Once upon a time, I had a love affair with gluten. All of that changed over 7 years ago. When I had to stop eating gluten there were many foods I thought I would never eat or enjoy again – glazed donuts, thick-crust pizza, kolachy, the best soft sugar cookies you could imagine, ooey and gooey cinnamon rolls, or thick fluffy pancakes. Gluten-free soft sugar cookies just never sounded appetizing until recently.
Through the years, I have found or developed gluten-free recipes for most of my favorite foods. (I am still trying to figure out the kolachy and cinnamon rolls). Recently, I was able to perfect the best gluten-free soft sugar cookies with icing. You know, the soft and delicious Lofthouse style sugar cookies with the decadent frosting? I was sure I would never taste those again.
Lucky for you and me, I was able to perfect my recipe and find the right gluten-free flour. Because of that, these cookies are now one of my favorite – easy to make, decorate, and tasty! I love to have a cookie or two with a glass of milk, and most people cannot even tell that they are gluten-free.
Best Gluten-Free Soft Sugar Cookie? Don’t Just Take My Word for It
I do miss being able to roll out sugar cookies and cut them in shapes. However, I am working on that. Right now, I chill the dough and then slice bits off. I get a piece of wax paper and smoosh the cookie between the wax paper and the parchment paper making a roundish cookie shape. It isn’t an exact science, but it does produce the best soft sugar cookie in a roundish shape.
After they cool, I frost them with a great almond flavored buttercream tinted in a color that is great for the current season – pink for Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick’s Day, pastel colors for Easter and spring, red, white or blue for Fourth of July, orange, yellow or shades of tan for fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving, red and green for Christmas, blue or pink for baby showers, and school colors for sporting events or graduation parties. Make them for weddings, showers, birthday parties, and just because of parties. Decorate with sprinkles, jimmies, or nonpareils.
These cookies are perfect for so many occasions. Additionally, they are loved by young and old alike. These will be the first cookies that are eaten on any cookie table or buffet. Your family, friends and loved ones deserve the best soft sugar cookies, and these gluten-free soft sugar cookies will melt in their mouths and have the come running back for more.
Bet you can’t eat just one.
Tip: I used to use one brand of regular flour for all my baking needs. However, when I went gluten-free, I realized that tactic doesn’t work anymore. Now I use different gluten-free flour blends for each recipe I make. My perfect, no-fail, gluten-free pie crust uses Krusteaz Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour. But the Best Gluten-Free Soft Sugar Cookies uses King Arthur All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour.
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Best Gluten-Free Soft Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp almond extract (Optional)
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 3/4 cup Gluten-Free Flour King Arthur All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour
Buttercream icing
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tsp almond extract (Optional)
- 2-3 Tbsp Heavy Whipping Cream
- 3 cups Powdered Sugar
- Food Coloring (Optional)
- Sprinkles, Jimmies or other decorative food safe items
Instructions
Gluten-Free Soft Sugar Cookies
- Bake at 350 Degrees
- Mix softened butter and sugar on medium speed
- Add 1 large egg to sugar/butter mixture and continue beating on medium speed.
- Add vanilla extract and baking soda. If almond flavoring is desired, add at this point.
- Add sour cream and mix until smooth.
- Add the flour and mix until blended.
- Separate the dough into two sections. Place each section onto waxed paper and wrap in balls. Chill for 2+ hours.
- Remove one ball and cut/spoon 1 tablespoon dough onto a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper.
- With a small square of wax paper, smush the dough into a flattened disk. Bake at 350 degrees and let cool before decorating.
Buttercream Icing
- Mix together softened butter and vanilla. If desired, add almond extract. Mix at medium speed.
- Mix in powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Gradually add the heavy cream between the cups of powdered sugar. Once all the ingredients are blended, add drops of food coloring until desired color is achieved. Beat on high speed 2-3 minutes until frosting is fluffy.
- Decorate cooled cookies with buttercream icing and sprinkles. Enjoy!
Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!
Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting
Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast
