Known as Lofthouse cookies, these pillowy-soft treats have become a favorite for birthdays, holidays, school parties, baby showers, bake sales, and everyday sweet cravings.
We love to use holiday cookie cutters for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Patriotic holidays of course, Halloween and Christmas.
This one dough will be perfect for any birthday or party by just changing the colors of the frosting and using a coordinating cookie cutter with pretty sprinkles.
These cookies aren't overly sweet, and the frosting adds just the right blend of flavors!
These are also great for fundraisers and bake sale events, wrapped and labeled.
Everyone loves these cookies, and it's the first recipe I think of even when I want to decorate the top of the cake with a cookie form frosted.
Why You Will Love Loft Cookies and This Recipe
- Bakery-quality results at home.
- Wonderfully soft, fluffy texture
- Thick, creamy frosting that's easy to color.
- Perfect for holidays and special occasions.
- Easy to decorate with endless topping combinations.
- Kid-friendly and fun to make together.
- Great for gifting and cookie exchanges.
- Freezes beautifully for make-ahead desserts.
- Easily customized with different extracts and flavors.
- A nostalgic favorite everyone recognizes.
So Easy The Kids Can Help!
Antonio was a big help in cutting out the cookies and eating them!
Cookies of any kind are a favorite of a 5-year-old, right? These were the most asked for!
When I was growing up, I never knew what they were called, but mom made them all the time.
Tips for The Perfect Sugar Loft Cookie for all your Holiday Needs!
- Avoid overmixing the dough to keep the cookies tender.
- Chill the dough if it becomes too soft to handle.
- Bake just until the edges are set—the tops should remain pale.
- Don't overbake; that's the secret to their signature softness.
- Let cookies cool completely before frosting.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant frosting without thinning it.
- A cookie scoop helps create evenly sized cookies.
- Store frosted cookies in a single layer until the frosting sets before stacking.
- Bring butter, eggs, and cream cheese (if using) to room temperature before baking.
- Add sprinkles immediately after frosting so they stick well.
Suggestions
- Although the traditional flavor is vanilla, these are great in all kinds of extract flavors.
- During the fall, we like to add cinnamon and ginger to the batter, along with some nutmeg and maple extract. Then, when frosted, we sprinkle the tops with cinnamon and sugar.
- We also love grated orange peel, lemon peel with coordinating extracts.
- Anisette or even Almond extracts are terrific too.
- Of course, for all the chocolate lovers out there, you can even add chocolate chips to the batter!
- If you're using M&M on your cookies and want them to look picture-perfect without cracked or faded candies, the best approach is a combination of both: mix a few into the batter, but press the rest onto the tops right after they come out of the oven
Mix-ins for Loft Cookies
- Mini white chocolate chips
- Mini chocolate chips
- Rainbow sprinkles (funfetti style)
- Lemon zest
- Orange zest
- Almond extract
- Vanilla bean paste
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Crushed freeze-dried strawberries
- Freeze-dried raspberries
- Coconut flakes
- Finely chopped pecans
- Finely chopped walnuts
- Toffee bits
- Finely chopped dried cherries
Topping Loft Cookies Ideas
- Rainbow sprinkles
- Colored sanding sugar
- Nonpareils
- Chocolate jimmies
- Mini chocolate chips
- White chocolate curls
- Toasted coconut
- Crushed Oreos
- Chopped nuts
- Freeze-dried fruit pieces
- Edible glitter Colored sugar pearls
- Mini marshmallows on top after baking
- Candy confetti
- Crushed peppermint candies on top after baking
- Cinnamon sugar
- Drizzled melted chocolate
- Colored icing drizzle
- M & M's on top after baking
Events and Cookie-Making Ideas
- Birthday parties
- Baby showers
- Bridal showers
- Graduation celebrations
- Cookie exchanges
- Holiday dessert trays
- Easter baskets
- Valentine's Day treats
- Halloween parties
- Thanksgiving dessert tables
- Christmas cookie platters
- School bake sales
- Church gatherings
- Office parties
- Mother's Day, Father's Day
- Teacher appreciation gifts
- Welcome-home celebrations
- Family reunions
- Weekend baking with kids
Pin for later
Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes:
Cucidati Fig Sicilian Cookies
24 One-Stop Cookie Shop
Fried Bow Tie Cookies
25 Holiday Cookies
Copycat Soft Sugar Loft Cookies
Yield: 24
prep time: 25 Mcook time: 10 Mtotal time: 35 M
A favorite loft cookie that you would find everywhere in supermarkets around holiday time. These are a soft sour cream sugar cookie with frosting. A real easy cookie recipe that makes cutouts a breeze of any kind! I double this recipe, they go fast!
ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 stick of softened butter
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring or any other kinds you like orange, anisette, lemon are all delicious
- frosting or choice
- sprinkles or colored sugars
instructions:
How to cook Copycat Soft Sugar Loft Cookies
- Beat the sugar and the butter together until light. Add the flavoring, the salt, sour cream, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Beat in one egg at a time. Add the flour and mix until it forms a ball.
- Using extra flour on a board, roll out around 1/2 inch thick or more, whatever you like, these are thick cookies, and use your favorite cookie cutters to the theme of the Holiday.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees.
- Bake until edges start to turn brown, around 10 to 12 minutes.
- Cool, frost with coordinating tinted store-bought frosting using food coloring of choice or make your own homemade. Use sprinkles or colored sugars to match the theme of the party or holiday.
- For the homemade frosting:
- Beat together 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons softened butter, and water one teaspoon at a time until spreadable.
Calories
220
220
Fat (grams)
29
29
Sat. Fat (grams)
19
19
Carbs (grams)
27
27
Net carbs
19
19
Sugar (grams)
19
19
Pin this Loft Cookie Recipe
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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2013. It was edited and re-published in 2020.
