Frosted Halloween Sugar Cookies are a fun and delicious treat to make for the spooky holiday. The colorful buttercream frosting and sprinkles make these soft sugar cookies melt in your mouth.
*This content is sponsored by Dixie Crystals Sugar. All opinions and ideas expressed are entirely my own.
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I love making fun treats like these ghost cookies and these no bake Halloween cheesecake cups to get into the Halloween spirit. The candy eyeballs add such a cute yet spooky vibe.
This year I decided to make frosted sugar cookies that would be perfect for Halloween. My kids and husband adore frosted Lofthouse cookies, so I decided to make a copycat recipe that we could make anytime.
Why Make This Recipe
Frosted sugar cookies are a great way to get into the spooky spirit. These ones are colorful, fun, and frosted with a delicious orange and purple buttercream.
- They are so easy to make. No rolling or cookie cutters required.
- Each one is colorful, festive, and tastes delicious.
- The cookies are soft and cakey. Each bite will literally melt in your mouth.
- They have the perfect ratio of cookie to frosting.
- Change up the frosting color and serve them for any holiday.
This frosted sugar cookie recipe is sure to be a hit at your Halloween party this year. Don't forget to add sprinkles for that extra festive flair.
Key Ingredients
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make these easy sugar cookies in no time at all. They are perfect for a last minute party or special Halloween treat.
- Butter - Set the butter out ahead of time.
- Sugar - A combination of granulated sugar and powdered sugar sweetens the cookie dough.
- Sour Cream - Adds a little bit of moisture to the dough.
- Flavoring - Using vanilla extract and almond extract gives that signature sugar cookie flavor.
- Cake Flour - Gives the cookies a very soft and tender texture. Make sure to sift it after spooning and scooping it.
- Cornstarch - Makes the cookies softer.
- Buttercream Frosting and Sprinkles - Use your favorite color or match it to a theme.
How To Make Halloween Sugar Cookies
Not only are these homemade sugar cookies easy to make, but they are also so fun to decorate. Add some colorful vanilla frosting and festive holiday sprinkles, and they will be the hit of any party.
Make Cookie Dough
- Beat the butter and sugars in a large bowl until soft and creamy.
- Add the other wet ingredients and mix at medium speed.
- Sift the cake flour and dry ingredients into the dough. This separates the flour and makes it light and fluffy.
- Use a mixer to beat everything into a soft cookie dough. Do not over mix. Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour.
Bake and Frost Cookies
- Scoop into 18 even balls and place on a baking sheet. Flatten each one slightly with the palm of your hand.
- Bake 9 cookies at a time, so they have room to bake.
- Allow the sugar cookies to cool on the hot pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, use a spatula to spread the buttercream frosting on each one. Top with sprinkles, if desired.
Storage Recommendations
Frosted sugar cookies will stay soft for 3-4 days if kept in a tightly sealed container at room temperature. Place parchment paper between the layers of cookies to keep them from sticking together.
Tips and Tricks
- The dough for these sugar cookies does need to be chilled before you can bake it. This keeps the cookies from spreading too much.
- Do not handle the dough too much because the warmth from your hands will soften it. I like to use a medium cookie scoop to keep them uniform.
- Refrigerate unbaked dough balls while the other cookies are baking. I like to bake 9 at a time on a pan, so they have plenty of room to bake and spread.
- Tint the frosting using gel food colors. These will give you a more vibrant color, and they will not thin your frosting.
- Use a piping bag to swirl the frosting on top of the cookies. Although, doing this generally uses more frosting, so you may need to double the recipe.
- Change up the frosting color and sprinkles to match any holiday or party theme.
- Love chocolate? Add a swirl of chocolate buttercream to these soft cookies.
Recipe FAQ'S
Yes, these cookies freeze great. Place the frosted cookies on a sheet pan in the freezer for about an hour. This sets the frosting and cookies, so they do not stick together.
Place the cookies in freezer safe bags and freeze for 1-2 months. Place cookies on a plate and place on the counter for an hour before serving.
Yes, all purpose flour can be substituted for these cookies, but they will not be as soft and light. Cake flour really gives these sugar cookies their signature cakey texture.
Absolutely. Cover and place the cookie dough in your fridge for up to 3 days. You may need to set the dough out for a few minutes, so it is easier to scoop and roll.
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Recipe
Frosted Halloween Sugar Cookies
Frosted Halloween Sugar Cookies are a fun treat to make for the spooky holiday.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ¼ cups cake flour*
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
For the Buttercream Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- Orange and purple gel coloring
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Beat butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Add egg, sour cream, and extracts. Mix again.
- Sift cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and corn starch into wet ingredients with a fine wire mesh strainer. Mix dry ingredients in gently.
- Cover and refrigerate cookie dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with a Silpat or parchment paper.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to make 18 dough mounds. Roll each one into a ball and place on sheet pan. Press each one down slightly with palm of your hand.
- Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest on hot pan for 2-3 minutes, then gently move to a sheet of wax paper to cool completely.
- Beat frosting ingredients in a bowl until light and creamy. Divide frosting into 2 bowls and tint with food coloring, if desired.
- Spread frosting on cookies and top with sprinkles.
- Store cookies airtight at room temperature for 3-4 days.
Notes
*Spoon & Sweep method: Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour until required amount is obtained. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour required for recipe.
This recipe was created using Dixie Crystals Sugar.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 277Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 197mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 0gSugar: 22gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Ann
Hi Jocelyn. I've seen so many Lofthouse copycat recipes and have never tried one. I've decided to try your recipe. I don't have any sour cream. Can I substitute 2 tbsp cream cheese?
Jocelyn
Hi, Ann. I'm excited you are trying this recipe. Do you have Greek yogurt? That will work as a replacement too. If you don't, soften the cream cheese and thin it with a little milk until it is the consistency of sour cream. I hope you enjoy the cookies.
Ann
Hi Jocelyn. I made these cookies yesterday and used sour cream instead of the cream cheese. I have to admit I was a little concerned about the cookie being cake like. I didn't think my teen aged grandchildren or I would like it. Well, they were a big hit with everyone. The cookies came out exactly like the picture and were gone the same day. The only change I made was to roll them in sanding sugar. The grandchildren are not to keen about frosting. Thanks for such a great recipe. This definitely is a keeper and worthy of a 10 star rating!!!