.
• Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens and thickens the frosting while giving it a smooth, fluffy consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds classic homemade flavor and complements the almond extract in the cookies.
• Milk: Milk thins the frosting to the perfect spreading consistency. Start with the smaller amount and add more as needed.
• Food Coloring (Optional): Tint the frosting with gel or liquid food coloring to match holidays, birthdays, baby showers, or any special occasion. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors without thinning the frosting.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Copycat Lofthouse Cookies

Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a large bowl and an electric hand mixer), cream the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth and well combined.

Add the baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, cornstarch, and flour. Mix just until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 2: Scoop and Shape the Cookies

Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.

Roll each dough ball gently between your hands until smooth, then return it to the baking sheet. Slightly flatten each one with your fingers or the palm of your hand so they resemble small hockey pucks. This helps the cookies bake into the classic thick, round Lofthouse shape.

Step 3: Bake the Cookies

Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes.

Do not overbake! These cookies should remain pale with no browning. They're ready to come out of the oven as soon as the tops no longer look glossy and the centers are set.

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3–5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Make the Buttercream Frosting

While the cookies cool, beat the softened butter until creamy.

Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then gradually mix in 4 tablespoons of milk. Continue adding milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.

If desired, tint the frosting with food coloring to match any holiday or celebration.

Step 5: Frost and Decorate

Spread the buttercream onto each cooled cookie using an offset spatula, butter knife, or frosting spreader.

Finish with colorful sprinkles while the frosting is still soft.

Allow the frosting to set before stacking or storing the cookies in an airtight container.

Lofthouse Cookies FAQs

If you enjoyed this recipe, don't miss my growing collection of Copycat Recipes! From famous restaurant dishes and luxury hotel cookies to bakery favorites and nostalgic grocery store treats, there's something for everyone.

More Sugar Cookies You'll Love

MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💛 Please leave a STAR rating and COMMENT below! Post it to Facebook or Pinterest to easily share with friends!