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When it comes to baking a really good sugar cookie, the cookie is only half the battle! You need the perfect sugar cookie frosting recipe to go on top!
The frosting can make or break the cookie
Sugar cookies have always been a favorite of mine, but the frosting…well, that’s something that I can sometimes do without. A lot of the time, it’s just too sweet, isn’t it? I call it ‘icky’ sweet and it makes my belly hurt.
Since I’ve been doing this whole Christmas in July thing, it seemed like the perfect time to bake a few new sugar cookie recipes. And that got me thinking…a sugar cookie isn’t as good without the frosting, but the frosting can make or break the deal (and my belly), so I knew I had to come up with a really good sugar cookie frosting recipe, one that was tasty and balanced.
After making several (and I do mean several) batches of frosting, I’ve nailed it! I’ve finally found the best sugar cookie frosting recipe! And you’ll love it, it’s super-duper easy to make and it conveinently makes just enough to frost about two dozen cookies, which is the same amount that most of my recipes make!
How to make the best sugar cookie frosting ever
- To whip this frosting up (quite literally), you just cream the butter and powdered sugar together until they’re crumbly.
- Add the extracts and the milk (slowly) and continue mixing until it’s light and fluffy. Boom done!
- Add some food coloring if you want to, or just leave it white and add pretty sprinkles, but either way, it’s the perfectly sweet topping for sugar cookies.
Things that really make this recipe
- It’s the perfect amount to frost two dozen cookies without having tons left over
for eating. - With both vanilla and almond extracts in the recipe, the flavor of the frosting is well-balanced. It’s flavorful, but not ‘icky’ sweet. Neither the vanilla or the almond are overpowering.
- Adding a little sea salt helps round out the flavor of the frosting, giving it that sweet and savory component that’s truly irresistible. It’s not too sweet. So, definitely don’t skip the sea salt.
- You can make this frosting thick or thin, depending on your preference.
Questions about this recipe
So there you go my baking friends, a real winner in the sugar cookie frosting recipe department! I challenge you to give this recipe a try with your next batch of sugar cookies, it’s so good I’m pretty sure you’ll never want to make any other one!
The Best Cookies to Frost
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Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- In a medium bowl with the use of a hand mixer, cream butter and powdered sugar until crumbly.1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, 4 cups powdered sugar
- Add extracts, sea salt, and 2 TBS of the milk and mix on low to medium speed until light and fluffy.1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp almond extract, 1/8 tsp sea salt, 1/4 cup milk
- Continue to mix on medium to high for 2-3 minutes. Add remaining milk, 1 TBS at a time, as needed to achieved desired thickness.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to color frosting if desired.
Oh mannn I love a good sugar cookie with a thick layer of icing. Reminds me of Christmas cookies with my mom!
Heck yes, Ashley! Christmas cookies, and the frosting, are the best thing ever! ?
Yum this cooking frosting looks great. I’d love to dip a spoon in that bowl! Need to give this a try!
Thank you so much Jacqueline! Me too, I could seriously eat it by the spoonful! Hope you love it. Happy baking!
Yumm! Now I’m craving sugar cookies!
Well you’d better whip some up, Danielle! LOL, nothing like a little holiday baking in July! ?
I completely agree! The cookie is only half the battle 😉 This frosting looks beautiful!
You’re my kind of people, Kelly! Thank you so much! ?
I love when sugar cookies are frosted. You are right some frostings just aren’t that good. I can’t wait to try yours, it sounds easy and delicious!
Thanks so much, Pam! I hope you like it – it’s definitely been tested a few times! ☺️
Welp, now I have to make frosting because I promised my hubby sugar cookies and this looks too good not to make with them!
Haha, I would agree to that! Sugar cookies NEED frosting! Thank you so much!
I love having a great simple staple like this at my fingertips. This looks like a winner!
Thanks Jenni, it’s definite a go-to recipe. Hope you love it!
Sugar cookies are the best and this frosting looks amazing!!! A great recipe to have on-hand for the future, thanks!
Thank you so much, Georgie!
You had me at sugar cookie frosting! I want to lick the screen, it looks so good. I’ll be making this to frost all kinds of things!
Haha Claudia – I can totally relate! I have some in the fridge right now that I want to eat! Thank you so much! ☺️
It’s so sweet
Is there a way to not that sweet.?
Hi Kim! Well…buttercream is basically all sugar, haha, so I’m not sure how you could make it less sweet. You could try adding more salt to balance the sweetness, or more vanilla (or almond extract if you prefer) to add more flavor to help cut the sweetness, or maybe use a lot more butter, but I’ve never tried increasing the butter. Happy baking!
Does this frosting harden enough to stack? My mom is getting married this Saturday and she wants me to make cookies. I’m a bit nervous I just need a good frosting. Any tips would be great
I just made the frosting recipe! It’s an easy recipe that tastes Scrumptious!! I actually made it to ice a cake!!! I can’t wait to serve it!! I Licked the beaters & honestly wish I left a little more on the beaters!! Thanks for this Fabulous Gem of a recipe!!
Hi Ellen! Thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s my go-to, always! Happy holidays!
Do the cookies need to be refrigerated after frosted with this recipe?
Nope! You don’t have to refrigerate the cookies, the frosting will set up.
Does the frosting need to be refrigerated? I have about half left in a sealed container in my pantry.
Hi Natalie! I usually store it in the fridge.
I just made this wonderful frosting but not planning on frosting my sugar cookies til Saturday. Should I freeze the frosting or just refridge til Saturday?
Hi Patty! It’ll keep fine in the refrigerator until then. Just make sure to let it come to room temperature before you frost the cookies. Happy holidays!
Do you think it would be ok to use dairy free milk for this?
How long will the frosting be good for if I put it in icing bags for sugar cookie kits?
will it be difficult to make both?
This is my absolute go-to frosting recipe for sugar cookies! I absolutely love it and love that you put the ingredients in the recipe instructions! I’m wondering if this frosting will freeze on cookies well or how long it is good for after it’s on cookies?
Thank you! Oh, I’m so glad you find it helpful. Yes, I freeze the fully baked and frosted cookies all the time. I find that once they’re frosted they’re best in the first 3-5 days, after that they get hard and dry out.
What’s the shelf life for the frosting on the cookies is it typically five days.
Hey Kenna! If they’re frosted and stored in an airtight container, I usually say a max of 5 days. You can also layer and freeze frosted cookies too, if you need to. Happy baking!