Sugar cookie frosting recipe insanely easy and joyful

Whip up a sugar cookie frosting recipe that’s insanely easy, creamy, and perfect for decorating soft holiday cookies in just minutes.

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24

Calories 75 kcal

Before we dive into mixing let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need for this creamy sugar cookie frosting recipe. Everything is simple, affordable, and easy to find, which is exactly what you want when you’re decorating a big batch of cookies.

These are the core ingredients that give your homemade sugar cookie frosting its smooth texture and rich flavor:
Unsalted butter softened
This is the base of your frosting. Room temperature butter whips up light and fluffy giving you that bakery-style finish. If it’s too cold, the frosting will be lumpy; too melty, and it will be greasy.
Powdered sugar confectioners’ sugar
Powdered sugar sweetens and thickens the frosting. For the smoothest powdered sugar frosting give it a quick sift to remove any lumps before mixing.
Milk or heavy cream
A splash of milk or cream for extra richness helps you control the consistency. Add it slowly until your frosting is spreadable or pipeable, depending on how you plan to decorate.
Pure vanilla extract
Vanilla is what makes this frosting taste cozy and familiar. A good-quality vanilla can take your basic sugar cookie frosting from “nice” to “wow what recipe is this?”
Pinch of salt
Just a tiny pinch balances the sweetness and makes all the flavors pop. Don’t skip it—it’s a small detail that makes a big difference.

If you want to personalize your sugar cookie frosting recipe these extras are lovely additions:
Almond extract a few drops
Almond adds that classic holiday bakery flavor. It’s strong so start small and adjust to taste.
Cream cheese
For a tangier slightly thicker frosting, you can blend in a bit of softened cream cheese. This variation is especially delicious on soft sugar cookies.

These ingredients don’t change the base recipe but make decorating more fun and festive:
Gel food coloring
Gel colors are ideal for holiday sugar cookie frosting because they’re vibrant and won’t thin out your frosting. Use separate bowls to mix different shades for decorating.
Sprinkles sanding sugar, and nonpareils
Once your cookies are frosted a handful of sprinkles instantly turns them into party-ready treats—perfect for cookie exchanges, bake sales, or decorating with kids.
With these ingredients ready to go you’ll have everything you need to whip up a batch of creamy frosting for sugar cookies that’s easy to customize for any season or celebration.

Ready to make the most joyful sugar cookie frosting recipe ever? Take it step by step and you’ll have a creamy, dreamy batch in no time.

Place your room temperature butter in a large mixing bowl.
Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat on medium speed for 1–2 minutes, until the butter looks lighter in color and fluffy.
Tip: If you can press a finger into the butter easily without it melting or cracking, it’s perfect for this easy sugar cookie frosting.

Turn the mixer to low and add the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time.
After each addition, mix on low until the sugar is mostly incorporated, then briefly increase the speed to smooth it out.
This slow-and-steady approach keeps your powdered sugar frosting silky instead of dusty and doesn’t cover your kitchen in sugar clouds.

Pour in the vanilla extract and add a tiny pinch of salt.
Mix again on medium speed until everything looks thick and well combined.
At this point, you’ll have a very thick base—almost like a spreadable buttercream.

With the mixer on low, add milk or cream 1 teaspoon at a time.
After each addition, beat for 10–15 seconds and check the texture.
Use this simple guide:
For spreading on soft sugar cookies: aim for a thick, fluffy frosting that holds soft peaks.
For piping neat swirls or borders: keep it slightly thicker so it holds its shape.
For a thin icing-style finish: add a bit more milk until it slowly ribbons off the spoon.
If you accidentally add too much liquid, don’t worry—just beat in a spoonful or two of powdered sugar until the frosting thickens again.

Divide your homemade sugar cookie frosting into separate bowls if you’re using different colors.
Add a tiny amount of gel food coloring to each bowl and stir well. A little goes a long way, so start with the tip of a toothpick and build up slowly.
Gel colors are ideal for a holiday sugar cookie frosting because they stay vibrant without watering down your creamy frosting for sugar cookies.

Make sure your sugar cookies are fully cooled before decorating—warm cookies will melt the frosting.
Use an offset spatula, butter knife, or piping bag to add a generous layer of frosting to each cookie.
You can:
Smooth the tops for a classic bakery look
Swirl the frosting for a soft, cloud-like finish
Pipe borders and rosettes for special occasions
Once frosted, let the cookies sit at room temperature for a bit. The surface of this easy sugar cookie frosting will gently set, while the inside stays soft and creamy when you bite in.

Nutrition values are estimates and will vary based on exact ingredients and portion size.

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