Can I tell you a secret? One of my favorite parts about being a Mom is getting to be the one who makes a mess of excitement around the holidays. Christmas, birthdays, and, hey, even Easter always seem like the perfect opportunity for fun little treats and bits of happiness. This year, Aimee and I worked together to make these pastel Lofthouse cookies for her school Easter egg hunt, and it delighted me to no end. Although the party wasn’t for me, it might as well have been, because I loved every. minute. of. it. Today, I’m going to share the recipe with you in hopes that, if you find yourself with a few extra minutes this week, you might make a couple of these cookies to share with your own families and friends.

So what are Lofthouse cookies? You might have seen similarly soft, round, and sprinkled cookies in the bakery section of your local grocery store. Usually sold in seasonal colors, those original Lofthouse cookies are hugely nostalgic for a lot of us who grew up loving ultra-sweet processed snacks. These pastel Lofthouse cookies, while still equally soft, sweet, and frosted, are a homemade version that offer the opportunity for customized colors and sprinkles of your choice! Here, we opted for spring pastels and a light sprinkle of nonpareils, and I have to say, they make an adorable snack for kiddos (and grown-ups!).

To make these pastel Lofthouse cookies, we start by creaming together butter and powdered sugar. Next comes an egg, vanilla, and all of the dry ingredients. You’ll notice cornstarch here which may seem a little strange, but don’t fret- the cornstarch helps to keep these cookies light and airy. The dough does need a brief chill before small rounds can be rolled and gently pressed with the bottom of a glass. The cookies won’t budge much from their shape once they go in the oven, so be sure to keep them uniformed and crack-free.

Once baked, the cookies get the royal treatment with a crazy-delicious buttercream frosting. It’s here were the cookies begin reminding me of my Mimi’s soft frosted sugar cookies that we eat around Christmas. All the flavors blend so well together, and the frosting adds a pop of color and just the right amount of sweetness. Once frosted, the cookies can be enjoyed immediately or even frozen! To freeze Lofthouse cookies, allow the frosting to set completely and then stack in freezer-safe containers with sheets of wax paper in between each layer. Seal the container to protect them from the freezer and enjoy within a month.

I hope you all enjoyed an Easter full of hope, joy, and (well, obviously) cookies. Happy baking!

If you like these pastel Lofthouse cookies you should try:

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
Painted Sugar Cookies
Meringue Cookies
Mini Layer Cakes
Funfetti Mini Cakes

Pastel Lofthouse Cookies

These pastel Lofthouse cookies are mini versions of the original famous cookies- soft texture, fluffy frosting, and loads of sweet flavor!

• Author: Kate Wood
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 15
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 48 Mini Cookies
• Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 1 cup (230 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1–1/2 cups (170 gm) powdered sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1–1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 2–3/4 cups (330 gm) cake flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

For the frosting:

• ¾ cup (170 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3 cups (340 gm) powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1–1/2 – 2 tablespoons milk
• Food coloring and sprinkles, if desired

Instructions

To make the cookies:

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and powdered sugar together with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the egg and extracts, beating on medium just until combined. Add the cake flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir on low just until combined and a dough comes together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill until it comes to a play-doh consistency, about 1 hour. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a small cookie scoop or a spoon to portion out 1-1/2 teaspoon sized rounds of dough. Roll them in your hands briefly to smooth and place 2” apart on the prepared pans. Flour the flat bottom of a glass or measuring cup and gently press each round of dough down until it is just over ¼” thick. Bake in the oven until the edges and tops are barely set, about 7-8 minutes. Allow to cool completely prior to frosting. 

To make the frosting:

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter on medium speed until smooth and pale. About 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, almond extract, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Stir together on low until combined and then beat until smooth. Add additional milk to bring the frosting to your desired consistency. Add food coloring and spread on the cookies, adding sprinkles if desired.