Easy Sugar Cookies and Butter Cream Frosting

Name: Easy Sugar Cookies and Butter Cream Frosting
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 24
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 1 cup granulated sugar; 4 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4 cups all-purpose flour; 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon orange zest (optional); 4 cups powdered sugar; 2 to 4 tablespoons milk; Food coloring (optional)

Recipe GLPR036ed1ac0963c3

Dessert

140 min

295 cal

Servings: 24

Oven

SNAP eligible

Tender, delicious sugar cookies with a smooth butter cream frosting. These classic cookies are perfect for decorating and sharing. The dough requires a brief chill before baking, resulting in cookies with a delicate, pale golden exterior. Top with creamy frosting and your favorite colors or sprinkles for a festive treat.

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Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon orange zest (optional)

4 cups powdered sugar

2 to 4 tablespoons milk

Food coloring (optional)

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time to the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Pour in the vanilla extract and beat for about 1 minute until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and orange zest if using.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Knead the dough gently by hand until it comes together smoothly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters, or slice into pieces as preferred.
Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until the edges are set and the cookies are very pale in color. The cookies should not brown significantly.
Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack until completely cool.
For the frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together 1 cup of softened butter, 4 cups of powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract on low speed until smooth and creamy.
If the frosting is too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time, beating until you reach the desired spreading consistency.
Stir in food coloring if desired to achieve your preferred color. Frost the cooled cookies as desired and decorate with sprinkles or other embellishments if you wish.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4

Every ingredient is stocked at every Charlotte chain, and the cost per serving runs under $0.50 even with butter at recent prices, making this genuinely economical for a treat. The 140 minutes is honest for cookies that need to chill and bake properly, plus time for frosting and decoration, though active work is maybe 25 minutes spread across that window. This is a no-fuss recipe that reheats fine and works for a crowd, though orange zest adds a small twist that keeps it from feeling entirely generic; that flavor choice is worth the minimal effort. The only minor drag is that you'll want access to decorative tools and possibly multiple colors of food coloring if you're making this a showpiece, which feels optional rather than essential to success.