Homemade Sugar Cookie Frosting that Hardens!
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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
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
Video
Nutrition Information
Recipe Slightly Adapted from: Skip to My Lou
Kenzie says
OMG THE PERFECT COOKIE RECIPE 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Terry says
Best cookie frosting ever. I’ve made a few. This one was so easy and great tasting too!
Kjs says
Icing broke and never would harden. Glad I only used it on a few cookies and not the whole batch. No go for me
Diane says
How long to dry before you can stack cookies?
Courtney says
Wait until the frosting has hardened.
Natalie says
Can I use whipping cream in the frosting?
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry I’ve never tried it with whipping cream!
Stephanie says
Salted or unsalted butter?
Julie Evink says
We used salted butter.
kierstien says
can we use cream cheese in replace of butter?
Julie Evink says
No I don’t think it would have the same effect.
Amy G says
I don’t like the taste of almond extract, so I’m going to try this without. I am totally surprised that this will be that easy.
Julie Evink says
I’ve left out the almond extract. I sometimes use a little more vanilla then!
Karen says
I’m going to use lemon extract and lemon zest. I also going to make your sugar cookies with lemon zest and extract. Thanks for you recipes.
Julie Evink says
That sounds delicious! Hope you enjoy them!
Lynn says
I need a chocolate frosting that will firm up on molasses cookies. Will cocoa affect the consistency? Thanks!
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry I’ve never tried it like this! I would start with replacing some of the powdered sugar with cocoa and seeing if it gets thick enough that way, then add more powdered sugar to get the desired consistency.
Belinda says
Great frosting, how long can I keep it? If I keep it in a piping bag?
Julie Evink says
I’d keep it in an airtight container and mix it before adding it to the piping bag. If it’s to thick just add a little milk to it before adding it to the piping bag.
Lois Ann Graham says
Cookies are great!
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Lois!
Lillian says
Can I store the left over frosting in the fridge?
Julie Evink says
Yes, if it gets to thick after sitting just add a little more liquid and mix up.
Kenzie says
Icing is amazing but I added the exact amount of powdered sugar and it’s still watery and no matter how much more powdered sugar I add it won’t thicken up. What should I do?
jlp says
I like the recipe, but do you really need so many ads popping up everywhere? There are so many, it’s distracting.
Madysen says
Can you switch out almond extract for something else ? Or leave it out?
Julie Evink says
You can leave it out, I usually add a little more vanilla then!
Deborah Barron says
Five stars for the sugar cookie recipe. Exactly what I wanted. Thank you. Not going to try and use the frosting recipe until the grand babies are here for Christmas!
Julie Evink says
So wonderful to hear Deborah. Have fun decorating! Thanks for commenting and rating it!
Deb Moore says
Can you use 2% milk ? Need help ASAP . Thank you
Julie Evink says
That will work fine.