I have to admit that I love those Lofthouse cookies at the grocery store. You know the ones. The soft sugar cookies with thick frosting and sprinkles to coordinate with each holiday. So delicious. Even with all the baking I do, I have a hard time resisting them. But, I think next time it will be a little bit easier. Why? Because I have found some cookies that blow those out of the water. I came across a recipe for sugar cookies in The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook that were described as tasting like the grocery store cookies only better with the addition of chocolate chip cookie dough frosting. How could they not be better?
I must warn you that these cookies are a bit time consuming because of all the steps: making the dough, refrigeration, roll and cut the dough, bake them, make the frosting and frost them. But, each step is easy and the end result is oh so very worth it. Upon tasting them, both my son and husband exclaimed oh my god, which was barely discernible with their mouths stuffed with cookies. My daughter said they were the best thing I ever made. Now, these three are some very tough critics. If they say they are good, you can believe it. But really, what’s not to like? This is a super soft, not too sweet sugar cookie, smeared with cookie dough frosting and generously topped with chocolate chips. Sounds (and tastes) pretty perfect to me. 😀
Soft Sugar Cookies with Cookie Dough Frosting
Yield: 24 cookies
For the cookies:
1/2 cup vegetable shortening, at room temperature Use the sticks- easier to measure and less messy
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 cups all-purpose flour (or more as needed)
For the frosting:
3/4 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar, or more as needed
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, beat together shortening and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add heavy cream and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add salt, baking soda, and baking powder, followed by the flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing until dough comes together. Dough should be soft but not sticky. If it is sticky, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time as needed. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight. I put the dough on Saran wrap and shaped it into a disk to make it easier to roll later.
Preheat oven to 350F. Roll out dough to 3/8 inch thick. I had to use a small bit of flour. Cut it into 3-inch circles (I used a biscuit cutter) and transfer to baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until tops are puffed and no longer shiny and bottoms are just barely golden brown. Do not overbake. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
To prepare frosting, beat together butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in flour and salt, followed by vanilla. Add 4 cups of the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add heavy cream and beat until fluffy. Add more powdered sugar as necessary, 1/4 cup at a time, until frosting is thick yet spreadable. I had to add more cream to thin it out a bit.
With an offset spatula, spread 1 heaping tablespoon of frosting onto each cookie. You can be generous with the frosting. Sprinkle with chocolate chips, pressing lightly so chips adhere to frosting. Refrigerated in an airtight container, frosted cookies will keep for up to 3 days.
Lynsey
/ July 6, 2012Yet another amazing recipe involving cookie dough! These look delicious, as always!
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012Thanks Lynsey.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
/ July 6, 2012I want that cookbook SO bad. In general, I’m not a big sugar cookie fan…but with cookie dough frosting–nooow we’re talkin! Thanks so much for the friend request on FoodBuzz! I love your blog!!
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012It is a great book! Cookie dough really does make everything better! 😀 Thank you so much!
Tiffany
/ July 6, 2012You have a beautiful blog, and these cookies look absolutely wonderful! So glad to start following your work!
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012Thank you so much Tiffany. I really appreciate it!
Joy
/ July 6, 2012The cookie looks lovely. I love soft sugar cookies.
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012Thanks Joy! I love soft, frosted sugar cookies. And this brown sugar based frosting is to die for! 😀
Eva @ Eva Bakes
/ July 6, 2012Kim, these look unbelievable! I have never made Lofthouse style cookies on my own, and now I have a recipe thanks to you!
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012Thanks Eva! I made these before: http://annies-eats.com/2011/07/18/soft-frosted-sugar-cookies/ and they were really good. But, I really like the addition of brown sugar in the frosting in this recipe.
Food Stories
/ July 6, 2012Thx for connecting with me on foodbuzz. I just subscribed to your blog feed and can’t wait to see what your next post will be!
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012Thanks for the subscription, Food Stories. 😀
mjskit
/ July 6, 2012Cookies with a cookie dough frosting? Now that’s clever! If I were to make these I would probably end up agreeing with your daughter. 🙂 They look SO good!
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012Thank you mjskit. The frosting on these cookies is amazing. This time, my daughter may be right 😀
Geraldine
/ July 6, 2012These look amazing!! Yum!!
Just Baked
/ July 6, 2012Thank you Geraldine!
MissMessy
/ July 7, 2012you can’t be cookie dough frosting! super recipe!
Anne@FromMySweetHeart
/ July 7, 2012Kim…these cookies are BEAUTIFUL! I must admit, I love those supermarket cookies. (I always choose the ones decorated with yellow smiley faces!) And I LOVE your family’s response! That’s exactly what I do when I taste something incredible….so your cookies must be as delicious as they are pretty! Looking forward to trying this recipe for sure!
ally
/ July 8, 2012perfect job on these cookies… seriously. keep the yummy coming!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.ca/
Kim Bee
/ July 8, 2012These look positively delicious. Nothing better than a pretty cookie.
Just Baked
/ July 9, 2012Thank you Kim Bee.
huntfortheverybest
/ July 10, 2012looks yummy!
Megan
/ October 10, 2012I just made these for a bake-sale and they are AMAZING. Taking the first bite I was completely astounded at how awesome they taste – my grandma couldn’t get enough and kept stealing them throughout the night!
I dyed the frosting pink on some because the bake-sale is to benefit breast cancer, and they look amazing. Thanks so much for the recipe! Will definitely be making these again in the near future!
Just Baked
/ October 10, 2012Thanks for taking the time to let me know, Megan. I’m so glad you enjoyed them. We loved them too. They are so soft and the frosting is delicious! Breast cancer runs in my family so thank you for contributing to such a great cause! I bet they will be a big seller! 😀