Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies — a vegan, gluten-free take on a childhood favorite. Chewy, tender cookies topped with fluffy, buttery frosting and colorful sprinkles, just like you remember.
Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies
Soft and fluffy cookies — a classic for good reason.
My husband brought home an Easter cookie from his dentist appointment recently: a soft, frosted sugar cookie in the Lofthouse style. It sparked an immediate craving that sent me digging through old college recipes.
I adapted a holiday sugar cookie recipe from my college days to be vegan and gluten-free. The first batch I made had a thinner glaze; a friend loved them and asked for a batch with the thinner frosting. I still wanted the thicker, buttery Lofthouse-style frosting, so I made a second batch the next day.
Some cookies I gave to a friend reached another friend who is newly dairy-free. She used the thinner frosting to pipe adorable egg-shaped cookies for Easter — they turned out so cute. Whether you’re making these for a holiday or just because, either frosting works beautifully. I used bright vegan sprinkles for a cheerful finish.
Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies — Vegan & Gluten Free
Yield: 28–32 cookies, depending on size
Diet: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan
Ingredients
1 ¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
½ cup brown rice flour
¼ cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup vegan powdered sugar
½ cup vegan granulated sugar
½ cup vegan butter (such as Earth Balance baking sticks)
¼ cup aquafaba
3 tablespoons cashew milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, sift together the gluten-free all-purpose flour, brown rice flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and sea salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together the powdered sugar, cashew milk, vegan butter, aquafaba, and vanilla until smooth.
Gradually add the dry mixture while mixing until a thick dough forms.
Use a cookie scoop to portion uniform rounds onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake at 350 °F for 8–10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting.
Fluffy Sugar Cookie Frosting
Diet: dairy-free, egg-free, vegan
Ingredients
½ cup vegan butter (such as Earth Balance baking sticks)
2 ½ cups vegan powdered sugar
Natural food coloring (optional — for example, 1 tablespoon beet juice for pink)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
Vegan sprinkles, for decorating
Instructions
Beat the vegan butter in a stand or hand mixer. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time while mixing until fully incorporated. Scrape the bowl as needed. Add the natural coloring and vanilla, then combine until smooth and fluffy.
Frost cooled cookies and finish with sprinkles.
Thin Sugar Cookie Frosting
Diet: dairy-free, egg-free, vegan
Ingredients
2 ½ cups vegan powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cashew milk (or another plant milk)
Natural food coloring (optional — e.g., beet juice)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
Vegan sprinkles, for decorating
Instructions
Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl, then add the cashew milk, natural coloring, and vanilla. Stir until smooth and thin enough to spread or pipe. Adjust milk or powdered sugar to reach your desired consistency.
Frost cooled cookies and top with sprinkles.
These cookies are perfect for celebrations or a simple treat. Use the thicker fluffy frosting for the classic Lofthouse look, or the thin glaze for detailed piping and decorated shapes. Both are easy to make and delightful to share.
Back to the dentist — ha!
About Kristina: Kristina Sloggett is the creator of spabettie, founded in 2010 to share vibrant vegan recipes. As the sole recipe developer and photographer, Kristina combines culinary training and creativity to showcase how flavorful plant-based food can be. She loves dachshunds, Portland, Hawaii, music, and travel.
Printable Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies recipe:
Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies
Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies – a vegan and gluten-free version of a childhood favorite: chewy, soft cookies with fluffy buttery frosting and sprinkles.
7 minutes
10 minutes
17 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown rice flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup vegan powdered sugar
- ½ cup vegan granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegan butter (Earth Balance baking sticks)
- ¼ cup aquafaba
- 3 tablespoons cashew milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a mixing bowl, sift together flours, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream together powdered sugar, cashew milk, vegan butter, aquafaba, and vanilla.
- Add dry mixture while mixing until a thick dough forms.
- Scoop uniform portions onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 350 °F for 8–10 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
28-32
Serving Size:
2 cookies
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 130
Fluffy Sugar Cookie Frosting
5 minutes
5 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan butter (Earth Balance baking sticks)
- 2 ½ cups vegan powdered sugar
- Natural food coloring (1 tablespoon beet juice, optional)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
Instructions
- Beat vegan butter, then add powdered sugar a cup at a time while mixing. Scrape the bowl as needed. Add color and vanilla and combine.
- Frost cooled cookies and add sprinkles.
Thin Sugar Cookie Frosting
5 minutes
5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups vegan powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons cashew milk
- Natural food coloring (beet juice, optional)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste
- Vegan sprinkles
Instructions
- Combine sifted powdered sugar with cashew milk, color, and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
- Frost cooled cookies and add sprinkles.
spabettie / Kristina Sloggett participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com.