Friday, December 11, 2009

Lofthouse Frosted Sugar Cookies

UPDATE: I created a Valentine version of these cookies here! They continue to be delicious.I'm sure many of you've seen these cookies by the front entrance of Wal-Mart or near the bakery section of Costco. These cookies are called Lofthouse Frosted Sugar Cookies, and they are beyond delicious and comforting.
If you're not familiar with these cookies, the cookie part has a very cake-like texture (even the batter looks like cake batter) with a sweet, buttercream frosting on top. The cookie part is not particularly sweet, so you get most of the sweetness from the frosting.
The underside of the cookie is perfect.

I'm not a creative, fanciful person, so it was hard to make these cookies look decent enough for this post. Although not perfect-looking aesthetically, they taste wonderful. They are very soft and sweet.

They taste close enough to the real Lofthouse sugar cookies that you won't have to buy them in the stores anymore. I made quite a few changes to the original recipe after reading through many comments I found on various websites for copycat Lofthouse cookies, so you won't have to do any of the research yourself!

Also, I used a 4-inch cookie cutter after rolling out the dough because I wanted big, thick cookies instead of the traditional 2.5-3-inch size. I think these cookies would be perfect for the holidays. Be more creative than I am by coloring the frosting different colors.
NOTE:
I don't recommend making these cookies the same day you want/need them because you will have to refrigerate the dough for 6-8 hours or overnight.
Lofthouse Cookies
adapted from Recipezaar
For 4-inch cookies, you will end up with two dozen cookies. So, if you make 2 1/2 - 3-inch cookies, you should end up with about 3-4 dozen cookies.

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar (in my halved version, I added 2 Tbsp (1/4 cup for full version) EXTRA of sugar to make the cake part a tad sweeter)
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups sour cream
5-6 cups AP flour, until desired consistency for rolling (in my halved version, I used 2 1/2 cups in the dough and then added about half a cup more of flour while rolling out the dough)

Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients.

Cover and refrigerate overnight (or 6-8 hours).


Preheat oven to 425ºF.
Roll out dough to a 1/4 to 3/8 inch thickness using a generous amount of flour (I used a combination of flour and powdered sugar for a non-stick surface and flavor). Cut out shapes, and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes.

Cool on wire rack.
Frost (recipe below), and decorate as desired.

Lofthouse Cookie Frosting
adapted from Recipezaar
Yields enough for 2 dozen cookies, so double the recipe, if you need more.

3 1/2 - 4 cups confectioners' sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)
1/2 cup shortening
5-8 Tbsp (or more) evaporated milk (or regular milk), until you reach the desired consistency
1 tsp vanilla extract
food coloring (optional)

In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth. Gradually mix in the evaporated milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring if desired.

16 comments:

  1. I have never seen these cookies before. Look delicious!

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  2. Wow! Your blog continues to amaze me! Fabulous recipes almost every day! I think these cookies look delicious! Totally asthetic! Great job recreating a classic. :)

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  3. I think your pictures are just fine. I have never seen these cookies before. Kids would love them.

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  4. Hi, Mem

    Your cookies look deliciosas! Yummy and chewy just the way I like 'em! I especially like the photo where you have the little green sprinkle there all alone on the plate next to the unfrosted cookie--sweet :o)

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  5. These cookies are my daughters absolute favorites. I mean she loves them beyond all reason!! She rides her bike to Safeway everyday to get one. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Now I can surprise her with her own supply!!

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  6. My SIL works for Lofthouse at their manufacturing plant in Utah. So I've eaten more than my share! Yours look great!

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  7. Ellie - I think they are primarily made in the U.S., so that may explain why you've never seen them. They really are good.

    msmeanie - Awww, you are so sweet! I'm trying to work harder on it now that the semester is coming to a close. I still need to figure out how to make sharper photos while creating a blurry background at the same time. Thanks for your compliments!

    Isabelle - Thank you! They are divine. You can't eat just one.

    Leeds - Muito obrigada!!

    Sarah - Thanks for the compliment. I still think my photo-taking needs a lot of work, but I am somewhat pleased with the progress so far. I agree that these cookies would be great for kids.

    Mom! - Thanks! Love you!

    Kathleen - Oh, I hope you do get to make these for her. Please tell me all about it!

    Barbara - THAT IS SO COOL! You're so lucky to be able to eat those cookies whenever you want. Thanks for the compliment. That means a lot coming from more of a Lofthouse expert than I am. :)

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  8. Hi! Thank you for the comment in my blog! Thanks for sharing this recipe as well. I have a friend who made a similar cookie, she made it out of cake mix.

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  9. I love Lofthouse cookies. I can't wait to try this recipe!

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  10. I've bookmarked the recipe for these cookies...they're beautiful! My grandson loves these cookies and I must make them with him-I think we'll do red and green sprinkles for Christmas! Also, thanks for the comment on my blog. :)

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  11. I've never heard of Lofthouse cookies, but they look so purdy!! I am a fan of crispy, crunchy cookies, though ... but these are so adorable I would surely eat a few. :)

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  12. My good friend, trying to make a batch of cookies from memory last night, called me panicking because her cookie dough was cakey. But in the end they turned out tasting delicious and looking just like these beauties!

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  13. Adorable! They are just too cute =D.

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