Frosting for Sugar Cookies

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Real butter makes this sugar cookie frosting thick & creamy, and gives it the best flavor! It’s so easy to whip up, and can be colored to match any holiday or theme. You’ll never need another sugar cookie frosting recipe!

stack of sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles

Pair this frosting with my Valentine’s Day sugar cookies or chocolate sugar cookies for a spectacular treat that people go crazy for.

Is royal icing or buttercream better for sugar cookies?

It depends what you’re going for. Both have their place.

Royal icing is great for decorating beautiful cookies because it’s runny, and can be piped on cookies with fine detail. It’s also shiny and dries hard, so your cookies will be stackable.

Buttercream, on the other hand, is more about taste. It’s rich and creamy, and butter gives it a rich flavor. It’s perfect for spreading on top of cookies, but can also be piped in simple designs.

As it dries, the top will get a slight crust on it, but the frosting stays soft.

I am always a fan of buttercream frosting for sugar cookies, because I’d rather have my cookies taste fantastic rather than being artistic. For me, taste wins every time!

THE BEST FROSTING FOR SUGAR COOKIES!

Made all in one bowl, this frosting whips up in about 5 minutes.
Butter has much better flavor than shortening, so this frosting is rich and creamy.
Almond extract adds the best flavor. Not overpowering, but it just makes it extra special. Most people can’t guess the secret ingredient, but they love this frosting!
Salt boosts the flavor of the frosting, and cuts a bit of the sweetness.
The frosting sets enough that you can stack the cookies, but still stays nice and creamy, not hard.
It takes AMAZING! You are eating the cookies after all, so they should taste good. 🙂

bowl of white frosting for sugar cookies

HOW TO MAKE FROSTING FOR SUGAR COOKIES

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter with a hand mixer until smooth and fluffy.
Add the powdered sugar, almond extract, vanilla, salt, and two tablespoons of the cream. Beat until smooth, adding more cream as needed. You want it to be thick but spreadable.
You can either spread the frosting on cooled cookies with a knife, or use a piping bag.
If using sprinkles, add them quickly before the frosting sets.

STORING LEFTOVER FROSTING

Any leftover frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.

You can also freeze it for 2-3 months.

When you are ready to use the frosting, let it sit at room temperature until it is soft enough to spread.

bowl of white frosting with a wooden spoon

STORING LEFTOVER FROSTED COOKIES

Leftover frosted sugar cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to a week in an airtight container. I recommend placing waxed paper between the layers to protect the frosting from getting smashed.

You can also freeze frosted cookies. Place them on cookie sheets and freeze for an hour. After they are hard, transfer them to heavy duty ziplock bags. They will last in the freezer for 4-5 months.

It’s definitely best to let the frozen cookies thaw at room temperature; the frosting tends to melt if you try to thaw them in the microwave.

PRO TIPS:

Make sure your butter is at room temperature.
If your powdered sugar is full of lumps, you may want to sift it first. The lumps will eventually dissolve as you beat the frosting, but it’s sometimes faster to sift it.
Almond extract adds amazing flavor, and really does make this the best sugar cookie frosting recipe. You can of course replace it with vanilla, but it won’t be as amazing.
If you need a white frosting, you can use clear vanilla extract. Just keep in mind that the butter does give the frosting a creamy color that isn’t stark white.
It may seem strange to add salt to frosting, but it balances out the sweetness and really enhances the flavor!

VARIATIONS:

If you love coconut, you can substitute coconut extract for the almond.

Don’t want to spread your frosting? You can melt it in the microwave until it is runny. Then simply dip the tops of the cookies. If it starts to harden, you can pop it back in the microwave for a few seconds.
For an extra punch of vanilla flavor, you can add vanilla bean seeds or paste. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t look as pretty to have brown flecks if you are using food coloring.

frosted sugar cookie on waxed paper with a plate of cookies in the background

EASY COOKIE RECIPES:

SUGAR COOKIE FROSTING RECIPE

Yield: 2 cups frosting (approximately)