Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens!
353 Comments
Posted: 12/13/17
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Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens ~ The Perfect Sugar Cookie Frosting for Decorating! If You Are Looking for Frosting For Sugar Cookies that Hardens this is it!
I have been searching for YEARS for the perfect Sugar Cookie Frosting recipe that hardens. I didn’t want an icing I wanted a frosting. One that would harden so I could stack my cookies without them sticking to each other. This homemade frosting that hardens is delicious and easy!
I’ve finally found the ONE. The one frosting that I’ll use every single time I make sugar cookies. It’s ridiculously easy and all the ingredients are in my pantry so I don’t have to search out for “weird” ingredients that will never be used again.
I’m not that kind of girl. I live in small town Minnesota and ain’t no one got time for that!
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Ingredients for Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens!
- Butter
- Milk
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
Yup that’s right only FIVE Ingredients needed!
Happy dance happening right here isn’t it?
Plus, it’s totally adaptable to any occasion. Dye it a different color. Throw some festive sprinkles to celebrate any occasion or make sugar cookies and frost them for the heck of it!
Can we talk Christmas cookies? I adore them, my hips don’t adore them, but once a year I don’t really care what the hips say! I make all kinds of them, but my all time favorites are Almond Cherry Cookies, Chocolate Mint Thumbprint Cookies, Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies!
What is your favorite Christmas cookie? A more traditional, handed down recipe or something new and exciting?
Don’t forget these Soft Sugar Cookies that are perfect to pair with this amazing Sugar Cookie Frosting!
I feel this “expectation” when I go to holiday parties. People expect me to bring a cookie tray laden with deliciousness. I feel that I’m a fraud if I don’t bring the ultimate cookie platter. I try to make cookies for weeks so I have a good variety.
Except sugar cookies. I’ve always shied away from the rolling, cutting and frosting. It sounded overwhelming. I wanted to drop and bake and then stack and freeze. That’s more my kind of cookie baking!
Then I tried Pillsbury Sugar Cookies. You know the ones you find in your grocery’s diary aisle? The refrigerated pull about or cut ones…I need something fast, like super fast one day. I gave them a whirl. I promptly frosted them with this amazing Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that hardens.
Tools Recommended to Make Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens!
I served them secretly smiling. No one was going to know!
And then someone promptly asked me for my recipe for the cookies. I blushed and filled her in on my secret. She said, NO WAYYYYYYYY!
Yes Way. Totally. Not Lying.
Those cookies are soft, chewy and delicious. You top them with this amazing frosting for Sugar Cookies that hardens and Viola. You’ve got a home run.
I won’t tell if you don’t!
mORE AMAZING RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens
The Perfect Sugar Cookie Frosting for Decorating! If You Are Looking for Frosting For Sugar Cookies that Hardens this is it!
Ingredients
- 2/3 c. butter softened
- 1/2 c. milk
- 2 lbs powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- In mixing bowl cream together butter and milk with an electric mixer. Slowly mix in powdered sugar and extracts.
- Frost sugar cookies immediately. Let frosting harden. Store cookies in air tight container.
Tips
If frosting in mixing bowl starts to harden before you are done frosting cookies add a little milk and stir to combine.
I measured out how many cups are in 2 lbs of powdered sugar and it is about 8 c.
If the butter and milk doesn’t perfectly cream together that’s fine. Just start adding the powdered sugar and it will start to cream together!
Video
Nutrition Information
Calories: 98kcal (5%), Carbohydrates: 18g (6%), Fat: 2g (3%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Cholesterol: 7mg (2%), Sodium: 24mg (1%), Potassium: 4mg, Sugar: 18g (20%), Vitamin A: 85IU (2%), Calcium: 4mg
Recipe Slightly Adapted from: Skip to My Lou
Pam says
can I use this on donuts?
Courtney says
I’ve never tried it but I don’t see why not!
Chad says
Icing will not harden with butter. Look for a recipe that uses corn syrup instead of butter.
Courtney says
I’ve never had the issue of the frosting not hardening.
Sarah says
Although the icing was easy to make, it was not good. I was not able to pipe this onto the cookies I made. I added more powdered sugar than said and it still was too runny to use. When I did pipe the icing got everywhere. I do recommend the cookies that you make to go along this recipe, the icing not so much. I will stick to my cream cheese icing.
Heather Motes says
Super easy and delicious! Does the icing need to be refrigerated after placed on the cookies?
Courtney says
Nope, just store in an airtight container!
Melissa E Lewien says
This was a good recipe! It is very sweet so I would add play with it next time adding the last quarter of sugar slowly as needed.
Cindy says
The taste is good but I had so much trouble with this frosting. Creaming the butter and the milk together was a disaster. It took forever to get it somewhat smooth. 2lbs of powered sugar wasn’t enough for a good consistency to pipe with to decorate. I think I added an additional cup. It was better but not great. My cookies don’t look smooth. They have a grainy look. This frosting is terrible. Maybe the milk should be at room temperature?
Courtney says
I am sorry to hear this recipe didn’t work for you. If the butter and milk doesn’t perfectly cream together that’s fine. Just start adding the powdered sugar and it will start to cream together!
B. M. says
Great taste however Does not harden very fast. Too much butter!
Casey says
Great recipe for frosting that sets a bit, if you want to stack frosted cookies. The almond extract adds nice flavor and it was so delicious!
Cyndy says
I’m so glad that I found this recipe. In all my 60 years, this is the BEST icing for cookies ever. Hardens enough to be able to stack in a container (I still put parchment between the layers), but isn’t crunchy. Just perfect! I read a comment from Dana Vizina complaining about milk and butter not mixing because the milk made the butter harden. I considered this before I started and warmed my milk slightly in the microwave. I set my mixer on low. It will not really “cream” until you start adding the sugar. Add the sugar a little at a time. It turns out perfectly.
Cyndy says
I’m so glad that I found this recipe. In all my 60 years, this is the BEST icing for cookies ever. Hardens enough to be able to stack in a container (I still put parchment between the layers), but isn’t crunchy. Just perfect!
Dana Vizina says
This is in ABSOLUTE JOKE of a recipe and beyond frustrating. Once you add the cold milk to the already softened butter, the butter immediately hardens again and flies all over the kitchen once you start mixing with an electric mixer. I have to wait for all of it to warm up again to room temp for about two hours, but who has time for that?
Ann says
How many cups does this recipe make or how many cookies will it decorate? I’ve searched and can’t find it. Thx
Danielle says
EASY, frosting recipe. Pairs perfect with Julie’s sugar cookie recipe!
Helen says
After the cookies are decorated can you freeze them and how long can you keep them
Jodi says
Super easy and is delicious!! Hardens in no time.