Frosted Sugar Cookies
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These Frosted Sugar Cookies are about to become your favorite indulgence. Soft, sweet, and topped with a perfectly chilled layer of frosting, they’re the ultimate treat for cookie lovers. Trust me, one bite of these bakery-style beauties, and you’ll be hooked!
Love cookie recipes? Me too! Be sure to check out a few of my favorites like my coconut lime sugar cookies, birthday cake cookies, and peanut butter jelly cookies (New and quite possibly my favorite)!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tested to Perfection: After testing over 15 recipes, this version blends the best of Mel’s Kitchen and Tried and Tasty for a flawless cookie every time.
- Party-Perfect: Impress guests with these crowd-pleasing sugar cookies that are ideal for casual get-togethers, potlucks, or a fun family treat.
- Quick & Easy Baking: Perfect for busy lifestyles, this frosted sugar cookie recipe is designed to be both simple and satisfying.
If you’re craving that iconic swig style frosted sugar cookie recipe—one that brings a taste of Utah’s famous sugar rush right into your kitchen—you’re in luck! Utah locals know the drill: the lines at Swig are always insanely long because everyone’s after that perfect frosted sugar cookie fix. Inspired by the hustle and bustle of those endless queues, I set out to crack the code by testing over 15 different recipes until I found the magic formula.
I finally merged two of my absolute favorites—one gem from Mel’s Kitchen and another from Tried and Tasty—to create a frosted sugar cookie recipe that’s both a nod to tradition and a modern twist on the classic. The result? A cookie that’s irresistibly crisp yet tender, topped with a sweet, creamy frosting that makes every bite a mini celebration. So, grab your apron and get ready to enjoy a slice of Utah’s beloved swig experience at home—no waiting in line required!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Making these easy sugar cookies at home is easier than waiting in that endless drive-thru line. You’ll need simple, everyday ingredients, but don’t let their simplicity fool you—when combined just right, they create the perfect soft, slightly crumbly cookie with that signature sweet frosting.
- Flour: Stick with all-purpose flour for the best texture. If you scoop it straight from the bag, give it a quick fluff first so your cookies don’t turn into hockey pucks.
- Salt, Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These work together to give your cookies a balanced flavor and just the right lift. No one wants a dense sugar cookie.
- Butter & Oil: A mix of butter for flavor and oil for softness is the secret to getting that perfect swig-style texture. It’s the best of both worlds!
- Granulated & Powdered Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens and helps create that signature crisp edge, while powdered sugar keeps the texture light and melt-in-your-mouth soft.
- Sour Cream: The magic ingredient! It adds moisture and a subtle tang, keeping your cookies soft for days (if they last that long).
- Eggs: Room-temperature eggs blend better and help create that perfectly chewy-yet-soft bite.
- Vanilla: A good quality vanilla extract makes a difference here—this isn’t the time for the cheap imitation stuff.
- (Optional) Lemon Zest: Adds a bright, citrusy note that pairs surprisingly well with the rich frosting. Totally optional, but highly recommended!
With these simple pantry staples, you’re just minutes away from the best frosted sugar cookies that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe. Let’s get baking!
Substitutions and Variations
Whether you’re out of an ingredient or just feeling adventurous, these soft frosted sugar cookies are flexible enough to handle a few swaps. Here’s how you can tweak it without sacrificing that soft, bakery-style texture:
- No sour cream? Swap in Greek yogurt or full-fat plain yogurt for the same creamy moisture and slight tang. Just don’t use low-fat unless you love disappointment.
- Out of butter? You can use all vegetable oil, but the flavor won’t be as rich. If you must, add a little extra vanilla to make up for it.
- Want a citrusy twist? That optional lemon zest? Not so optional if you love a hint of brightness. You can also swap it for orange zest for a subtle creamsicle vibe. Try replacing the sour cream with lemon juice for an extra boost!
- Make it extra soft: If you love a super tender cookie, swap out half the granulated sugar for brown sugar—just know it’ll make them slightly chewier.
- Go almond-style: Swap half the vanilla for almond extract for a bakery-style twist that gives them a nostalgic sugar cookie flavor.
These cookies are pretty forgiving, so feel free to play around with flavors and ingredients. No matter what, you’re getting homemade sugar cookies that are way better than waiting in line!
Best Frosted Sugar Cookie Recipe
Making these smashed sugar cookies at home is surprisingly easy—no drive-thru required! Here’s a quick breakdown so you can get baking ASAP:
- Prep the oven & pans. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Cream the butter & sugars. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and oil until just combined.
- Add the wet ingredients. Mix in the sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest (if using). Stir until fully incorporated.
- Combine & form the dough. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
- Shape & flatten. Roll the dough into balls (about 2-3 tablespoons each), place on a baking sheet, and flatten slightly with a sugar-dipped glass.
- Bake & cool. Bake for 8 minutes, then let them cool completely before frosting.
- Frost & enjoy! Slather on your favorite frosting—I highly recommend cream cheese frosting for the ultimate treat!
These cookies are soft, sweet, and absolutely perfect for any occasion. Now, go grab a glass of milk and dig in!
Storage and Freezer Instructions
This swig cookie will stay soft and delicious for days—if they last that long! Here’s how to store them for maximum freshness:
Storing at Room Temperature
Once the cookies are completely cooled and frosted, store them in an airtight container with layers of parchment or wax paper between them. They’ll stay fresh for 3-4 days at room temperature. If your kitchen runs warm, you might want to refrigerate them to keep the frosting from getting too soft.
Refrigerating for Longer Freshness
For a slightly longer shelf life, pop the cookies in the fridge. Store them in a sealed container, and they’ll keep for up to a week. Just let them sit at room temp for a few minutes before eating—cold cookies are still good, but soft cookies are better.
Freezing Unfrosted Cookies
If you want to prep ahead, bake the cookies and freeze them before frosting. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze for 1-2 hours, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temp and frost as usual.
Freezing Frosted Cookies
Yes, you can freeze frosted cookies! Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then stack them in a container with parchment between layers. Let them thaw in the fridge or at room temp before serving.
Now you’ve got fresh, homemade frosted sugar cookies whenever the craving hits—no long drive-thru lines required!
Frosting Options for the Perfect Sugar Cookie
A frosted sugar cookie recipe is only as good as the frosting on top! Whether you love a classic, tangy finish or something extra sweet, here are the best frosting options to pair with your swig-style cookies:
- Cream Cheese Frosting: The ultimate choice! Smooth, slightly tangy, and perfectly balances the sweet, buttery cookie. This is my personal favorite.
- Buttercream Frosting: If you prefer a sweeter, more traditional sugar cookie frosting, go with classic buttercream. It’s fluffy, rich, and holds up beautifully.
- Sour Cream Frosting: For a true Swig-style experience, try a frosting with a hint of sour cream. It adds a slight tang and creaminess that makes these cookies taste bakery-fresh.
- Glaze Icing: If you like a thinner, shinier frosting that sets firm, a simple powdered sugar glaze is a great option. It’s easy to mix up and gives the cookies a light, sweet finish.
- Flavored Frosting Variations: Want to mix things up? Add lemon zest for a citrusy twist, a little almond extract for a bakery-style upgrade, or even a drop of food coloring for fun, festive cookies!
No matter which frosting you choose, slather it on thick for that signature soft, swig-style frosted sugar cookie experience!
Expert Recipe Tips:
Don’t Overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing leads to tough cookies instead of soft, melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
Flatten Evenly: Pressing the cookies with a sugar-dipped glass ensures they bake evenly and get that signature cracked edge. Aim for about ½ inch thickness.
Watch the Bake Time: These cookies should not brown! Bake just until set—around 8 minutes—for the softest texture. They’ll firm up as they cool.
Let Them Cool Completely: Warm cookies + frosting = a melted mess.
Wait until they’re fully cool before frosting for the best results.
Make Them Ahead: These cookies actually taste better the next day as the flavors settle. Store them in an airtight container for maximum softness.
Use High-Quality Vanilla: It’s a simple ingredient but makes a big difference. If you have pure vanilla extract (or better yet, vanilla bean paste), use it!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours before baking. If it’s too firm to scoop, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before rolling.
Sour cream is what gives these cookies their soft texture and slight tang, but if you’re out, you can swap it with full-fat Greek yogurt or lemon juice for a similar result.
Absolutely! You can freeze the baked cookies (unfrosted) for up to 3 months. Just thaw and frost when ready to serve. If freezing frosted cookies, place them in a single layer first to set before stacking with parchment paper between them.
A cream cheese frosting gives the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, but classic buttercream or a simple powdered sugar glaze work too!
Yes! Try swapping half the vanilla for almond extract for a bakery-style twist, or add lemon zest for a citrusy kick. You can even mix in a drop of food coloring for festive cookies!
More of My Favorite Cookies
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Frosted Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ baking powder
- 1 cup butter (softened to room temperature)
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar (plus 1/4 cup for rolling)
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup oil (I prefer a avocado oil which has a more nuteral flavor)
- 2 Tablespoons sour cream
- zest of 1 lemon (optional but yummy)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- frosting of choice (I like cream cheese frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder until well combined. This helps evenly distribute the leavening agents.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the butter, 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and oil. Beat on low speed for about 1 minute or until everything is fully combined. The mixture will look slightly grainy—this is normal!
- Add the sour cream, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon zest (if using) to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed for another minute, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low until the dough just comes together. It should be soft but not sticky. Avoid overmixing!
- Scoop the dough into 2-3 tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets about 3 inches apart.
- Spray the bottom of a flat glass with baking spray, dip it into the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, and press each cookie until it’s about 1/2 inch thick.
- Bake the cookies for 8 minutes. They should look set but not browned—they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
- Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Once cooled, spread a generous layer of your favorite frosting over each cookie. I personally love cream cheese frosting for the ultimate soft and sweet combo!
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
