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
MaryAnn says
If it hardens that quickly, when can I put food color in it and what type of food color…gel? I need 3 different colors.
Julie says
You can use liquid food coloring, mix the food coloring in right after mixing in the powdered sugar and extracts. If the frosting starts to harden before you are done frosting, add a little milk and stir to combine.
Blue says
How long does the frosting take to harden?
Julie says
It can depend on a number of factors but I would say 1-2 hours to harden. You can also put them in the fridge to get them to harden quicker.
Lauren says
Is the Almond extract a necessity? I’m making these for a school function and need them to be “nut free”
Julie says
Nope, the almond extract just adds a different flavor. You can leave it out.
Luke says
8 cups of sugar…you don’t mention how many cookies you’re doing this frosting for and I usually do not happen to have 8 cups of powdered sugar in my cabinet…
Julie Evink says
It’s going to frost about 84 cookies as it states in the recipe card for serving, this is going to depend on the size of your cookie and how thick you put it on. You can always half the recipe.
Isabelle says
I only did 1.5 pounds of sugar and it worked great. Thanks for the recipe! My little sister was insisting that she wanted cookies with “hard frosting” so this was a perfect texture and taste
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Sandra says
Can I use almond milk I. Place of 2%milk for cookie frosting that hardens
Julie Evink says
Hi Sandra! I’m sorry I’ve never tried this substitute! If you do, let me know if it works! Good luck!
Beth says
I cut the recipe in half and easily frosted 48 cupcakes, with a knife, and still had enough leftover to frost a loaf cake. Perfect recipe! Thanks!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it Beth!
Cindy says
Hi. Would this icing work for using a food writer/icing pen on it? I don’t like fondant but want to write on some iced cookies :).
Julie Evink says
You might need to thin it out a bit with some more milk but I think that would work! Let me know if you try it!
Kristen says
Can you freeze the icing to use at a later date (a couple days to be exact)?
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry I’ve never tried this. I’m not sure it would work!
Soummer Janet Wensko says
If spread thickly or decorated with many flowers (Russian tips), is the frosting soft under the crust?
Julie Evink says
Yes it should be.
Mollycat says
Excellent recipe. I made it twice and it comes out perfectly delicious.
Julie Evink says
So glad you are enjoying it!
Stephanie Reid says
2lbs is 32oz
32oz is 4 cups
Should we be using 8 cups? or 4?
Julie Evink says
There is 8 fluid oz in a cup this is not a weighted measurement. I measured the 2 lbs myself and it came out to 8 c.
Jennifer Pinkerton says
Great recipe! Spreads easily, pipes pretty well, and best of all it tastes delicious. I cut the recipe in half and had plenty of frosting for 3 dozen cookies.
Julie Evink says
So glad you loved it as much as we do!
Ashlee says
Does this frosting store at room temp well? Meaning, could I make a batch of frosting, put each color in an airtight container, leave it out on the counter overnight, then open it up and spread it on a cookie?
Julie Evink says
No I think it will harden if you do that.
Jeannique says
How many cookies can it frost?
Julie Evink says
Approximately 7 dozen.
Tiauna says
Is there a way to half this recipe? I don’t need that much frosting.
Julie Evink says
Sure just half all the ingredients. The powdered sugar would be about 4 c. since there are 8 c. in 2 lbs.