Walmart-Style Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting (Printable)
Soft, pillowy sugar cookies topped with whipped vanilla buttercream frosting.
# What You Need:
→ Cookie Dough
01 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ Buttercream Frosting
10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - Food coloring (optional)
16 - Sprinkles (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated, then mix in sour cream.
04 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut 2.5-inch circles and place on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are set but not browned. Cool completely on wire rack.
09 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, salt, and cream. Beat on high for 2-3 minutes until fluffy. Add food coloring if desired.
10 - Spread or pipe frosting generously onto cooled cookies. Add sprinkles if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These bake up with that signature crackly top and pillowy center that makes store bought cookies so addictive
- The sour cream creates tenderness you cant get from a standard sugar cookie recipe
02 -
- Chilling the dough is non negotiable—warm dough will spread too thin and lose that soft bakery texture
- Watch the oven closely because these go from perfect to overbaked in about sixty seconds
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients are essential—if your butter is too cold the dough wont cream properly
- Try swapping a teaspoon of vanilla for almond extract in the frosting for an entirely different flavor profile