Soft Sugar Cookies (Lofthouse Copycat)

Inspired by...Valentine's Day

There are a few treats that I have trouble passing by at the grocery store.  One of those goodies are Lofthouse cookies, especially when they're decorated for Valentine's Day.  So this year, I decided to try baking my own.  These copycats are very similar to the store bought version and are pretty yummy!  They are soft and sweet and decadent.  If you haven't tried Lofthouse cookies before, you definitely should grab a box soon!  Or try out this recipe!

I used the recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.  Since it was my first time making this type of cookie, I followed the recipe almost exactly as ​they wrote it.  The only ingredient that I adjusted was the vanilla in the frosting, which I doubled (just because I love vanilla!) .  I also chilled the cookie dough a little differently because of how my dough turned out.  It was too soft and sticky to form disks right away, so I chilled the dough in the bowl for about two hours before making disks to cool for longer.  I will also warn you that this recipe makes a ton of dough (and cookies).  My mixer had trouble handling all of the batter, so I'd recommend incorporating the last of the dry ingredients by hand (with a spoon, not your actual hands...too sticky and messy!).  I loved this recipe and will use it again!

Recipe​
From Two Peas and Their Pod
​Makes 5-6 dozen cookies​

Ingredients
​For cookies:

• ​6 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream

For frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• pinch of salt
• 5-6 tablespoon heavy cream
• food coloring as desired

Directions

1. ​Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Beat butter and sugar together.
3. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Add vanilla and sour cream and mix until incorporated.
5. Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet, mixing as you go.  You may need to mix in the last of the dry ingredients by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula.
6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for about 2 hours.
7. Once the dough is chilled enough to handle, separate the dough into two balls and flatten into disks.  Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and return them to the fridge for another hour or so.
8. Once the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
9. Flour a board and the top of one of your disks of dough.  Roll dough out until it is about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into desired shapes and place on cookie sheet.,
10. Bake for about 7 minutes until centers are set and edges are slightly golden..
11. Cool on a cooling rack completely before frosting.

​For Frosting:

1. Beat together butter and vanilla.
2. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, alternating with tablespoons of cream.  Beat well after each addition.
3. Add and incorporate pinch of salt and food coloring if desired.
4. Frost cookies and cover with sprinkles if desired!