Name: Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 24 min
Yield: 72 cookies
Cuisine: American

It is a Keeper Verified

March 4, 2026

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies, or Lofthouse cookies, are a light and fluffy dessert, perfect for Christmas. Tender and eye-catching, these are the best sugar cookies for a party or cookie exchange. Made with easy ingredients, like butter and sugar, these super soft cookies topped with sugar cookie frosting are a breeze to make!

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Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

It is a Keeper Verified

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar with an electric mixer.

Add in eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix. Continue mixing until thoroughly incorporated.

In a separate bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time mixing between additions until all the flour is incorporated.

Using a dough scoop or spoon scoop drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until set and lightly golden brown around the edges.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Once cookies have cooled, frost with icing.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Room Temperature Ingredients Magic ✨
Bring butter, eggs, and shortening to room temperature before mixing to ensure proper emulsification and create the signature fluffy texture that makes these cookies so tender.
Instant Pudding Mix Secret 🎯
The instant vanilla pudding mix adds moisture and flavor directly into the dough, so avoid over-mixing after adding it to prevent gluten development that would toughen your cookies.
Chill Before Baking ❄️
Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and maintain soft, pillowy centers with slightly defined edges.
Bake Until Barely Golden 🍪
Remove cookies from the oven when the edges are just set but the centers still look slightly underdone—they'll continue cooking on the pan for perfectly soft results.
Frosting Application Technique 🎨
Apply frosting while cookies are still warm so it spreads smoothly and adheres better, then immediately top with sprinkles or decorations before it sets for a professional Lofthouse appearance.

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About the Cook

It is a Keeper

Hi! I’m Christina… welcome to my kitchen! It’s so nice to meet you! I share tried and true recipes that anyone can make. I believe, if you can read, you can cook.